Status Pictures

From ‘101 Drama Games and Activities’

Status Pictures

From ‘101 Drama Games and Activities’

Watch the wonderful video presented by Toby Park from Spymonkey (the theatre company that has made me laugh the most ever) for some more brilliant games based on Status – including Status Walk, Chorus Monster, Die Servant and Status Cards!

Age: 7 to adult
Players: Pairs
Time: 10-20 minutes
Tags: #Improvisation

Explore status relationships through still images.

Begin by discussing the meaning of ‘status’ and give some examples of status relationships, for example doctor and patient, policeman and criminal or even Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter (more examples can be found below).

In pairs, create a still image (freeze frame) where one of you has a higher status (is more important) than the other. If you like, you can choose a particular situation, or just choose two positions showing that one character is more important than the other.

Invite students to show their pair images and ask the audience to guess who is “high” and who is “low”. The audience may not always agree with the actors!

Director’s Tips

  • Explore body language – is one character physically higher than another, are their bodies curved or straight, are they making eye-contact, invading body-space and so on.
  • Try to make an image where you have equal status – and see if the onlookers agree!
  • See also Pecking Order.

Example Relationships

Teacher/student, doctor/patient, doctor/nurse, celebrity/fan, shopkeeper/customer, superhero/villain, Sherlock Holmes/Watson, Matilda/Miss Trunchbull, Lord Voldemort/Harry Potter.

Age: 7 to adult
Players: Pairs
Time: 10-20 minutes
Tags: #Improvisation

Explore status relationships through still images.

Begin by discussing the meaning of ‘status’ and give some examples of status relationships, for example doctor and patient, policeman and criminal or even Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter (more examples can be found below).

In pairs, create a still image (freeze frame) where one of you has a higher status (is more important) than the other. If you like, you can choose a particular situation, or just choose two positions showing that one character is more important than the other.

Invite students to show their pair images and ask the audience to guess who is “high” and who is “low”. The audience may not always agree with the actors!

Director’s Tips

  • Explore body language – is one character physically higher than another, are their bodies curved or straight, are they making eye-contact, invading body-space and so on.
  • Try to make an image where you have equal status – and see if the onlookers agree!
  • See also Pecking Order.

Example Relationships

Teacher/student, doctor/patient, doctor/nurse, celebrity/fan, shopkeeper/customer, superhero/villain, Sherlock Holmes/Watson, Matilda/Miss Trunchbull, Lord Voldemort/Harry Potter.

Watch the wonderful video presented by Toby Park from Spymonkey (the theatre company that has made me laugh the most ever) for some more brilliant games based on Status – including Status Walk, Chorus Monster, Die Servant and Status Cards!

101 drama games and activities

This game is from: 101 Drama Games and Activities

‘Belongs amongst the top 10 books any director or drama teacher should own.’ – English Touring Opera

A collection of highly effective games and exercises suitable for children, young people and adults.  Includes warm-ups, improvisation, mime, icebreakers, group dynamics, rehearsal, storytelling and voice exercises so that you can quickly find an appropriate activity.

This game is from:
101 Drama Games and Activities

 

101 drama games and activities

A collection of highly effective games and exercises suitable for children, young people and adults.  Includes warm-ups, mime, improvisation,  icebreakers, group dynamics, rehearsal, storytelling and voice exercises so that you can quickly find an appropriate activity.