Learning Objectives:
To learn the importance of non-verbal communication in drama.
To experiment with movement and gesture to convey meaning.
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Walk around the space.
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One person in the room is your best friend.
 Without letting them know that you have picked
them stay as close to them as possible.
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One person in the room is your worst enemy.
 Make sure you stay as far away from them as possible.
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Your best friend now becomes your protector.
 Make sure your protector is always between you and
your enemy.
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In groups of 4/5;
 Create the following tableaux concentrating on facial
expressions, gesture, and stance.
 Use the space well.
 Use your bodies to create objects within the tableaux.
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Childhood
Fear
Ambition
Rejection
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Now practise these 4 tableaux until you can
move seamlessly from one to the next.

Look at the situation on the sheet.
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On your own run it through conveying the
change from anxious control to all out panic.
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Which ones were most effective?
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Why?
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Was their focus good?

Suggest some changes to gestures that
would improve the piece.
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Focus is all important. Look at this example of
how a simple gesture can convey meaning:
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Moment: The man gets ready for the interview.

Gesture: With the tips of their fingers they brush
hairs from their jacket whilst looking in the
mirror.

Meaning: Conveys concern with appearance.

This can be developed further:
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Gesture: The person moves away from the
mirror, looks down at their jacket, stops
before they have gone three paces, returns
and brushes the same spot again.

Meaning: Conveys an over-anxious nature
that can be played on later in the scene.

The range of simple everyday movements that we
take for granted become all-important on the stage.
Each of the following are gestures or movements we
do every day:
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Sitting down on a chair
Standing up again
Getting out of bed
Using a knife and a fork
Drinking from a cup or a glass
Opening a door
Closing a door
Walking from one spot to another

Apply some or all of the movements listed to
the roles or characters below:
1. A prisoner on their first day in prison
2. A top personality being followed for the day for
a fly on the wall documentary
3. Someone arriving in a hotel after travelling a
long way

‘Actions Speak Louder Than Words’. To what
extent do you think this statement is true?
Give justified examples of what you have
done today in class.