Drama Improvisation strand

Learning intentions

We are learning to develop and apply the skills needed to promote and sell a show.

What to look for

Pupils coming up with initial concepts
Pupils dividing up responsibilities within the group
Pupils considering the economic demands of the show
Pupils making decisions together
Pupils using ICT to assist with the advertising for their show
Pupils evaluating the success of their project

Learning activities

Put the pupils into groups and ask them to choose a performance that they could market and sell as a Year 8 lunchtime performance/school show. (This could be either real or imaginary.)

Have them decide on a name for their theatre company and design a logo to appear on posters, programmes and tickets.

In groups, allow them to decide on their roles and responsibilities for overseeing different categories, for example:

posters;
programmes;
tickets;
front of house;
lighting;
sound;
stage management;
costume; and
make-up.

Each category should be the responsibility of 1–3 pupils, depending on the size of the class or group. Each sub-group should work out their requirements in terms of money, time and ‘staff’.

Challenge them to work out how they can meet their costs through ticket sales. Ask, for example:

How many seats can you fill?
How much can you charge for the tickets?

If possible, allow them to use appropriate software to produce posters, tickets and programmes. They could use digital cameras to incorporate images into these.

Remind them to liaise with the actors and/or director to make technical decisions and organise a rehearsal timetable.

Stage the show, if possible, with pupils taking responsibility for their individual areas.

Review the process together and consider questions such as:

Were the targets met?
Was the marketing successful?
Did the production stay within the budget?