SUITABLE FOR ACTING, MUSICAL THEATRE AND SPEECH AND DRAMA
To:
(10 minutes)
There are lots of simple exercises here to warm up your voice and body.If you haven’t been physically active today then you can use them to get you going and increase your energy.It’s a good opportunity to get your whole family involved.
Try them all and then concentrate on the ones you enjoy and then you can build your own warm up from this menu.
FACE, TONGUE & JAW
BREATHING
VOCAL - VOWELS
Working through the following vowels sounds add a physical action and send it back and forth to your partner. Ee Ay Ah Oh Oo Aw i.e Eeeeeeeeee with an arm(s) action (circle or similar)
PING-PONG CONSONANTS
TONGUE TWISTERS
PHYSICAL
Check the space for hazards and make sure there are no vases you can accidentally break before you start.
(5 minutes)
Choose one of these each time you do the worksheet.
THE TELEVISION GAME
In pairs, choose one person to lead the game and pretend they have the remote control for the television. Ask the other person to visualise the television. It is up to the person with the remote control to change what’s on the screen i.e. it is a scary film, a happy programme, a funny cartoon and the reaction changes with each change of emotion or imaginative image.
CONVERSATIONS
Using either fruit, vegetables or favourite foods have a conversation using a range of emotions and only the words i.e. apples, bananas...happy, sad excited. Each participant chooses a different word which means this could be extended to ‘I love apples’ with a response of ‘I hate apples’. The natural extension of this is ‘Why do you love/ hate apples/bananas’.
TELL ME ABOUT...
(15-20 minutes)
This is the main focus of the worksheet and these activities can be repeated and split over several days or sessions. It's a good opportunity for you to reflect on how things are going and what you want to change or do differently. Once you are confident with an activity then you can show your performances to family and friends – in person or over a video call.
1.TELEPHONE IMPROVISATION – Receive, listen and respond.
Imagine you are waiting for a phone call or a Facetime call. You can use sound effects on your phone and make the call. The person receiving the call does not know who is on the other end of the call and what they are about to say...i.e. it could be a very happy call, you’ve passed an exam or won a huge amount of money. It could be a sad call and something you were really looking forward to is cancelled... Swap places and both participants to have a go. Be imaginative and maintain focus on what the other person is saying on the other end of the phone only the receiver knows what is being said. This exercise takes a little time to develop so initially put a time limit of 1 minute and this will naturally increase as confidence increases.
Key points
2. WHO’S ON THE SOFA?
Person A sits on the sofa and decides who they are i.e. this could be a Disney character, a favourite singer, dancer or television or book character. Person A establishes who the character is by actions and a little chat to self about why they are on the sofa. Person B asks questions about who they might be...Person A can answer freely but in character. Once it is clear who Person A is swap over and Person B shows a different character.
Key points
3. WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
Create a box of words or envelopes labelled to include the following:
Create an improvisation which can be done as a solo improvisation. Start with the location, establish the setting by telling the listener where you are i.e. “Oh wow, this place is amazing, look at all these cobwebs and really old stuff! I don’t like the look of that picture; the eyes are following me... (add a line) I’m not sure I should be here? I know I should’ve listened to Mom and not come here as I’m getting a bad feeling...(add an emotion) I’m really scared but I don’t know why it’s just a feeling....(add a character type) Oh I’m not worried, I’ve done bungee jumping and everything...
Key points
(5 minutes)
RECORDING PROGRESS
Write down your answers to the following:
Then get your parent or guardian to sign it. If you keep that going over a few days, before you know it, you will have started a drama workbook which charts your progress.
Access Trinity Anthology online for poems, stories, monologues and a whole host of resources to support your independent sessions.