Innocence Imagination Obsession - Heavenly Creatures
Drama Games

Our thanks to Cheryl Harvey of Aorere College for permission to use the following. 

CIRCLE GAME ONE

One person stands in the centre, the rest in a circle.  The one in the centre begins to walk towards another person, arms outstretched in their direction.  The person being pointed out must say a quote (see quotations.rtf) from the play before the centre person gets there or they go in the centre. 

CIRCLE GAME TWO

Each person in the circle is given a quote from the play.  The first person points at somebody across the circle and begins walking towards them saying his/her quote loudly and in a manner consistent with the play's setting.  The person being pointed at follows suit, pointing at somebody else and saying his/her quote loudly.  This continues until everyone has had enough or gets bored.  Variation: Add emotions eg. angry, happy, sad, lustful, saucily, like a conspirator, whispered etc. 

ADVANCED CIRCLE GAME

As above but point at somebody and say their quote. 

FLASHCARD GAME

Sitting in small groups in circles on the floor show the quotes (see quotations.rtf) on the cards and the others have to guess (in an educated and intelligent way) who is saying the quote and where it comes from in the play. 

FREEZE FRAMES

Take a scene from the play.  Make a visual picture showing the characters clearly through body language, posture, stance and showing the relationships to other characters through facial expression, closeness, distance, touching etc.
NB Make sure the scene has a focal point.
The other groups will guess what this scene is. 

CHAMBER THEATRE FREEZE FRAMES

As above but have each group choose a scene(s) from each Act of the play and then play them in order around the room (if in the Drama room). 

FREEZE FRAMES WITH LINES

Using the Freeze Frame as above, each character is allowed one line which should encapsulate the meaning of the whole scene (if in the Drama room). 

SLOW MOTION FREEZE FRAME

Start with the Freeze Frame then move in slow motion (Count 5 4 3 2 1 Freeze) into the next important position.  Perhaps improvise a line here. Or take an important moment from the play.  Freeze Frame the moment before it then move (slow motion) into the important moment (Expanding the dramatic moment).  Then take the moment after it and do the same. 

IMPROVISING A MODERN SCENE

If the play is set in the past, use the essence of the dramatic moments above and incorporate these into a modern scene, which retains the flavour and meaning of the original. 

WALL OF THOUGHT

eg. from Romeo and Juliet:
Romeo/Juliet is about to die when suddenly and slowly he/she sees his/her whole life flash before him in the form of the people he has had contact with.
Take a character each.
Form 2 lines.
Take a body stance and facial expression which reflects your attitude to Romeo or Juliet. 

Romeo or Juliet now walk down this 'Wall of Thought' and as he/she passes each person he/she voices his/her thoughts about the character and his actions. 

PANEL OF INTERVIEWERS

Now one line become the Panel of Interviewers who interview the other line as eg. Romeo and Juliet or John Proctor and Abigail.  Perhaps have each person in the line take on a different aspect of the character so that the replies are varied and represent the character at different stages of his/her development.  Similarly the interviewers could represent different characters. 

VOICING THE THOUGHTS

Take the moment eg. when Juliet wakes to find Romeo dead or Romeo finding Juliet apparently dead. Have 2 people in the class take the position the 2 characters would be in on the stage.  Each person then stands behind/beside either Romeo or Juliet and one at a time voice the thought you have at this moment.
(NB This may have to be worked several times to get rid of the giggles and silly/inappropriate thoughts but you will find that each time you rework it will reach a new depth). 

SPEAKING DIARIES

eg. Romeo and Juliet:
Take the moment after the above when either Romeo or Juliet have Capulet, Montague, Tybalt, Mercutio, the friar each speak their writing words, lines, monologues, thoughts whatever comes out. 

STRANGER IN ROLE

Then in comes a 'Stranger in Role' who doesn't know what has gone on.  The rest of the class will need to answer his/her questions. 

IMAGING OF A PERSON

Each recall a memory or personality trait of a major character from the play. Now draw a human outline on a large piece of paper and write these traits onto the outline.
Now add quotes to go with each one. 

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)