Murder Mystery Scheme of Work

One night the Earl is found dead - whodunnit?

This scheme of work develops student’s ability to create characters, linking it to restoration comedy, and by adopting Stanislavski methods in a simple form to facilitate this. By developing a fun, simple story they also examine how a plot develops, with a chance to improve their improvisational skills. The lesson workshops guide them through the story of the Earl, Miles O’Naire, introducing them to various characters at a dinner party, all of whom have a motive for murder. It enables the students to develop drama techniques such as hot seating, duologue, tableau, angel and devil, split scene, dramatic pause, T.I.R, aside, status, flashbacks and creating and maintaining a character. Through practical workshops and their own independent learning, students gain an insight into how to develop tension and suspense in the form of a black comedy.

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Do you need to:-

• raise your students' attainment level?
• prepare students for LAMDA & RADA examinations?
• get started on your next school production?
• develop your students' understanding of the text or develop their characters further to meet the criteria for KS4 and KS5 performance exams, both devised and scripted?
• prepare drama students for auditions for the National Youth Theatre or for entrance to drama schools?
• explore a topic in a more active way?
• provide something a bit different for a themed session?
• help direct the School Shakespeare Festival piece for the first time?
• help support specialised areas of the curriculum?

Whatever your needs we can help - for more information please visit the Drama Workshops site

Melodrama Scheme of Work

This scheme of work introduces students to the genre of Melodrama. Students explore the stock characters through fun, interactive activities and then develop their knowledge and understanding through practical workshops based on the story of ‘Maria Marten - Murder in the Red Barn’. It enables the students to develop such key Drama forms as, mime, aside, split scene, hot seating and duologues. Throughout the scheme, atmosphere and mood are explored through the use of spooky music and lighting ideas. A short film clip and 7 pieces of music are included with this scheme.

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Impressionist Art Scheme of Work

This scheme of work introduces students to the style of art known as Impressionism. The lesson workshops are each based on a different work of art by a well known Impressionist artist including Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Degas, Cezanne and Pissarro. It enables the students to develop such drama forms as thought tapping, role on the wall, creating and maintaining a character, hot seating, slow motion, monologue, thought aloud, dramatic pause, developing a character and narration. Throughout the scheme, imagery, lighting and observations of people are used to help develop character, plot and relationships. Through practical workshops and their own independent learning students gain an insight into their own thoughts and feelings about life and relationships and how these develop with time and age.

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WW1 Poetry Scheme of Work

This scheme of work introduces students to some of the most well known WW1 poets and their poetry. It enables the students to develop such key drama forms as mime, thought tunnel, continuum, flashbacks, slow motion, voices in the head, split scene, choral work, improvisation, thought aloud, hot seat, essence machine, dramatic pause and narration. Throughout the scheme, imagery is explored and examined, supported with a range of written tasks either done in the class or for homework and developed with lighting ideas.

Through practical workshops and personal research the students gain an insight to different perspectives of war. Assessment is a performance using Wilfred Owen's ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’.

Other poets covered include Siegfried Sassoon, John McCrae and Rupert Brooke.

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Fairy Tales Scheme of Work (KS3, Year 8, ages 12-13 yrs)

This scheme of work covers the popular subject of Fairy Tales, with students learning the types of characters and key elements that typify the genre. The students apply their creative skills and develop a fairy tale of their own to dramatise. A number of dramatic forms are used throughout the scheme including Mantle of the Expert, Essence Machines and Voices in the Head.

This scheme of work includes two fairy tales (Little Red Riding Hood and The Fox and the Wolf) and the wonderful poem 'The Dreadful Story of Pauline and the Matches'.

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The Matchgirls

This scheme of work is inspired by the strike about working conditions in the Bryant and May match factory in London in the 1880s. The key elements - 14 hour days, poor pay, excessive fines and serious health risks - are introduced through mime and improvisation, guided by the key characters the factory foreman, Annie Besant, Mr Bryant and Mr May. Drama skills developed include Mantle of the Expert, hot-seating and symbolism.

Each lesson plan has clearly stated objectives and learning outcomes. They are structured to include introductory warm up, development and plenary sessions. A homework task is also included.

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