StageCraft

Start with discussion, theatre games, and ideas from the group. A shared theme gives the session a focus, whether it is the environment, belonging, or power. Short demonstrations introduce performance styles such as physical theatre, naturalism, or Brechtian theatre. Participants try the techniques and share their interests before forming groups. The theme and activities are adapted for each age group.

Explore a selection of scripts or starting points connected to the theme. Each group considers what interests them, what they want an audience to think or feel, and what they can develop in the time available. Participants can also suggest their own material. Facilitators help the group choose a manageable piece and make sure everyone has a meaningful way to contribute.

Read the piece aloud and talk through what is happening beneath the dialogue. What does each character want? What stands in their way? Participants use improvisation, movement, and voice exercises to explore relationships and motivations, then begin making choices about where characters move and how they interact. Younger groups can build characters through guided play and storytelling.

Begin with vocal and physical warm-ups, then work through the piece in short sections. Try different ways of delivering a line, using space, or responding to another performer. Facilitators and peers offer specific feedback, and groups decide what to keep, change, or try again. The focus is on listening, making clear choices, and growing comfortable enough to take creative risks.

Run the piece from beginning to end and connect individual scenes into one performance. Groups practise entrances, exits, transitions, and any simple props or sound cues. A dress rehearsal helps participants notice what needs attention and support one another through the final adjustments. Take time to reflect on how the work has developed and what the group has learned.

Present the work to an invited audience of family, friends, or the school community, depending on the session. Each group shares its own response to the theme and celebrates the choices that brought it to life. Afterwards, participants reflect on something they tried, something they learned from someone else, and something they would like to explore next. The showcase celebrates the process as well as the performance.