Latest Thinking
Teaching Oliver Twist - listening to language
01 Oct 2008
The following activity was used during our first rehearsal for Oliver Twist.
Listening to Language
Aim: To encourage student to listen to the construction of language to
Time: Variable
Groups: Variable
Resources: Extract of your choice
Size of space required: Enough for group to walk around
Directions:
- Select extract, ask students to stand and read the extract to themselves, they sit down when they have finished. Encourage students to not rush the reading and find their own pace.
- Now ask the students to read the text out aloud whilst working briskly around the room.
- Repeat the exercise, but this time when they arrive at any punctuation they pause and move to another point in the room. Discuss how it changed the pace of the speech.
- Read the speech again on the spot, retaining the pauses where the punctuation was.
- Sit in a circle, read the speech as a group, changing reader when there is a punctuation mark.
- Ask for a volunteer to read the speech. The rest of the group put their script down and close their eyes, whisper words that they like the sound of as the reader is speaking.
- Discuss the words they liked, what did that teach them about the speech?
- Read the speech as a group, taking into account the punctuation as a guide to keeping in time with each other.
- Discuss the speech, what did the speed teach them, what words did they stress, why?, what pictures are painted in their mind?
You were great and I really enjoyed the show. It looked great, just the variety of women all looking fabulous was very empowering, even before the first word was said. The Director picked the right voices for each of the monologues - you have to admit your monologue suited your vowels and demeanour.