DRAMA
UNIT 4 LESSON 1
AGENDA
1.) Time Traveling Through Drama
2.) Playscripts
3.) Reading: The Tulip Touch
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VOCABULARY
to accompany (v) to go or be together with something
to broadcast (v) to show a program on television or radio
industry (n) businesses of the same type
splendid (adj) amazing, beautiful or excellent
drama (n) story performed for the theatre, television or radio
set (n) the scenery and furniture used on stage or film to fit the story’s setting
adaptation (n) television show, movie, stage play, or other performance that is based on a book
backdrop (n) the painted background that hangs behind the actors in a stage play
fixture (n) permanently attached piece of furniture, like a sink or bathtub
to galvanise (v) to cause someone to take action, usually by shocking or exciting them in some way
VOCABULARY
to accompany
to galvanise to
broadcast
fixture industry
splendid
backdrop
adaptation set drama
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ORIGINS OF DRAMA
What we know is that
drama has a long, rich
history, beginning even
before man put a pen to
paper to write things
down.
ORIGINS OF DRAMA
We are going to travel through
time to the distant past and
learn about different types of
drama.
While we're learning, look at all
of the changes there have been
through history!
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SILENT FILM ERA
SILENT FILM ERA
The art of film making is very
old. The first moving picture
was created in 1878! Movies
made until the late 1920s are
called silent films.
This is because there was no
way to match sound with
moving pictures.
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SILENT FILM ERA
But that doesn't mean these
movies were completely
silent.
Most silent films were
accompanied by music,
either from an orchestra or a
single instrument.
SILENT FILM ERA
With no dialogue available to
the audience, silent films had
to depend on music, title cards
and actors with great facial
expressions and body
language.
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LIVE RADIO
DRAMA
LIVE RADIO SHOWS
Live radio drama began in
the 1920's and quickly
gained popularity in many
countries around the world!
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LIVE RADIO SHOWS
With no visuals available to the
audience, radio drama had to depend
on dialogue, music and sound effects
to help the listener imagine the
characters and the story.
In the early days, these dramas were
live shows and were not prerecorded!
LIVE RADIO SHOWS
Live radio shows started to lose
their audience in the 1950's. The
popularity for television
entertainment was rising and
shows started to move from radio
to television.
By the mid 1950's, many families
had a TV right in their homes!
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MODERN FILM
MODERN FILM
The art of film-making has
enchanted people for many
years. Advancing technology
continues to transform the film
industry by bringing stories to life
through the magic of innovation.
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EXAMPLES
MOVIE SHORT DOCUMENTARY
STAGE
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STAGE
There is something special
about attending a live
performance. In fact, stage
performances have entertained
people for over 2,500 years!
Have you ever seen a stage performance?
EXAMPLES
MUSICAL PLAY COMEDY SKETCH
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PLAYS
A play is a performance,
usually on a stage in a
theatre.
It includes dialogue and
movement from actors.
Often, plays also involve a
set, costume, lighting and
props.
WE ARE ALL STORYTELLERS
As we can see from
history, humans have
enjoyed stories for a very
long time.
We tell stories everyday
and we listen to our
friends tell us stories, too.
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WE ARE ALL STORYTELLERS
Why do you think we
enjoy listening to stories?
Do you consider yourself
to be a storyteller?
WE ARE ALL STORYTELLERS
We are going to watch a
video from the Pixar Studio
that will help us see that
each of us is a storyteller.
Notice in the video that
there are lots of ways
people can tell a story.
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GENRE
A genre is a particular
type or category of
music, film, game, or
writing.
For our unit, we will be
focusing on writing and
storytelling.
GENRE
How many genres can you
think of?
You have two minutes! make
a list in your notebook--write
down as many genres as you
can.
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GENRE
• Adventure
• Action
• Science Fiction
• Crime
• Fantasy
• Historical Fiction
• Thriller
• Romance
• Drama
PLAY SCRIPT
Most plays begin as a playscript--
writing that gives instructions on
how to perform a play.
It includes dialogue for the actors to
say and stage directions for them to
perform. It may also give
information about where the play is
set.
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PLAYSCRIPTS
Playscripts are different from stories and novels. Scripts focus on
dialogue and stage direction so that actors know what to do and
say on stage.
PLAYSCRIPTS
A playscript is like an
instruction book written
for directors and actors. It
helps them create the
performance.
What kind of information do you think actors find in a playscript?
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PLAYSCRIPTS
A Playscript Tells Us:
• which characters appear in the
play
• which characters say which lines
• stage directions describing the
characters' movements and how
they should deliver their lines.
NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
What do you think the
differences are? Are there
any similarities?
You will work in pairs to
complete the diagram in
your workbooks.
Let's see what it looks like!
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NOVEL PLAYSCRIPT
NOVEL PLAYSCRIPT
In this circle, write
down features of
a novel that a
playscript doesn't
have.
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NOVEL PLAYSCRIPT
In this circle, write
down features of
a playscript that a
novel doesn't
have.
NOVEL PLAYSCRIPT
This is where
you write
down their
similarities.
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NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
Work with a partner to
complete the diagram. Try
to fill it with as many ideas
as you can!
ADAPTATIONS
Sometimes writers create new
stories for their scripts. For
example, Romeo and Juliet was
written as an original story by
Shakespeare.
But often, writers adapt an
existing novel and turn it into a
play, movie, or TV show. We call
these adaptations.
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ADAPTATIONS
Can you think of any
examples of adaptations?
(novels that were turned
into a movie, play or TV
show)
ADAPTATIONS
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READING
We are going to look at
two extracts from Anne
Fine's 1996 book, The
Tulip Touch.
Textbook page 32 activity 1
READING
The main character of this
story is Natalie, a young girl
whose family runs hotels.
Upon moving to a hotel in a
new area Natalie meets Tulip,
a mysterious girl.
Textbook page 32 activity 1
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READING
Before we begin reading, look at
the extracts:
• Which is the novel and which
is the playscript?
• How can you tell?
Textbook page 32 activity 1
A B
Textbook page 32 activity 1
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1.) ACT ONE SCENE ONE
The action takes place in The Palace--a splendid, if faded, old
country house hotel with a grand verandah, a sweeping
staircase and stone steps down to fine gardens. As Natalie
introduces the story, everyone on stage is silently and
unobtrusively reading newspapers, sipping drinks, studying
paperwork etc., until suddenly they are galvanised into more
bustling life.
Textbook page 32 activity 1
From time to time, various different guests, crossing the
public rooms, waiting on sofas, or dropping keys off at
reception, etc., give the impression of a quiet and well-
heeled, gradually changing clientele.
Textbook page 32 activity 1
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NATALIE: Meet everyone. That's Mr Scott-Henderson. He
practically lives here. I'm not even sure he's got another
home. These are Miss Ferguson and Mrs Pettifer. They're
practically fixtures as well. I don't know those guests over
there. They only checked in this morning. Here is my Dad.
MR BARNES (on the telephone): A south-facing double
room. Yes indeed. And dinner on both evenings. Thursday
and Friday next.
Textbook page 32 activity 1
2.) Chapter 1
You shouldn't tell a story till it's over, and I'm not sure this
one is. I'm not even certain when it really began, until it was
the morning Dad thrust my bawling brother Julius back in
Mum's arms and picked up the ringing telephone.
'The Palace? Why ever would they want me at the Palace?'
Textbook page 33 activity 1
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2.) Chapter 1
Anyone listening might have begun to think of royal garden
parties, or something. But even back then, when I heard
people saying things like 'the black horse' or 'the palace', I
got a different picture. And that's because I've lived in hotels
all my life...
Textbook page 33 activity 1
NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
Novels are designed to be
read by one person at a
time. Playscripts are
designed to be performed by
a group of people, who each
take a role.
Textbook page 33 activity 2
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NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
Read the playscript and the
opening of the novel The Tulip
Touch again.
Work with a partner to explore
how the same story is told in
different ways. As you work
together, fill out the table in your
workbook.
Textbook page 33 activity 2
NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
Textbook page 33 activity 2
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NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
The narrator is talking to
the reader
Textbook page 33 activity 2
NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
The narrator is talking to
the reader
The Palace Hotel using
stage directions
Textbook page 33 activity 2
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NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
The narrator is talking to
the reader
The Palace Hotel using
stage directions
Stage directions = Natalie
Natalie = introduces others
Textbook page 33 activity 2
NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
The narrator is talking to
the reader
The Palace Hotel using
stage directions
Stage directions = Natalie The narrator isn't clear in
Natalie = introduces others the introductions.
Textbook page 33 activity 2
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NOVELS VS PLAYSCRIPTS
The narrator is talking to
the reader
The Palace Hotel using
stage directions
Stage directions = Natalie The narrator isn't clear in
Natalie = introduces others the introductions.
Stage directions and dialogue
Textbook page 33 activity 2
GROUP
PROJECT
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CREATING A PLAY
As a class, we are going to work
towards a performance day
where groups perform
playscripts that they have
written.
We are going to work on this
project each week leading up to
the last lesson of the Unit.
OVERVIEW
Week 1: Outline Your Story
Week 2: Plot
Week 3: Setting
Week 4: Characters
Week 5: Script Writing
Week 6: Practise and Perform
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WEEK 1: OUTLINE YOUR STORY
STEP 1: MIND MAP
Use the square in your
workbook to create a mind
map. Work with your
group and write down any
ideas you come up with.
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STEP 1: MIND MAP
When you settle on an
idea you like, move onto
the next section in your
planning.
STEP 2: GENRE AND TITLE
Decide on what genre your
story will be and come up
with a title.
(You can decide to change
the title again later.)
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STEP 3: BASIC CHARACTERS
Assign each member of your
group a character to play.
We will be developing these
characters later on. But
everyone needs a part in the
play.
VOCABULARY TASK
Complete the gaps in your WB with words from the list.
1.) Jane will ____ me to the park later today.
2.) The house on the hill has a ____ view of the town below.
3.) The toy company has become the most successful in
the____.
4.)Our ____ designer has amazing ideas for what the stage will
look like.
5.) The painted cloth created the perfect ____ behind the
actors.
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VOCABULARY TASK
Complete the gaps in your WB with words from the list.
1.) Jane will accompany me to the park later today.
2.) The house on the hill has a splendid view of the town below.
3.) The toy company has become the most successful in the
industry.
4.)Our set designer has amazing ideas for what the stage will
look like.
5.) The painted cloth created the perfect backdrop behind the
actors.
PLENARY
Fill in the rest of the following sentences:
1.) An adaptation is...
2.) A genre is...
3.) The difference between a novel and a playscript is...
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