Reader’s TheatreWhat is it?

&How do we prepare for a

reader’s theatre?

What is reader’s theatre?

What is reader’s theatre?• It is a performance, usually an

adaptation of an existing literary work

What is reader’s theatre?• It is a performance, usually an

adaptation of an existing literary work

• Actors use their voices, facial expressions and gestures to convey the image of the scene ~ it is not ‘acted’ with physical movement

What is reader’s theatre?• It is a performance, usually an

adaptation of an existing literary work• Actors use their voices, facial

expressions and gestures to convey the image of the scene ~ it is not ‘acted’ with physical movement

• Performers use their scripts as a guide

How is it staged?There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the

most traditional style:

Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

How is it staged?There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most

traditional style:• Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle,

standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center.

Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

How is it staged?There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most

traditional style:• Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle,

standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center.

• Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands.

Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

How is it staged?There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most

traditional style:• Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle,

standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center.

• Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands.• Readers look straight out toward the audience or at

an angle, rather than at each other.

Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

How is it staged?There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most

traditional style:• Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle,

standing up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center.

• Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands.• Readers look straight out toward the audience or at

an angle, rather than at each other.• Characters “exit” by turning their backs to the

audience. (Narrators don’t normally exit.)

Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

How is it staged?There are many styles of reader’s theater. In the most

traditional style:• Readers are arranged in a row or a semicircle, standing

up or sitting on high stools. Typically, narrators are placed at one or both ends, and major characters in the center.

• Scripts can be held in hand or set on music stands.• Readers look straight out toward the audience or at an

angle, rather than at each other.• Characters “exit” by turning their backs to the audience.

(Narrators don’t normally exit.)• “Scene changes”—jumps in time or place—can be shown

by a group “freeze,” followed by some kind of collective shift.

Taken from Aaron Shepard’s Reader’s Theatre website at www.aaronshep.com/rt

How do we create a script?• Select the story, text or scene you wish

to perform (If you do not have an existng text to work from, you may find it easier to write out the ‘story’ first)

How do we create a script?• Select the story, text or scene you wish

to perform (If you do not have an existng text to work from, you may find it easier to write out the ‘story’ first)

• Decide who will play which character ~ remember to include a narrator (If your group is small you may assign more than one role to a person – be careful that these two characters don’t have to ‘talk’ to each other!)

How do we create a script?• Select the story, text or scene you wish to

perform (If you do not have an existng text to work from, you may find it easier to write out the ‘story’ first)

• Decide who will play which character ~ remember to include a narrator (If your group is small you may assign more than one role to a person – be careful that these two characters don’t have to ‘talk’ to each other!)

• When rewriting the text, try to move the story along through dialogue

How do we create a script?• All members of the group must

speak (Try to keep the parts evenly distributed)

How do we create a script?• All members of the group must

speak (Try to keep the parts evenly distributed)

• Write the script as you would a play script, with the characters names on the left hand side, a tabbed space and then their lines

How do we create a script?• All members of the group must speak

(Try to keep the parts evenly distributed)• Write the script as you would a play

script, with the characters names on the left hand side, a tabbed space and then their lines

• You may want to include direction on how a line should be read in parenthesis

What to avoid…

What to avoid…• Long speeches

What to avoid…• Long speeches• Difficult or obscure language

What to avoid…• Long speeches• Difficult or obscure language• Rude or inappropriate language

that may offend members of your audience

What to avoid…• Long speeches• Difficult or obscure language• Rude or inappropriate language

that may offend members of your audience

• Over use of ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ by the narrator

How to prepare

How to prepare• After writing your script, perform it

once for a ‘critical’ friend. Ask them for feedback ~ Did it make sense? Were any parts confusing? Do they wish something had been added? Deleted?

How to prepare• After writing your script, perform it

once for a ‘critical’ friend. Ask them for feedback ~ Did it make sense? Were any parts confusing? Do they wish something had been added? Deleted?

• Make any necessary revisions based on the feedback

How to prepare• After writing your script, perform it once for

a ‘critical’ friend. Ask them for feedback ~ Did it make sense? Were any parts confusing? Do they wish something had been added? Deleted?

• Make any necessary revisions based on the feedback

•Practice, practice, practice!!!

Present your reader’s theatre

Remember…

Present your reader’s theatre

Remember…• Be confident

Present your reader’s theatre

Remember…• Be confident• Speak clearly

Present your reader’s theatre

Remember…• Be confident• Speak clearly • Be animated (enthusiastic)

Present your reader’s theatre

Remember…• Be confident• Speak clearly • Be animated (enthusiastic)• Have fun!

Good luck! Or as they say in the theatre…

Break A Leg!

Good luck! Or as they say in the theatre…