All my posts this season are “inspired by” a letter of the alphabet!

I am a great defender of the use of theatre in the classroom, for any subject, and indeed as a subject in itself, as a learning, social, and cultural experience, as well as being an amazing tool to get students out of their shell and expressing themselves. I won’t go on about it now, as I have talked about it previously on the podcast. Suffice to say, its benefits cannot be underestimated.

What follows is an extract from my compilation of plays for young students of English to perform, Let’s Act in English, written in collaboration with my co-workshop leader, Janine. The plays are designed for kids from 8-16 years old, depending on the play, or learners of English from A2 to B2 CEFR level. They were written for English Theatre Workshops that we carried out for some years, and the books include seven short plays, along with teacher notes for workshop sessions and staging of the plays.

Available to buy here:

Let’s Act in English Teacher’s Book

Let’s Act in English Student Scripts

The following extract is the first half of a play about theatre… And in the second half, the student’s perform the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Italics are stage directions.

So here’s a taster…

TREADING THE BOARDS

PART ONE: DOCUMENTARY

Presenter is centre stage with cast in freeze behind.

PRESENTER So here we are at the Royal National Opera House. We are lucky today to be able to watch rehearsals for the new show the Company is preparing, Shakespeare’s Pyramus and Thisbe.

DIRECTOR Daaaarling! They Air kiss How wonderful to meet you!

PRESENTER Taken aback Um…Yes. Well, please, tell us a bit about what you do…

DIRECTOR Well darling, this is a Process. As you can see, some of the actors are preparing…

PRESENTER And what is your…?

DIRECTOR Process darling

PRESENTER Yes, process.

DIRECTOR The actors have to learn many different skills. For example… Sybill!!

SYBILL Yes dear? Oh, is that a camera??

PRESENTER Yes, we’re here to make a documentary

SYBILL Well, that’s lovely dear. Please excuse me, I need to rehearse. She sings in their faces and then leaves singing.

DIRECTOR Yes, Sybill is our singing coach…We also have the actors warming up…

PETER So let’s try again, people. “Unique New York” Cast repeats three times

DIRECTOR That’s Peter, he’s the voice coach.

PETER Good. Now really open the mouth. “Red lorry yellow lorry” Cast repeats three times

DORINDA Marvellous! And now let’s project. “To be…. or not to be”

Cast declaims extravagantly

DORINDA That’s lovely sweeties, but I need more expression. What are you doing with your hands? She demonstrates

DORINDA To be…. or not to be….. Let me see your EMOTION, sweeties. Cast repeats

DORINDA Yes, well, let’s cross our fingers… She leaves

DIRECTOR Dorinda helps us with acting skills.

PRESENTER I wonder, could I have a word with Peter and Dorinda…?

Jack enters a bit embarrassed

JACK Excuse me, but we’ve got a problem with the thingummy.

PRESENTER The thingummy?

DIRECTOR Sorry, this is Jack, our set designer. He makes all the scenery and props for the show. What do you mean, a problem with the thingummy?

JACK It’s not working.

DIRECTOR And?

JACK And it doesn’t work

DIRECTOR Oh for goodness sake! Excuse me please. They leave.

PRESENTER Well, let’s see if we can talk to someone else…

Suddenly the lights go out. General screaming for 5 seconds. Lights return to general confusion and cast in strange positions.

SYBILL What is happening?

SPARKY Panicking himself. DON’T PANIC! THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC!!!

SYBILL Ah well, The show must go on! Continues singing

SPARKY Sorry about that. Problem with the whatsit.

PRESENTER What is it?

SPARKY Yeah, the whatsit. Oh no, here comes Valerie…!

VALERIE Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… our Heroine!!

Actress (Thisbe) enters in a glamorous gown. Widespread applause. She trips over.

VALERIE Oh dear! Are you all right? Maybe your skirt is a bit long…

PRESENTER Can I ask, how long does it take to make a dress like this?

VALERIE Oh dear, I can’t talk now, can’t you see this is a disaster? A disaster! And only one hour before curtain up! A disaster! Come along dear.

PRESENTER Well I think it’s going to be a bit difficult to talk to anyone…

DIRECTOR People! People! Can I have your attention please! Everybody gathers, actors included

DIRECTOR Peter and Dorinda, are we ready?

PETER I think so

DORINDA I’ve done what I can

DIRECTOR Sybill?

SYBILL I’m trying, I’m trying! Singing “There’s no business like showbusiness”

DIRECTOR Right… Jack, Sparky?

JACK I need ten minutes to fix the thingumummy

SPARKY NOBODY TOUCH THE PLUGS! Yes, everything’s fine.

DIRECTOR Oh for heaven’s sake! Valerie, give me some good news

VALERIE If somebody gives me some scissors everything will be fine…

DIRECTOR OK, OK. Well people, we have our audience coming in, everyone take their places and… Break a leg!!

Group hug and various daft good luck rituals

PRESENTER Well, as you can see, the show must go on, no matter what… I’m John Peabody, and thank you for watching.

NEW PODCAST AVAILABLE! At Link below and on Spotify

A is For…

A note on the podcast interview: We talk about antiheroes. There may be some that you might not be familiar with, and we don’t explain all the characters we talk about, but I encourage you to check them out. I won’t give full descriptions here, but beware as there may be some spoilers!