Writing, Theatre, Poster Design, Films, Education and Attempted Wit
One of the biggest challenges for young students is to have them attempt to devise their own Dramas. The initial reticence usually disappears as soon as someone comes up with an idea. So here's another way of getting them talking. Students can select a number from each column to get a character, a location and … Continue reading Create a Drama – Fast!
I'm not a dancer. But I've been lucky to work with dancers and choreographers who can create moves to tell a story, set a mood, create striking imagery, and more. And the people I've worked with have been brilliant at contributing ideas, or interpreting some of my ideas (some planned months in advance, some inspired … Continue reading Gotta Dance!
Scavenger Hunts are great for giving students a competitive motivation to get some work done. As we are currently in lockdown and creating work from home, I've put together a Drama Scavenger Hunt/Quiz which includes some quiz questions, internet searches, taking photos and even some puzzle solving. The answers aren't attached. If you don't know … Continue reading Drama Scavenger Hunt/Quiz
Everyone remembers the paper fortune tellers from their own school days, right? That folded paper shape which you flipped open to find the secrets underneath? Well I thought I'd create one especially for younger students when they are struggling with devising a drama. The idea is that students can use the fortune teller to decide … Continue reading Drama Fortune Teller
In 2006 I had the immense pleasure of seeing a play of mine produced. The play was THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS, which was a documentary drama looking at the 1888 killings attributed to "Jack the Ripper". I really enjoyed researching the play and had a great time writing it. The play centres around the 5 women … Continue reading The Whitechapel Murders
In the UK at least, the name "Jack" has been used for centuries - as a nick name for someone from the lower class or unpleasant or untrustworthy from Shakespeare's time, as the "Jack in the Box" toy (one meaning of which from 17th Century is of a fraudster who would mis-sell an empty box … Continue reading The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack
A couple of years ago I was the first guest on podcast The Buzzword, talking about theatre, education and more. The first interview took place shortly before HalfWits production of The Odd Couple in 2017. I directed this production, with a cast including The Buzzword presenter Aaron Pennie I was again delighted to be contacted … Continue reading Return to The Buzzword
A short script intended as an introduction to script work for Drama pupils. The script could be left as a cliffhanger (shudder) or be used as scene one, where the pupils have to develop later scenes (or flashbacks to the murder, of course!) the-scene-of-the-crimeDownload the-scene-of-the-crime-p1-1Download the-scene-of-the-crime-p2-1Download
A female-driven comic book movie with beloved characters, made at a tempestuous time for DC movies, after the failure of Fox's Dark Phoenix and the wild success of Marvel's Avengers Endgame. No pressure then.
Media Test 4 asks the pupils to examine the poster for THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011). They should consider categories (medium, purpose, tone, genre) and the use of print media language (image, colour, background, font) and music. Media Test 5 is a fill in the blanks quiz challenging the students to identify a … Continue reading Media Knowledge Test 4 and 5
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