Reading the room

David Porter
Monday, February 1, 2021

Everyone has watched TV and film detectives as they ‘read a room’, searching a crime scene for clues and hints the killer has left behind, interpreting the signs and symbols of the scene for clues. In much the same way a designer places clues and hints on a set and in the lighting to help the audience understand what’s happening with the characters, the plot and the subplot. In drama and theatre exams, students are expected to understand not only the work of the actor and the director but also of the designer. This scheme, consisting of six two-hour sessions spans the KS3 and KS4 threshold by providing ideas for practical drama both in traditional groups and in socially-distanced creative working. If students are drawn to design, they must work with acting/directing focused groups to create collaborative theatre.