DISCOVER THE STAGE - Sydney Opera House

Lesson Content and Teaching/Learning Activities Resources Register
6 Playbuilding – Script and Set or Costume Design
This could be divided into two lessons if desired.
Students are to work in groups to develop a script (one page) as well as set or
costume design. This activity is part of the Playbuilding process begun in the
previous lesson. This lesson could be done within a 45-60 minute session or
extended to 2-3 lessons if desired.
• As a class discuss ideas regarding important aspects of set/costume design
e.g. realistic space for actors to work in, appropriate design for storyline,
managing unique costumes, costumes that are functional, suitable for space
available etc.
• Remind students of the key components of a script: Title, list of characters,
brief overview of each character, scene heading, dialogue with character
names. Remind students they are recording the ‘spoken’ word as part of the
script and encourage informal language use.
Group script and set/costume development
• Students are to work in their groups and reflect on their group’s still image,
developed characters and storyline used for the role-play activity. They need
to consider any special or unusual effects required and decide whether they
will design a set or costumes.
• Provide students with a script example to remind them of the key components
and layout. The improvised role plays should be used as the focus of the script
with students refining what was said.
• Students to design a set or costumes for their script. This can be done on
paper or computer depending on available resources, time and level of student
skill. If time is limited, students could also be guided to write down ideas for
verbally sharing with the class. If model set are to be built, all designs should
be drawn/planned prior to construction commencing.
Performance and presentation
• Groups to introduce their performance and design/costumes to the class
justifying their choices and describing how it links to their still image.
• Students to perform their scripts to the class.
Open boxes
Scraps of
material
Coloured
pencils
General craft
materials to
assist with set
construction
Glue/Sticky
Tape/
Scissors
teacher’s overview and unit evaluation
6 house:Ed 2012