Use a day in the life drama method. Devise a central character and an important event and then plot the scenes which caused that character to arrive at that point. Use freezes to highlight salient moments and then link freezes with flashback scenes. The role-on-the-wall technique is excellent for further investigation of the character's motives and feelings and will lend extra depth to the characterisation. Ask class to 'storyboard' it in sections, then write scripts for these sections. Pull all sections together to create one script - video the end result.


(2) FROM STORYTELLING

Sit group in a circle. Ask them to make up a story - either one word or one sentence at a time. Remember the story! (Or record it on tape.) Split into smaller groups. Allocate a scene to each group and ask them to prepare a short improvisation of that scene. Recap story outline and scenes as a whole group - writing on large sheets of paper or on the board. Check if the scenes flow and that the story is clear and makes sense. Allow time to prepare scenes again, get the groups to perform again and this time tape them as they do so - a small dictaphone is often quite sufficient for the job. Take the dictaphone home and type up the script!


(3) FROM IMPROVISATION

Put one class member in a particular position. Use forum theatre technique to build a whole story around this character and the position they're in. Ask members to develop and enact the story as it unfolds. Continue working until you have enough material to provide a coherent storyline. Run through whole story again - ensure 'parts' are allocated in advance- tape the performance or video it and write the script up.


(4) FROM SOUND

Spend some lessons working on soundscapes. Split class into smaller groups and ask them to perform a well-known story using sound effects only. Move on from there into asking the groups to devise their own stories and performing them using sound only. Ask them to 'script' the sound effects - rather like a musical score. From this, progress to adding words and including these in the previous scripts and - hey presto! - radio plays!!


(5) FROM PIECES OF PAPER

Discuss some ideas for story/play outlines which will interest the group. Ask them to improvise any scenes from this story outline in small groups. Pick a section out - one which involves two characters - either something already shown or a section which happens 'offstage'. Appoint two volunteers to act as these characters - make sure to choose actors who can sustain a role. Ask all other members of the group to write down 5 sentences in total which might be spoken by either of the characters in the improvised scene at any time. Ensure all these sentences are on separate pieces of paper - tear them if necessary. Put all contributions into the centre of the room and shuffle them up. Ask rest of group to form a semi-circle around the two actors and the lines in the centre. Ask rest of group to pull out 5 lines from the middle - it doesn't matter which, they aren't supposed to search for their own! The improvisation is fuelled totally and solely from the lines on the pieces of paper. These are handed to the actors by the rest of the group who give them when they think they will make appropriate sense, and the actors read them out in the order they're given. Tape record this! It's amazing how so many abstract lines given in such a manner can result in semi-coherent scene. Use this as a basis for devising the script. Repeat the procedure with other scenes - particularly any which are proving to be difficult to devise or write.