Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Classes

Characterisation – status and movement

Explore status and movement to develop character in performance

Student drama resource developed by The Arts Unit

Years 7 to 10 drama

What will I learn?

You will:

  • develop drama terminology

  • explore characterisation through observation

  • explore character status and movement to communicate meaning

  • create character through performance.

Before you begin

This Creative Class is based on the Art Bites – Characterisation series with Jane Simmons.

For this lesson, you will need:

  • a clear space to move around safely

  • your drama logbook to record your experiences.

  1. Drama terminology

Watch the video 'Drama terminology' with Jane Simmons.

Drama terminology

Duration: 02:21

As an actor, you are always observing others consciously, which means you are deliberately analysing what you see and hear, and reading it for dramatic meaning.

  • Dramatic meaning refers to the information created by everything on stage at a particular moment. It can relate to design, such as the set, lighting or costumes, as well as aural information, like sound, music and dialogue. It can also be about the placement of items and the characters' movement, their expressions, and so on.

  • Transition in drama means to move seamlessly from one state or situation to another on stage. A transition can take place through an event or a character realisation that would naturally make this character or others change from one state to the other.

When analysing and engaging in critical reflection in your logbook and your essays or class discussions, using the right words or terminology allows you to express your ideas and observations thoughtfully and accurately.

Developing your understanding of a wide range of drama terminology will add to the body of knowledge that you have, and allow you to communicate your thoughts and ideas more effectively.

2. Observation

When observing or reading a character, start with the nonverbal cues the actor gives us, including their facial expressions and physicality.

Watch the video, 'Observation and reading a character' and complete the activities with Jane.

  • Identify character traits you observe in the following images.

  • Explain how you read each person's physicality to make this choice.

Two picture of the same person - one has eyes narrowed, eyebrows drawn together and mouth slightly pursed. The other image has the person with both eyes and mouth wide open, with hands scrunching their hair.
Figure stands in a library holding an open book in both hands. Her expression is open and wears a smile.
A man is seated and hunched over, facing away in body language and with a frowning or distrustful expression.
A child has crossed arms and is face is looking downwards
Man in business suit has crossed arms but an open, smiling expression.

3. Status

Status refers to the hierarchy or importance of a person or thing.

Watch the video 'Character status' as Jane explains this more fully.

Watch the 2 videos from 'The Secret Life of Pets 2' and 'Faulty Towers'.

For each video:

  • Identify the status of each character.

  • What are the observations you make to establish the status of each character?

  • Identify if the status of any of the characters change throughout the scenes and how they change.

The Secret Life of Pets 2

Duration: 02:45

Fawlty Towers – Basil asks his guests to move

Duration: 01:09

Now, it's your turn!

Create a character who transitions from one status to the opposite status. Remember to give them a reason for that transition within the scene. In other words, they transition from high to low, or low to high.

Your scene is to go for 1-2 minutes.

For example:

  • A character realising they forgot an important item and then finding it. This could change their status from low to high.

  • A character giving an important speech to the public and suddenly discovering their fly was undone. This could change their status from high to low.

4. Movement

Leading with different body parts as we move around a space makes us move differently. This can help create a variety of characters.

Leading body parts include the feet, knees, hips, stomach, chest, shoulders, chin and nose.

Watch the video 'Character movement' and complete the activities with Jane.

Character movement

Duration: 05:53

Consider how each leading body part has an impact on your:

  • character type – what is your status?

  • walk – is your rhythm or pace slow or fast?

  • emotions – how is your character feeling?

  • voice – how do you breathe, speak, greet people or laugh?

Record your experiences and reflect on what you have learnt from this activity in your drama logbook.

Watch the video Complicité – Broad character types.

Eric Mallet from Complicité takes a group of high school students through a series of exercises exploring characterisation through body leads.

  • Observe the different characters created through movement.

You could follow along with the activities or complete the same process in class.

Complicité – Broad character types

Duration: 20:13

Watch the video Mr Bean's 'The Hairdresser'.

Mr Bean is a British sitcom created by and starring Rowan Atkinson.

  • Observe the character of Mr Bean and his physical movement.

  • How effectively does this movement establish character and status, and communicate meaning to the audience?


Mr Bean – The Hairdresser

Duration: 05:07

Watch the video 'Character activity' as Jane explains the activity you are about to do.

Character activity

Duration: 01:49

Now, it's your turn!

Create a world for one of these characters from the leading body part activity.

The 2-minute scene should allow the audience to read dramatic meaning, or interpret the sort of character you are.

Use your movement to communicate information and meaning, and only use dialogue to enhance the movement.

Use these additional tasks to support your character and scene development

  • Draw a picture of how you think your character looks.

  • Collect images from the internet or magazines that represent the sort of person the character is.

  • Work with a partner to create a scene where your 2 characters meet.

Extension

Write a monologue where your character has to engage in an activity such as a job interview, reporting a crime at the police station, doing the grocery shopping, etc.

How can you demonstrate status, movement, personality, backstory and engage your audience in a 2-3 minute scene of action and dialogue?

Artbites extension

For further extension on characterisation, watch the following 2 Artbites from the Art Bites – Characterisation series with Jane Simmons:

Very well done!

You have completed this @The Arts Unit Creative Class.

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