Melodrama characterisation

Discover the dramatic form and acting styles of melodrama

Student drama resource developed by The Arts Unit

Years 7 to 10 drama

Your students will:

• define the performance style of melodrama and its characters

• explore stock characters and how to act in a melodrama style with large emotions and gestures

• discover in more depth the melodrama characters of a villain and heroine

• create an aside – a dramatic technique used in melodrama

• perform a scripted performance.

Drama 7-10 Syllabus

• 4.1.1: identifies and explores the elements of drama to develop belief and clarity in character, role, situation and action.

• 4.1.3: devises and enacts drama using scripted and unscripted material.

• 4.2.1: uses performance skills to communicate dramatic meaning.

• 4.2.3: explores and uses aspects of dramatic forms, performance styles, theatrical conventions and technologies to create dramatic meaning.

• 5.1.1: manipulates the elements of drama to create belief, clarity and tension in character, role, situation and action.

• 5.1.3: devises, interprets and enacts drama using scripted and unscripted material or text.

• 5.2.1: applies acting and performance techniques expressively and collaboratively to communicate dramatic meaning.

• 5.2.3: employs a variety of dramatic forms, performance styles, dramatic techniques, theatrical conventions and technologies to create dramatic meaning.

Collection of student work

• Google Form: create a Google form with activities and/or questions. Students can also upload any files they create. Email this form to your students with the Creative Class link and all your student responses will be combined in a Google sheet.

• Google Classroom Assignment: create an assignment or a quiz in your Google Classroom with activities and/or questions. Students can also upload any files they create.

• MS Teams: create a quiz or assignment in your class team drive where students can submit responses and upload any files they create.

• Email: ask your students to email you any responses and files they create.

• Flipgrid: a website that allows teachers to create 'grids' to facilitate video discussions. Each grid is a message board where teachers can pose questions called 'topics'. Students can post video responses that appear in a tiled grid display.

• Jamboard: an interactive whiteboard which can be used for class feedback.

For further support on how to create these resources

• Get started with Google Forms

• Create a Google Classroom Assignment

• Assign quizzes to students through Microsoft Teams

• Create an assignment in Microsoft Teams

• Educators – getting started with Flipgrid

• Get started with Jamboard