Reader's Theater is a style of theater in which actors use only vocal expression to help the audience understand the story rather than visual storytelling (such as sets, costumes, and stage blocking). The original Readers Theatre play was presented using only scripts and chairs. The performers' focus was through the fourth wall offstage and limited costuming was used. In most cases, the scripts were memorized, but it is not necessary for the actors to memorize their lines. There was little to no interaction between performers or movement. The acting out of dialogue in Reader's Theatre allows actors to understand the emotional meaning of the text in order to develop a character through their voice.
While listening to a readers theatre example, think about the following:
- What is the plot?
- Who are the main characters?
- What are the characters like? How can I tell?
- Notice voice technique:
- Breathing and Controlling the Breath.
- Projecting Volume, Intonation/Pitch, Articulation/Diction, Phrasing/Tone
- Accents
Assignment: Divide into groups of 4 students and write a five minute scene for what happens next in the Reader's Theatre drama (Listen and read the first scene, then have the students write their own scene of what happens next). Focus on vocal delivery as opposed to movement. What will the audience notice about your character just by listening to your voice?
- Time/Place: Where and when will your Reader's Theatre scene be set?
- Role/Character: Who are your main characters? The characters will convey the majority of the story and set the scene in the mind of the listeners.
- Situation / Dramatic Tension / Conflict: What is going to be the main problem for these characters in the time and place that you have set your play?
- How will it be resolved?
- Who is the narrator? Describe their qualities? What kind of voice will they have? A narrator can be used at the beginning of a scene, but would not normally be used during the scenes themselves. If you want your listeners to visualize the scene and what is going on then you will need to include descriptions in the dialogue.
- Write in the script (next to the line of dialogue) descriptions of the character’s voice using notations of volume (loud or soft), pitch (high or low), rhythm (fast or slow), tone qualities (nasal, gravelly, squeaky, smooth, etc...)
- Write in the emotion next to each phrase.