PRE-PERFORMANCE LESSON PLANS Educational Package

‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’

Navan Theatre Group 2012

THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE

In drama we express our feelings and needs through:The words we sayThe way we say themOur body language

We do this in real life too!

Write down what you think is happening in this picture and how you think these three people are connected to each other

PUT THE PICTURE INTO ACTION:

In groups of 5: 3 take the roles A, B, C with 2 monitors

A has brought B home, and C isn’t happy about it

Constraint: B is trying to keep the peace without getting involved in the argument

Monitor 1 take notes on the languageWhat kinds of words are used?Is there swearing?Do all three use the same language

Monitor 2 take notes on the way the characters talkIs there shouting?Is there a variety of pitch?What does their body language say?

Monitors share with the Role players on what you have observed

Groups can perform for other groups in the class followed by the monitors explaining their observations after the performances

RELATIONSHIPS Study the two photos carefully. In pairs

describe what kind of relationship the mother and daughter have based on your observations

Alter Ego In groups of 4, devise an improvisation on the

picture below where both characters are happy in each other’s company

2 students take the roles of the characters as seen below with 2 standing by alter egos. The alter ego gives a deeper insight into what the character is actually feeling which is not necessarily shown in their body language