Year 4 English: Play scripts and performing in role
Part of the Year 4 English reading poetry and plays aloud chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Play scripts and performing in role
A play script is written to be performed. It has a cast list that names the characters, a speaker (the name in capitals before each line), the words the character says, and stage directions. A stage direction is an instruction in italics or brackets. It is not said aloud; it tells the actors what to do, where to stand or how to say a line.
| Part of the script | What it looks like | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| cast list | the names of the characters, with short descriptions | who is in the play |
| speaker | a name in capitals, such as SAM | who says the line |
| expression | words in brackets after a name, such as (nervously) | how to say the line |
| stage direction | an instruction in italics and brackets | what to do, where to stand, or what happens |
Play: The Storm Lamp
Cast
- NAN (Sam's grandmother)
- SAM (a boy, aged nine)
- MR PATEL (the next-door neighbour)
(A kitchen at night. Rain taps on the window. The lights flicker, then go out. SAM holds a torch. NAN stirs a pan on the stove.)
SAM (nervously): Nan, the lights have gone out!
NAN (calmly): Don't panic, Sam. Storms always do this.
(She lights a candle and puts it on the table.)
SAM (whispering): Is anybody else in the house?
NAN (smiling): Only us. And Mr Patel next door, who owns a torch as big as a lamp post.
SAM (loudly and excitedly): Let's ask him to bring it over!
NAN (firmly): Sam, please stay in the kitchen while I check the back door.
(She leaves the room. SAM sits at the table and drums his fingers.)
SAM (to himself): One, two, three, four, five. Hurry up, Nan.
(Three sharp knocks sound at the front door. SAM jumps.)
MR PATEL (cheerfully, from outside): It's only me! I've brought my lamp.
SAM (relieved): Come in, Mr Patel!
(MR PATEL enters, dripping wet. He holds a lamp that glows warm and gold.)
MR PATEL (puffing): Phew! The wind nearly blew me back down the path.
NAN (warmly, returning): Thank you for coming over. Sit by the stove and dry off.
Key ideas
- A play script has a cast list, speakers, words and stage directions.
- A stage direction is not said aloud; it tells the actor what to do.
- The expression in brackets after a speaker's name tells you how to say the line.
- To perform in role, think about what your character wants and feels.
Method. Find the second speaker, then read the expression in brackets.
- Find the first line. The first line is said by SAM, nervously.SAM (nervously)
- Find the second line. The second line starts with the speaker NAN.NAN
- Read the expression. The words in brackets tell the actor how to say the line.calmly
- Write the answer. NAN, calmly
Check. The second speaker is Nan, and she speaks calmly. ✓
Method. Read the words in brackets after the speaker's name.
- Find the speaker and the bracket. SAM (whispering) says Is anybody else in the house?SAM (whispering)
- Explain the bracket. The words in brackets are a direction for how to say the line.a direction
- Decide what whispering means. A whisper is very quiet.very quietly
- Write the answer. say the line very quietly, as a whisper
Check. Whispering means the line is said very quietly. ✓
Method. A stage direction tells the actor an action.
- Find the direction. The direction is in italics and brackets, under the stage name.She lights a candle
- Read the action. The actor must light the candle and put it on the table.light, then put
- Check it is not spoken. The direction is not a line for the actor to say.an action, not words
- Write the answer. light a candle and put it on the table
Check. A stage direction describes an action. ✓
Watch out. Do not read a stage direction aloud as if it were the character's words.
Watch out
Watch out: a stage direction is not a line to say. Do not read "She lights a candle" aloud as if the character were speaking it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read the script together, with one person taking each part. Let your child choose how Sam or Nan should sound, and ask why. Do not mark the reading; talk about the choices.
Exercise 9F Practice: play scripts and performing in role
Method. Read the cast list at the top of the script.
- Find the cast list. The cast list comes before the first line of the play.NAN, SAM, MR PATEL
- Name each character. Nan is Sam's grandmother; Sam is a boy aged nine; Mr Patel is the next-door neighbour.three characters
- Write the answer. NAN, SAM and MR PATEL
Check. The cast list has three characters. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.SAM (nervously): Nan, the lights have gone out!
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The first line of the script is spoken by SAM.SAM
- Write the answer. SAM
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.MR PATEL (cheerfully, from outside)
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The bracket after MR PATEL gives the expression for that line.cheerfully
- Write the answer. cheerfully
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.MR PATEL enters, dripping wet
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The stage direction describes him as he comes in.dripping wet
- Write the answer. dripping wet
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Read the bracket and decide what it means.
- Find the bracket. MR PATEL (puffing) is in brackets before the line.MR PATEL (puffing)
- Decide the expression. Puffing means breathing hard, so the actor says the line out of breath.out of breath
- Write the answer. it should be said out of breath, as if he has struggled in from the wind
Check. Puffing is the expression for the line. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.SAM sits at the table and drums his fingers
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The stage direction after NAN leaves says what SAM does.sits at the table and drums his fingers
- Write the answer. sits at the table and drums his fingers
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.NAN (calmly): Don't panic, Sam.
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The bracket before the words gives the expression.calmly
- Write the answer. calmly
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.glows warm and gold
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The stage direction says the lamp glows warm and gold.gold
- Write the answer. gold
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Use the expression and the meaning of the line.
- Choose the tone. The bracket says nervously, so the tone is anxious.anxious
- Choose the stress. Out is the important word, because it is what has happened.stress out
- Write the answer. tone anxious; stress out, because the lights going out is the problem
Check. The tone and the stress come from the line and its bracket. ✓
Method. Think about what Nan is like, and what Sam is worried about.
- Think about Nan. Nan is calm and firm, and she is protecting Sam.calm and firm
- Write the line. The line answers Sam's worry about the lights.It is only the storm, love.
- Write the answer. It is only the storm, love. The lamp will be on soon.
Check. The line is calm and in role. ✓
Watch out. In role means speaking as the character would, not as you would.
Method. Read the bracket, then the words and the direction after the line.
- Find the expression. NAN (firmly): Sam, please stay in the kitchen while I check the back door.NAN (firmly): Sam, please stay in the kitchen
- Explain the reason. She wants Sam to be safe while she checks the back door, so she speaks with a firm voice.she wants Sam to be safe
- Write the answer. she is serious, because she wants Sam to stay safe
Check. The word firmly shows she means what she says. ✓