Drama at Key Stages 1 and 2

Planning for Role Play Areas

Identifying the people

Still working on their chosen role play areas, the student teacher groups can create lists of possible characters who might inhabit these spaces. Encourage them to think laterally e.g. in a café there might be waitresses, managers, cleaners, customers (who themselves might be ill, old, young, birthday girls/boys, lonely) and behind the scenes there might be cooks, inspectors, plumbers, electricians, service engineers, the owner.

Possible people in a forest Visitors / characters from stories Animals – RSPB Tourists – Park Ranger Book characters Wildlife park information officials

Possible people in an undersea cave Royalty and commoners (King Neptune and family) Mermaids and mer people The Selchie people Fish and crustacean Pirates Divers Characters from Finding Nemo

Possible people in a Victorian house Tradesmen Neighbours School teacher / doctor / dentist Servants – chimney sweeps/buffer girls/ kitchen maids/cook Owner and family

For additional ideas for role play areas for people, place and predicaments see Cremin, T., McDonald, R., Goff, E. and Blakemore, L. (2008) Jumpstart Drama! London: David Fulton.