Features of Drama: Play Director, Audience, and Performance – JSS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note (Third Term)

A play director is the person in charge of a whole production. The director interprets the script, chooses actors, leads rehearsals and coordinates stage design, costumes, lighting, sound, props and makeup. The audience is the group of people watching the play. Their reactions encourage the actors and complete the communication between actors and watchers.

Subject: Literature in English
Class: JSS 1
Duration: 40 minutes
Topic: Features of Drama (Continued): Play Director, Audience and Performance

Behavioural objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain who a play director is and what they do.
2. Describe the role of the audience in drama.
3. Understand what makes a good performance.
4. Recognise how director, audience and performance work together.
5. Appreciate the teamwork involved in creating drama.

Previous knowledge

Students have learned about theme, stage and costume in drama. They understand that drama is meant to be performed, not just read. They know basic drama vocabulary and have probably watched plays or performances before.

Teaching aids

• Pictures of directors at work
• Diagrams showing the director’s position during rehearsal
• Photos of different audience setups
• Video clip of a rehearsal or performance (if available)
• Chart showing elements of good performance

Introduction (4 minutes)

The teacher asks students:

• When you perform a play at school, who tells you where to stand and what to do?
• Who watches when you perform?
• What makes a performance good or bad?

The teacher shows a picture of a director working with actors and asks: “What do you think this person is doing?”

The teacher explains that today the class will learn about three more important features of drama: the director (the leader who guides everyone), the audience (the people watching) and performance (the actual act of presenting the play).

Step 1: Who is a play director? (13 minutes)

A play director is the person in charge of the entire production. The director is like the captain of a ship or the coach of a football team. They guide everyone and make sure all parts of the play work together properly.

Think of the director as the “boss” of the play who sees the big picture while everyone else focuses on their specific jobs.

What does a director do?

1. Interprets the script

The director reads the play carefully and decides:

• What the play really means
• How it should be presented
• What message to emphasise
• What style to use (serious, funny, modern, traditional)

Example: If the play is about greed, the director decides whether to show it as a tragedy or a comedy, and whether to set it in a village or a city.

2. Casts the play (chooses actors)

The director selects which actor plays which character. This is called casting.

What the director looks for:

• Can this actor speak clearly?
• Do they look right for the character?
• Can they show the right emotions?
• Do they work well with other actors?

Example: For a king’s role, the director might choose a tall student with a strong voice who can look commanding. For a funny servant, they might pick someone naturally humorous.

3. Conducts rehearsals

Rehearsals are practice sessions before the actual performance. The director leads these sessions.

During rehearsals, the director:

• Teaches actors where to stand and move (blocking)
• Helps actors understand their characters
• Shows actors how to say their lines effectively
• Corrects mistakes
• Times the performance
• Makes sure everyone knows their cues (when to enter, speak or exit)

Example: “John, move to the left when you say that line. Mary, say it louder and with more anger. Peter, enter from the right door, not the left.”

4. Coordinates all elements

The director makes sure everything works together:

• Stage design: Works with set builders to create the right environment.
• Costumes: Approves what actors will wear.
• Lighting: Decides when lights should be bright, dim or change colour.
• Sound effects: Chooses when to use music or sound.
• Props: Ensures actors have the objects they need.
• Makeup: Supervises how actors look.

Example: The director says, “When the ghost appears, dim the lights to blue and play eerie music while the actor enters from behind the curtain wearing the white costume.”

5. Gives direction to actors

The director guides actors to improve their performance.

Voice direction:

• “Speak louder”
• “Say it more slowly”
• “Sound angrier”
• “Whisper this part”

Movement direction:

• “Walk faster”
• “Sit down here”
• “Look at her when you speak”
• “Exit through that door”

Emotional direction:

• “Show more sadness”
• “Act more surprised”
• “Look afraid here”
• “Smile when you say that”

6. Solves problems

During production, many problems arise. The director finds solutions.

Problem examples:

• An actor forgets lines: the director helps them memorise.
• A costume does not fit: the director adjusts it or finds an alternative.
• A scene is too long: the director cuts it or speeds it up.
• Two actors argue: the director resolves the conflict.
• A prop is missing: the director finds a replacement.

7. Maintains the vision

Throughout all the work, the director keeps everyone focused on the main goal: creating the best possible performance that expresses the play’s meaning.

What are the qualities of a good director?

1. Leadership skills: Can guide and inspire many people working on different tasks.
2. Creative vision: Can imagine how the final performance should look and feel.
3. Communication skills: Explains ideas clearly so everyone understands what to do.
4. Patience: Stays calm when things go wrong or people make mistakes.
5. Organisational skills: Manages schedules, coordinates many people and keeps track of details.
6. Knowledge of drama: Understands acting, staging, costumes and all technical aspects.
7. Decisiveness: Makes clear decisions when choosing between options.
8. Flexibility: Adapts when plans need to change.

What tools does a director use?

• Script: The director’s copy with notes and markings.
• Blocking notation: Drawings showing where actors move.
• Rehearsal schedule: Plan for practice sessions.
• Production notes: Ideas about costumes, set and lighting.
• Stopwatch: To time scenes and the whole play.

Step 2: Who is the audience? (12 minutes)

The audience is the group of people watching the performance. They are the viewers and spectators, the reason why the play is performed.

Drama without an audience is like a football match with no spectators. The audience completes the drama experience.

Why is the audience important?

1. Drama’s purpose

Drama is created to be seen. Actors do not perform for themselves. They perform for the audience, which is the target and destination of all the work.

Example: A cook prepares food for diners. If no one eats the food, the cooking was pointless. Similarly, drama needs an audience.

2. Provides reaction

The audience responds to what happens on stage by:

• Laughing at funny parts
• Gasping at shocking moments
• Crying at sad scenes
• Clapping at exciting moments
• Sitting silent during tense scenes

These reactions:

• Encourage the actors
• Show what works or does not work
• Create energy in the theatre
• Make the experience alive

Example: When the audience laughs loudly at a joke, the actor feels successful and performs even better.

3. Completes the communication

Drama is communication between performers and watchers:

• Actors send the message through performance.
• The audience receives the message through watching.

Without the audience, this communication circle is broken.

4. Influences performance

How the audience behaves affects the actors.

What are the types of audiences?

1. Live theatre audience

These are people sitting in a theatre watching the play in person. They:

• See everything as it happens
• Can see actors’ expressions clearly
• Feel the atmosphere directly
• React immediately
• Cannot pause or rewind

2. Different age groups

Children:

• Enjoy simple, colourful, active performances
• May get restless if the play is too long or serious
• React loudly and honestly

Teenagers and youth:

• Prefer modern, relevant themes
• Appreciate humour and romance
• Can understand complex ideas

Adults:

• Can appreciate subtle acting
• Understand deep themes
• Have patience for longer plays

Mixed audience:

• The director must balance content for all ages.
• Include something for everyone.

3. Cultural audiences

Different cultures appreciate different things.

Traditional audience:

• May expect familiar stories and styles
• Appreciate cultural references
• Understand local languages and proverbs

Modern or Western audience:

• May prefer realistic, contemporary settings
• Are used to technical effects
• Have different cultural expectations

How should a good audience behave?

Before the performance:

• Arrive on time
• Turn off mobile phones
• Find their seats quietly
• Read the programme to understand the play

During the performance:

• Sit quietly and pay attention
• React naturally (laugh, gasp and so on) but do not talk
• Stay in their seats (do not walk around)
• Respect the actors’ work
• Do not eat noisily or distract others
• Watch the stage, not phones

After the performance:

• Applaud to show appreciation
• Exit calmly
• Discuss the play thoughtfully
• Give constructive feedback if asked

Evaluation (2 minutes)

1. What does a play director do?
2. Name three qualities of a good director.
3. Who is the audience? Why are they important?
4. What is good audience behaviour during a performance?
5. What should actors do if they forget their lines during a performance?
6. How do director, audience and performance work together?

Assignment

1. Director’s role: Write one page explaining what a play director does. Include at least five specific responsibilities and why each is important.
2. Audience guide: Create a “Good Audience Behaviour” poster listing at least seven rules for how to behave when watching a play. Make it colourful and clear.
3. Performance observation: Watch any performance (school play, church drama, TV show or movie). Write one page describing:
   1. How was the acting?
   2. What technical elements did you notice?
   3. How did the audience react (if it was a live performance)?
   4. What made it good, or what could be improved?
4. Director simulation: Imagine you are directing a simple play about a student who learns that honesty is important. Write instructions for:
   1. What three actors should do (their movements and how to say their lines)
   2. What the stage should look like
   3. What costumes the actors should wear
   4. One problem that might occur and how you would solve it
5. Audience impact: Write a paragraph explaining how the audience affects the performance. Give specific examples of how audience reactions can help or hurt actors.