READER’S THEATER

Choral Reading 2014

WHAT IS READER’S THEATER?

It is a strategy that combines reading practice and

performing.

It a style of theater in which the actors do or do

not memorize their lines.

Actors use only vocal expressions to help the

audience understand the story.

Sets, costumes, intricate blocking, and movements

are very limited.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF READER’S THEATER?

to enhance students' reading skills and confidence by

having them practice reading with a purpose.

to motivate reluctant readers and provide fluent

readers the opportunity to explore genre and

characterization.

to increase understanding and develop reading

fluency with expressions through re-reading.

READER’S THEATER

READER’S THEATER

A PLAY SCRIPT

1. DIALOGUES

What are said by the characters in the play

2. STAGE DIRECTIONS

Any information other than dialogues meant for

people staging the play: Characteristics of

characters,

costume, acting, set, properties, etc.

A PLAY SCRIPT

A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen

Nora: I do?

Helmer: You certainly do. Look me straight in the eye.

Nora: (looking at him) Well?

Helmer: (with sharp look) Surely my sweet tooth

hasn’t been running riot in town today, has she?

Nora: No. Why do you imagine that?

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Introduce the title of the play and the

characters involved:

how many of them and who they are

For each character:

describe the appearance: young/old, hair,

skin, etc

describe the characters: personality,

emotional state, etc.

provide supports/justifications from the

script

CHARACTER ANALYSISThe play: THE APPLE

DUMPLING

Number of Characters: 8 :

Old Woman Young Lord

Young Woman Mother

Husband Old Man

Wife Puppy

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

OLD WOMAN

Description:

Old, wearing a shawl, holding a

basket of plums at the beginning of

the story (from the stage directions

pp.1-2 [read the exact part])

CHARACTER ANALYSISOLD WOMAN

Characters:

She is craving for an apple dumpling, a fighter –

does not easily give up, is determined to find a

way to get some apples (from her line on p.2 “I

shall have to find a way to use my plums to get

some apples!” and on p.8 “If you try long enough

and hard enough, you can always have an APPLE

DUMPLING for supper!”

PERFORMANCE

Students may read the script

To help the audience, students may prepare the setting using LCD.

Students may wear costume and bring properties (but limited, the

property may be imaginary too)

Students may move as long as they do not disturb the reading process

(limited movements).

If one student plays more than one character: to differentiate the

characters, she/he should use different costumes and/ or properties. But

the most important thing is the voice must be different from one to

another character.