Take a look at the following text extract from Mumburger, by playwright Sarah Kosar. Alternatively, you could choose to use an extract from a different play if you’d prefer. Read through the scene and from your first impressions ask yourself:

• What is happening in the scene?
• Who are the two characters?
• What is the relationship between them?
• How old are they in your imagination?
• Who would you cast to play those roles?
• Where is the play set?
• In which time period is the play set?

Facts and Questions

You will need a large piece of paper or notebook for this exercise.

• Make a list of all the facts in the scene. Try not to make assumptions – just list the things that you can prove. For example, in the Mumburger extract we know from the character named H that it is late.
• These facts will deepen your understanding of the play. They are also useful tools that you can give to your actors to help them discover their performances. For example, knowing that H says that it is late might change the way the actor decides to play the scene. Does that mean H is tired? How does that affect their physicality?
• Next make a list of all the questions in the scene. What do you not know? What is unclear or uncertain?
• You can discuss these questions with your actors in the rehearsal room. Some questions might be very easy to answer, others might require further debate before you make a decision.

Subtext

• The subtext is what a character is really thinking or feeling, which might be quite different to what they are saying.
• Make your way through the script and ask yourself if the character is really saying what they mean on each line.
• If you get a bit stuck, ask yourself what each character is trying to achieve by saying each line. How are they trying to impact the other character?
• Annotate your script with what you think the subtext might be as you go.
• Now, read the script back using the subtext to aid your performance. Does your performance or reading of the script change?

This can be a really useful exercise to do with your actors to help them discover what’s really going on in a scene. If you would like to explore your text further, you can download the exercise sheet below to help you discover more about the characters and their interactions. These exercises are really helpful when preparing to direct actors, to help them get the best from their performances.