Lesson 2

The aim of this week's lesson is to try and add some of the comical aspect to pantomime and see how timing makes this essential. 

Step 1

Discuss with the class which moments in Dick Whittington they found funny and why? What is slapstick comedy?  

Step 2

Tell the class that in the centre of the room is a pound, but it is stuck to the floor. They should take it in turns to come up with comical ways of getting the money up. Let the class take in turns to try ideas and push them to exaggerate their movements in order to add to the comical effect. Sound is aloud for this exercise. 

Step 3

Discuss the key points of slapstick comedy. It is silly! Movements need to be exaggerated! Characters must be clear! It is physical! It involves excellent timing!  

Step 4

Get the class back into the same groups that they were in last week to analyse the stock characters. As their character get the class to apply the slapstick comedy techniques to a scene called "Cleaning Windows". The scene will basically involve the pupils working together to clean both the upstairs and downstairs windows of a house. They need to find the comic potential in this scene. 

Step 5

Rehearse and perform.

Lesson 3

The aim of this lesson is to make the pupils aware that Pantomimes are forever adapting and changing in order to stay popular and modern.

"Pantomimes are not what they were"

"Pantomime is no longer what it used to be. They have had their day"

"Pantomime seems at present to hold its own, I do not see how it can continue to do so"

The above quotes might be mistaken for recent press cuttings. In fact they date from 1831, 1846 and 1882 respectively.

Step 1

Discuss with the class if the story of Dick Whittington is modern. How did the theatre company modernise the piece? They should discuss the music and the jokes used which were relevant to today. 

Step 2

In the original groups get the class to look at a different pantomime each. Peter Pan, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretal, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington. They must discuss and present exactly what music they would use in their pantomime to modernise the piece. Obviously they must be looking for connections between the play and today's music. 

Step 3

Give the groups a range of styles/genres (The class should be good at this due to the last module we did!) listed below and each are to perform their pantomime in this modern style. They must still look to use pantomime techniques and maintain their characters.

Lesson 4

This lesson aims to improve the pupil's confidence when performing. Particularly when breaking down the fourth wall and connecting with the audience. 

Step 1

Get the class to take part in a warm up exercise of call and response. I am sure you have your own to offer, but a suggestion could be "A boom a chick a boom!" 

Step 2

Pantomime is a tradition that has run in Britain for over a hundred years and some elements are still around today. For example, 'Punch' out of 'Punch and Judy' is a development of the clown from early pantomimes. Another element is the phrases. Play a little call and response,

1. Oh no he isn't! (Oh yes he is!)

2. Have you seen him boys and girls? (He's behind you.) 

Step 3

It is rare in pantomimes that the actors speak directly facing each other. Even if they are in conversation they will face towards the audience so that they feel involved. In the original groups I would like the each to write a monologue for their character. This will introduce them to the audience. The monologue can be written all together, but each pupil will need to stand up and deliver that monologue to the group at the end of the lesson. Push the pupils to look for comedy and interaction with the audience. 

Step 4

Lesson 5

The aim of this lesson is to now start drawing all these techniques used in pantomimes into one performance. 

Step 1

Re-iterate all the aspects discussed. Ask the class to now start considering applying these aspects to their own performance. They can use the same story they had in lesson three and can modernise in areas like lesson four, but not necessarily in those styles and genres. Push for costumes, music and stock characters. They need to spend what time there is left in this and the next lesson rehearsing and maybe even lunch and after school. 

Step 2 Rehearse.

Lesson 6

The aim of this lesson is to assess if the pupils have understood the techniques used in Pantomime. 

Step 1

Watch each other's final pieces. This may take sometime if pupils bring in lots of props and costume, but should be able to happen in the one lesson. 

Step 2

Assess each piece, but consider some peer assessment. Get the class to gauge where the work sits on a level. 

Step 3

Assessment booklets and evaluations.