Playing a Character - KS3 Drama Lesson

Students learn six key skills to create a believable character and use them to perform a short, structured drama scene.

The lesson begins with a starter activity (page 1) where students identify the six core drama skills. The objective (page 2) is to understand how these skills—voice, facial expressions, body language, gesture, movement, and interaction—help create realistic characters. Each skill is then explored in detail (pages 3–8), showing how actors communicate emotions, personality, and relationships through both voice and physical performance.

A mnemonic (page 9), “Very Funny Badgers Get More Invitations,” helps students remember the skills. Students then apply their learning by creating a one-minute scene (page 11) based on given scenarios such as a family secret or a surprise party (page 10). The scene must include a clear beginning, middle, and end, with a focus on believable characterisation. A stretch task (page 12) challenges students to show a change in status between characters using the skills they have practised.