Responding to a stimulusExploring status

Try experimenting with who has the highest power or status in the work place. This can generate interesting and amusing content. What happens if a boss has very low status and no control but the cleaner behaves as if they are in charge? This clip with actors Adrian Lester and Lolita Chakrabarti looks at the importance of status in performance.

Responding to other stimuli

Your stimulus doesn’t have to be a script. There are many other sources you could use such as:

• artefacts, eg photographs, paintings, props, costumes, art pieces
• music
• newspaper, magazine or online articles
• poetry
• book extracts
• video clips
• live theatre performances

Just as you would with a script, discuss all the ideas that come to mind when using your stimulus. This time think about any characters or situations that come to mind. Write down your ideas and see if there are any connections between them. Note any themes that could be developed further.

Remember your audience

Don’t forget your audience in all of this. Decide what you want the audience to experience and how you want them to feel when watching the piece. These decisions will help you work together towards a common goal and shape the piece through rehearsal. These questions are particularly important if you’re working without a director.

If you’re still searching for ideas and inspiration, this clip from My Perfect Mind created by Dusthouse for UK theatre company, Told by an Idiot, is based upon Shakespeare’s King Lear. Using one of the play’s themes, it explores the fragility of man after actor, Edward Petherbridge suffered a stroke days before he was due to go onstage in the role.

Practise your responding skills

Answer the question then check your response against the sample answer.