Describing voiceSpoken language

There's a vast range of spoken language you can use in a drama. The words you choose need to be just right for the character, the setting and the situation. Think about the variations of spoken language:

• Language registers - remember to change the way you speak to different people. Our language register should match the role so if you're playing a judge in a drama, keep the register formal and don't ask your witness, "Right, mate, what happened next then?"

• Verse - use this in stylised drama, or in genres such as pantomime.
• Shakespearean language - this can be useful if you want to reflect Shakespearean times, or to evoke Shakespeare's plays.
• Slang / dialect - use this if you want to reflect down-to-earth daily life. Don’t use a dialect that your character wouldn’t speak and don’t use slang in the wrong setting - saying 'OK' instead of 'Yes' in a Victorian drama would sound very strange!