Playing a character — Drama, 4–6 years
In drama, a child can pretend to be someone or something else and show it through actions, words and sounds. The child is still themselves, while the audience follows the make-believe.
A character is someone you show
When you play a character, you make clear who or what you are pretending to be. A slow walk can show a tired bear, and a tiny voice can show a mouse. You do not need a costume: your body, voice and choices can tell the audience.
Why make-believe needs choices
A pretend game becomes easier to follow when everyone can tell who each player is. This problem comes from playing together: if every person moves and speaks in the same way, the story becomes hard to see. Choosing one clear quality gives your character a shape.
Worked example: a windy giant
First, choose the character: a giant who is very cold. Next, stand tall and take slow, heavy steps. Then rub your arms, shiver and speak in a deep voice: “Brrr, where is my warm cave?” These three choices help the audience see the giant without needing a giant costume.
The trap: copying a picture
A child may think a character only works with the right clothes or a perfect voice. That is reasonable, because books and films often show characters with special costumes. In drama, one strong action, sound or way of moving can be enough to tell us who you are.
Where characters help
People use characters to tell stories on a stage, in a film or with puppets. Pretending can also help someone practise a real situation, such as asking for help or welcoming a new friend. The make-believe lets us try a viewpoint safely without claiming it is real.
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