Compare and contrast

Watch a film that deals with some of the same issues as the play that your students are studying.

Ask them to compare and contrast how the play and the film tackle the issues and how social and cultural factors impact on our understanding.

Instructions

Ask students to write a set of instructions that are relevant to their play e.g. how to murder someone or how to conduct a feud.

Make an analysis of the format, language and content.

Introductions

Ask students to read the introduction to their play.  Make a critical analysis of it.

Now ask them to write their own introduction, as though to a new edition.

Identify that text

Cut up bits of important dialogue- obviously use key words and phrases.  Ask students to tell you who is speaking, where in the play and why its important.

This can be turned into a game.

Updating Shakespeare's plays or not.

Discuss which of Shakespeare's plays have been updated.

Discuss in class, you may wish to provide prompts, whether it is right to update Shakespeare's plays or whether they should be performed as they were first intended.

Once the class discussion has taken place ask students to write a discursive essay justifying their opinions.

Write a script.

Ask students to scan their copies of their play in order to list the format and features of a script.

Ask them also what kinds of information actors and directors need in order to create a play that matches the writer's vision.

You could also ask them to research a radio script and the features it includes. 

Now ask students to write a short play script for the radio based on the scene that they are studying- the events should be updated to take part in modern times.

Mini saga

The focus is on plot and a principle character within the play that students are studying.

A mini saga is a fifty word story- no more, no less- with an additional fifteen words for the title.

Can your students tell the story of the play in that number of words.

Shakespeare game.

This is creative.  Ask students to study board games - to make an analysis of the rules etc.

Now ask them, in small groups, to create a board game based on the Shakespeare text that they are studying.  It is entirely up to them how they do it and what aspect of the play is covered, it coul dbe language based or it could be based on plot or character - but it should be created, packaged and there should be an advert to go with it.  Groups should present their board game and explain the target audience and the format.

They should write a review of it.