Theatre Games for Young Performers: Improvisations and Exercises for Developing Acting Skills (Contemporary Drama) (Paperback)

by Maria C. Novelly (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Written especially for those who coach adolescent actors, this delightfully fresh workbook tells you the how, when, what and why of theatre games for young performers. Anyone working with young actors in schools or recreational centers will find this book exceptionally helpful. The basics of pantomime, improvisations, voice control, monologs and dialogs are all presented in game formats with exercises and worksheets for easy organization.

About the Author
Maria Novelly has been a teacher at the junior high through college levels and was a drama coach in Germany. A drama enthusiast who has participated in numerous plays, she currently lives and works in Stockport, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Meriwether Pub; 1st edition (June 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916260313
• ISBN-13: 978-0916260316
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,881 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for the middle school drama classroom!, September 25, 1998

By A Customer

This book contains many challenging exercises which are right on track for the middle-level student of drama. The students enjoy the cooperative nature of most activities contained in the book. Teachers will find it easy to use and assess students' work thanks to the clear, concise directions and the included worksheets students use to plan the activities.

The index in the back also is extremely helpful in locating just the right type of exercise; entries are listed in categories such as "no preparation," "noisy rehearsal," "beginner level," and many other cross-references.

When I started teaching drama five years ago, this book was my lifesaver in planning classroom activities!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than SPOLIN, August 31, 2003

By A Customer

Viola Spolin's works tend to be the benchmark for theater students, and after reading this one, I am a convert to Novelly. Her ideas are useful, concrete, creative, and apply DIRECTLY to working onstage, not to hocus-pocus theater jargon. As a professional actress and drama instructor, I recommend this highly.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Classroom Resource!, April 13, 2005

By	R. Vanden Eynden "roseofavalon" (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After nearly fifteen years of being away from the classroom, I was a bit nervous about teaching drama again. In searching for a resource that would get me back in the swing of things, I debated between this book and the classic Viola Spolin books. I finally decided on this one, and I couldn't be happier! The lessons in this book are easy to follow, easy to prepare (there's not much to preparation at all!), and, best of all, fun for the kids in class! The lessons are also easily adaptable to different circumstances, such as short class periods, environmental concerns (like needing a quieter activity), or needing a quick activity to warm the kids up. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in integrating drama into a classroom, or as a stand-alone resource in a full-fledged drama curriculum.