Readers Theatre

Readers Theatre is a form of dramatic interpretation that involves students in reading scripts orally. Readers Theatre requires no scenery, costumes, or action. Readers convey mood, tone, and emotion, and suggest character through the use of their voices, facial expressions, and gestures.

Although it is intended to be shared with an audience, Readers Theatre is also very process- oriented. It provides opportunities for students to practise both their reading and speaking skills, and is an effective strategy for helping students develop confidence in their reading abilities so that they will move on to solo oral reading. As well, if struggling readers are grouped with fluent readers, it helps them to read more fluently.

Generally, selections for Readers Theatre include five or six readers for each piece. Selections should be able to hold the interest of the readers and the audience through vivid oral expression. Students may write their own scripts, or script short stories, novel excerpts, nonfiction, and epic or narrative poetry. As well, short plays or excerpts of plays may be fun to perform.

Purposes of Readers Theatre include the following:

• to develop awareness that oral reading in a Readers Theatre experience is one way to communicate a piece of literature, as well as a way to interpret and understand characters
  
• to provide experience in choosing play scripts for reading or in adapting selections for Readers Theatre presentations
  
• to practise using voice to interpret dialogue and communicate meaning
  
• to increase enjoyment of oral reading and listening
  
• to increase appreciation of literature.

Before Participating in Readers Theatre

Some guidelines include the following:

• have students write or select a script or character part based on their interests and reading abilities
  
• establish roles (e.g., narrator, characters, director)
  
• provide one script to each student who will be reading (it is helpful for readers to highlight their own roles with coloured markers)
  
• have students read the script silently
  
• discuss and explain any difficult or unfamiliar vocabulary
  
• invite students to speculate about the characters (How might they speak? What kind of facial expressions might they have? What kind of gestures would the character make?)
  
• have students read aloud through the script as often as is necessary to become confident and fluent in their roles
  
• help students to determine how they can most effectively stage their reading (e.g., all readers seated or all standing, some readers seated while others stand, all readers in a straight row, some readers in front or behind others).

During Readers Theatre

During Readers Theatre, it is important to consider the following:

• readers hold copies of the script as they read or scripts can be placed on music stands
  
• readers may choose to look at a point over the heads of the audience, unless they decide together to interact in appropriate ways (e.g., looking at another reader while speaking)
  
• the audience members are seated and listen attentively as they use their imaginations to enjoy the readers' interpretation of the script.

After Participating in Readers Theatre

Some activities to consider following Readers Theatre include:

• have students discuss or write about how their interpretation of the performance relates to their personal experience or prior knowledge
  
• allow time for small group reflective discussion by the readers of the script
  
• assess students by making anecdotal notes as students read and listen (e.g., use of volume and pitch, pronunciation of new vocabulary, awareness of character development, use of gestures and facial expressions, effective pauses, attention and awareness of listeners).