(ages 13-14) · 6 lessons
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Exploring racism from slavery to Billie Holiday and Malcolm X
Restoration Comedy Scheme of Work
(ages 13-14)
Overview
This six-week scheme introduces students to Restoration Comedy through practical workshops and text study. Lessons use well-known plays (for example 'Bartholomew Fair' and 'The Way of the World') to explore comic characterisation, improvisation and period plot devices. Students modernise plot ideas, write monologues, rehearse extracts and use music and comic devices to shape tone. The unit concludes with a prepared extract assessment that is filmed for self-evaluation.
What Students Will Learn
Students will learn to identify and perform key features of Restoration Comedy: character names and traits, comic timing, asides and dramatic pause. They will devise modernised scenes from period plots, write and perform monologues, apply theatrical comic devices, use music to create atmosphere and rehearse extracts for a filmed performance assessment.
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- 6 detailed lesson plansA complete, practical teaching sequence for the unit.
- Lesson-by-lesson activity guidanceUse the unit structure, skills focus and classroom tasks without starting from scratch.
- Linked classroom resourcesPowerpoint Slides, Resources, Music are included where they support the lesson sequence.
Week 1: An Introduction to Restoration Comedy
This lesson introduces Restoration Comedy, examining character names and how they signal traits to an audience. Students modernise a typical plot device through role-play to focus on character and comic effect rather than language.
Resources IncludePowerpoint SlidesRestoration Comedy - An OverviewWeek 2: 'Bartholomew Fair'
The class creates a prepared improvisation of an old-fashioned fairground to build ensemble and atmosphere. Students then develop an extract from the play and use music deliberately to shape tone and setting.
Resources IncludeResources'Bartholomew Fair' by Ben JohnsonMusicMerry Go SlowerWeek 3: 'Man of Mode'
Students devise a scene from 'Man of Mode' in their own words before working with the original text to bring language to life. The lesson introduces a theatrical comic device and techniques to develop humour.
Resources IncludeResources'Man of Mode' by George EtheredgeWeek 4: 'The Way of the World'
Students write a monologue about a relationship and the act of breaking up, then explore the idea through a scene from the play. The class studies dramatic pause to create both tension and comedy.
Resources IncludeResources'Way of the World' by William CongreveWeek 5: 'The Country Wife'
A group improvises a pub scene of boastful friends and then develops the scripted version, using dramatic pause and asides to refine comic delivery. The lesson focuses on timing and vocal/physical delivery.
Resources IncludeResources'The Country Wife' by William Wytcherley'The Beaux Strategem' by George FarquarWeek 6: 'The Beaux Strategem'
This lesson is an assessment: students present a prepared and rehearsed extract from 'The Beaux Strategem' and are filmed. The recording is used for performance delivery and self-evaluation purposes.
Resources IncludeResources'The Beaux Strategem' by George Farquar
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