theatre

Unit 1: Video and Photograph

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intermediate lesson plan - theatre picture of actors jumping into the air.

1. In the video "Cats in Theatre", what play is the video based on?
2. Did you understand about the video? What did you find funny about it?
3. Describe the photograph above?
4. What forms of plays and theatre are popular in your country? Why?

An Idiom

Bring the House Down
An idiom used in theatre that means to successfully entain and win over the approval of the audience.

Whenever Harry the clown performs his magic tricks, he always manages to bring the house down.

Unit 2: Reading Comprehension

Alex and Gina Smith are driving the local theatre to see the musical "Starlight". Two weeks ago, their daughter, Isabelle, went for an audition, and was chosen by the theatre director to be a member of the cast. Gina called the box office earlier this morning to have two tickets reserved for them. Alex and Gina arrived 30 minutes before the show was due to start. They picked up their tickets and went backstage to see Isabelle. Behind the curtains, people were busy preparing the stage, while the actors were putting on their make-up and customes. Isabelle and the other actors were practicing their lines with the Playwrighter. Because it was their first performance, the cast wanted to go through a final rehearsal before performing in front of hundreds of theatre-goers. Isabelle was quite nervous. What will the critics say? Will there be a standing ovation or just silence? However, Alex and Gina encouraged Isabelle not to worry about what the critics thought. Instead they encouraged their daughter just to do her best. After all the audience are mostly friends and family members who come to see their loved ones perform.

Vocabulary Practice

Musical - a play which contains singing and dancing.
Audition - a trial performance in a play, theatre or t.v show in order to gain a role.
Director - the person responsible for directing the play.
Cast - the actors and actresses in a play.
Box office - a place where tickets are sold for a film or play.
Backstage - the theatres stage area, behind the curtains that is usually concealed from the public.
Stage - the main platform area of the theatre where the play is performed.
Playwrighter - the person who wrote the play.
Rehearsal - a practice session.
Theatre-goers - the audience attending the play.
Critics - a person who writes reviews about movies, plays and other forms of entertainment.
Standing ovation - people standing and clapping enthusiastically to applaud something they like.