MELODRAMA CHARACTER WORKSHOP
Venue: Double Teaching Space, Drama Classroom, Studio, Theatre, Hall

Step into a world of heightened expression, exaggerated conflict, and moral extremes! This immersive workshop introduces students to Melodrama – a timeless theatrical style built on bold physicality, stylised performance, and dramatic storytelling.

Through a blend of historical context, improvisational games, and performance-based learning, students engage with the iconic character types and emotional stakes that define Melodrama. They will explore how status, stakes, and spectacle shape this rich genre – and how it connects to modern comedy, superhero films, and even social media personas.

WORKSHOP FOCUS AREAS

Character Archetypes

Students will study, embody, and create scenes around the following classic characters:

• The Hero: Noble, strong, brave, and morally pure
• The Heroine: Virtuous, emotionally expressive, and often the target of rescue
• The Villain: Scheming, powerful, and driven by greed or revenge
• The Comic Relief Accomplice: Bumbling, loyal, and often oblivious to danger
• The Faithful Servant: Loyal, resourceful, and often wiser than they appear
• The Maidservant: Flirty, sassy, and deeply loyal to the Heroine

Each archetype will be explored through physical posture, voice, gesture, and motivation.

 Physical & Vocal Techniques

• Stylised movement patterns
• Over-the-top facial expressions
• Gestural motifs for emotion (e.g. “hands to heart” for love)
• Melodramatic soundscape and vocal projection
• Emphasis on stage presence, awareness, and spatial relationships

Scene Creation

• Students devise short melodramatic scenes using given prompts (villain’s plot, heroic rescue, mistaken identity)
• Scripted and improvised options available
• Emphasis on heightened stakes, status, and physical storytelling

 Ensemble Building

• Partner and small-group activities to build collaborative trust
• “Freeze Frames” of key moments in melodramatic stories
• Group reflection on choices, structure, and audience impact

CURRICULUM LINKS – DRAMA (ACARA)

Years 7–8

• ACADRM040: Develop roles and characters using voice, movement, and dramatic action
• ACADRM041: Structure drama to engage audiences using tension and contrast
• ACADRR043: Analyse how dramatic elements and conventions communicate meaning

Years 9–10

• ACADRM048: Improvise with dramatic conventions to develop original characters
• ACADRM049: Rehearse and refine exaggerated and expressive physical performances
• ACADRR050: Evaluate how conventions and elements influence audience response

Senior Drama (Years 11–12)

• Apply genre-specific conventions in devised works
• Explore moral and social issues through stylised performance
• Understand melodrama’s influence on film, comedy, and pop culture
• Reflect on audience impact and theatrical purpose

CURRICULUM LINKS – ENGLISH

• Analyse narrative structure and archetypal characters
• Explore how tone, gesture, and exaggeration convey meaning
• Use drama to enhance oral presentations, character writing, and creative writing
• Develop multimodal texts based on workshop experiences

GENERAL CAPABILITIES

Personal and Social Capability

• Build self-confidence through large-scale physical expression
• Develop empathy by exploring emotional responses through stylised roles
• Strengthen collaborative problem-solving and improvisation

Critical and Creative Thinking

• Use divergent thinking to create inventive characters and scenarios
• Evaluate performance choices and audience engagement techniques

Ethical Understanding

• Reflect on character motives and moral dilemmas
• Analyse the oversimplification of good and evil and its relevance today

THEMES AND CONTEXTS

• Good vs Evil
• Power and Corruption
• Justice, Consequence, and Redemption
• Emotional Extremes (love, fear, greed, hope)
• Identity and Loyalty
• Morality in Society (past and present)

TEACHER TAKEAWAYS

• Printable character archetype templates
• “Melodrama Mood Map” for emotion-to-gesture translation
• Scene starters and reflection activities
• Post-workshop extension tasks (script writing, film connections, silent performance challenges)

Devised by: Clint Bolster
Directed by: Clint Bolster