Explore character development in drama with hot-seating questions about a character’s background, feelings, voice and movement for creative role play.
To develop a unique character answer the following questions and then use the hot seating technique for character exploration.
Personal details: Name: Age: Job: Details of family:
Where were you born? Where did you go to school?
Past: Your biggest secret:
What was your ambition (goal) as a child?
Briefly describe one childhood story from your character’s past. This can be happy or sad.
Personality: Describe the personality that everyone sees on a daily basis: For example: friendly, happy, lively, outgoing …
Describe the personality that people see when they get to know you better. For example: more relaxed, calmer, less nervous …
Make up two personality traits or habits that show something about your character. For example: a twitch could show that they feel nervous talking about themselves …
What’s your greatest fear?
What are your likes and dislikes?
Movement How does your character stand or sit typically?
Walk?
Are they comfortable making eye contact?
Voice How do they talk? For example: do they speak slowly, steady, quickly? Or do they mumble, talk loudly, shout, or talk without expression?
Hot-seat your character.
Now that you have created a character, you should know all about their hopes and dreams and have invented a past and personality for them. Try to make some answers detailed, rather than using one word answers.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
What’s your greatest dream for the future?
Can you describe yourself in a sentence?
What do you do with your spare time?
Do you find it easy to make friends?
What’s been your happiest memory so far in your life?
Would you describe yourself as an opinionated person?
Do you think you’re easy to get along with?
What annoys you?
If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why?
Where do you see yourself in 20 years’ time?
If you could give someone younger than yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
What are you afraid of?
How do you think you’ve changed over the years?
Would you say you’re happy with your life as it is?
What makes you laugh?
Who’s the most important person in your life?
Explore Drama Start Two on Amazon
Related: drama techniques for teachers. Further reading: acting.
Want more character and role-play ideas? Browse Drama Start books for practical drama strategies, scripts and activities.
