Answer:
1 Choose from categories
-great way to gauge what type of role your students would like to have in the school play is to ask them to choose a category. For example, they could pick either actor, narration, non-speaking or music and from this, you can see what they’re comfortable with and go from there. Those who have specified non-speaking are evidently not going to be comfortable with a leading role. You could go with more vague categories if you want to push your students to be more open to the experience, such as using a traffic light method; ‘red’ if they’re adamant they don’t want a key role, ‘amber’ if they don’t mind what they do within the play, or ‘green’ is they’re keen to take on a more inclusive role wherein they may be a lead role or singing for example.
2 Host an audition process
-Whilst a school play isn’t a West End production holding auditions can be a useful tactic, as sometimes children can seem confident and enthusiastic, but when it comes to it they might freeze in front of an audience. It’s therefore useful to realise this early to both save the student from potential anxiety and the running of the school play. This also provides an opportunity for those students who you’ve pegged as more reserved in the classroom, to surprise you by auditioning and coming out of their shell. Just make sure that you don’t get caught up in the audition process and choose students with a specific ‘look’ for a part - your Sandy from Grease doesn’t need to have traditional blonde hair
