The ESU Performing Shakespeare Competition grand final is approaching, and our judges are ready to be wowed. Before you take to the stage, make sure you know what they’re looking for…
Fill the space
Whether you’ve been rehearsing in a bedroom, classroom or living room, your performance will be taking place on a stage that is most likely much bigger, so try to get comfortable with that scale before the day. Project your voice to the back of the room, not just to the judges, and make the whole space yours. Grounding yourself on the balls of your feet with an open, commanding stance will help you own the stage from the moment you step onto it.
Let it build
Resist the urge to come out at full intensity from the very first line. Allowing your performance to build in those opening moments takes the audience on a journey with your character and creates space for genuine emotional variation throughout.
Make every word count
Practise your diction by going through your performance slowly, pronouncing every single word and underlining where you want to place emphasis. This will help make sure the audience can follow every line, even at full volume.
Move with intention
Fidgety, unplanned movement is distracting. Plant your feet and only move when you have somewhere to go and a reason to go there. Equally, your physical performance should complement the text: try to embody your character so your movements match what you’re communicating verbally.
Give it a clear beginning and end
Think of your performance like a sentence, i.e. it needs a capital letter and a full stop. A deliberate move to a different part of the stage, or a held pause, can signal clearly to your audience that your performance has begun and ended. These moments of intention leave a lasting impression.
Put your character on like a coat
Step fully into your character’s perspective, it sometimes helps to think of it like putting on a coat! How do they see the world, how do they carry themselves, what drives them? Think about where your own personality, or someone you know, overlaps with the character you’ve chosen, and use that to bring authenticity to your performance. The more real it feels to you, the more real it will feel to your audience.
Connect your oracy to your performance
The oracy component is not separate from your performance, it’s an extension of it. Use the same vocal and physical techniques you bring to your monologue or duologue to set the scene and tell your story. A strong connection between your presentation and your performance will make both feel more cohesive and compelling.
Tell us why it matters to you
Make sure you really elaborate on why you chose this particular monologue or duologue. What does it mean to you personally? What does it reflect about your own experience, and why is it relevant to the audience in the room? The most memorable performances are rooted in genuine personal connection, so don’t be afraid to share that!
Want to find out more about our competitions? Click here for more information.
