A Readers’ Theatre performance is a dramatic reading without the need for stage actions, or elaborate sets and costumes. It provides teachers with an opportunity to stage a play without the challenges that come with designing and building sets and creating costumes.

Readers’ Theatre enhances students’ reading skills and confidence through practice with a purpose. Reading aloud and re-reading are key factors in developing fluency and comprehension. Using Readers’ Theatre with your students will also motivate reluctant readers and allow fluent readers to explore characterisation and drama.

This downloadable PDF resource contains 10 original Readers’ Theatre plays written by Australian authors that cover a wide variety of genres.

Assessment checklists for pre-performance, peer evaluation and oral presentations are included, as well as two worksheets for each play.

Each play includes links to the Australian Curriculum and Teacher’s Notes with information about:

• the script’s plot, characters and setting
• introducing the play — main topic, characters, ideas
• vocabulary — including a list of tricky words o interpreting the story
• rehearsal and stage movement
• performance and staging ideas of post-play review.