Library: Theatre Studies / Drama: VCAA Monologues

How to perform a monologue

Theatre Resources - Belvoir St Theatre

Click on the image above to access helpful resources from Sydney's Belvoir St Theatre. You can find information on a huge array of theatre topics, including:

directing
production
lighting design
set design
costume design

Performing monologues
On this page, there are five videos to help you work through the monologue preparation process as an actor, from identifying the audience, to considering the use of space and the importance of seeking feedback.
Performing monologues worksheet
This worksheet accompanies the five videos in the link above and is helpful for providing a structured approach to analysing a script and developing a character.

BBC Bitesize Drama revision

Click on the image above to access the BBC Bitesize Drama revision website. It is a comprehensive guide to accompany the study and practice of VCE level drama.

Styles, genres and practitioners
This section provides an overview of different theatre styles, such as Epic theatre, musical theatre, Naturalism and physical theatre.
Performance skills
This section provides an overview of the steps to developing a monologue for performance, including approaching a script, and using the space, your body and voice.

BBC Bitesize Theatre Design revision

Click on the image above to access the BBC Bitesize Theatre design revision website. It provides a brief overview of design roles, such as lighting, set, sound and costume.

VCE Monologues 2023

The Deliciously Cruel Trunchbullification of Emma Thompson in ‘Matilda’
Interview with Emma Thompson discussing her approach to playing Miss Trunchbull.
Matilda the Musical - school resources
Inspired by Matilda The Musical, this online resource gives schools insights into the process of staging this award-winning musical. With teacher packs, films and online activities this programme of work aims to give young people the inspiration, confidence and skills to develop their own writing. To get the most out of this resource we suggest you initially navigate the pages in the order of Character, Plot, Music, Dialogue, Rewriting.

Britannica - Noel Coward
A concise biographical overview of Noel Coward.
Noel Coward
Read about the life and career of Noel Coward and find information about his works and current productions of Blithe Spirit.
Review, 2022
A comprehensive review of Sydney Theatre Company's 2022 production of Blithe Spirit, including photographs.
Study Guide
Information about the play, playwright, characters and elements of theatre.
Study guide - Guthrie Theatre
Synopsis, characters, inspiration for the play - and more.

Britannica - The Two Noble Kinsman
Concise overview of the play, including the creation, synopsis and related links.
The British Library - The Two Noble Kinsman
Concise overview of the play, including creation, early productions and a synopsis.
Folger Shakespeare Library - The Two Noble Kinsman
Access to a synopsis, full text, related images, essays and resources on the play and Shakespeare.
Royal Shakespeare Company - The Two Noble Kinsman
Resources about The Two Noble Kinsman from the Royal Shakespeare Company, including a synopsis, education resources and information about the 2016 production.

About: Dead Man's Cell Phone
Brief synopsis, exerpt and link to performance details of the original production.
About: Sarah Ruhl
A comprehensive biography of the playwright.
FINDING THE WORLD OF DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE
Article discussing the writing style of Dead Man's Cell Phone.
Review, 2008
Review of the 2008 production from The New York Times.
Review, 2023
Comprehensive review of a 2023 production of Dead Man's Cell Phone.
Review, 2023
Theatre Review: ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’ Phone at Fell’s Point Corner Theatre

Extract "Today We're Alive"
Contains an introduction from Linden Wilkinson, a short playwright bio, information on the first production details, brief character descriptions, first 20 pages of the play.
Friends of Myall Creek - The Massacre Story
A detailed overview of the historical events and context of the Myall Creek Massacre.
Friends of Myall Creek - Videos/Books
Links to related sources on the Myall Creek Massacre, including a memorial video, a short SBS episode and an interactive map of massacres around Australia.
How to perform verbatim theatre
Actor, theatre-maker and writer Naomi Joesph explains the different types of verbatim performance and shares her tips on how to get started in verbatim theatre.
National Museum of Australia - Myall Creek massacre
A detailed overview of the events and historical context of the Myall Creek massacre.
Overview of Today We're Alive
A summary of the education resources provided in the play, with an explanation of the verbatim form and prompts to explore scenes.

Britannica - Karel Capek
An overview of the life and career of the writer, Karel Capek, with a related link to a brief article about the play R.U.R. You will need to log in via GenConnect.
The MIT Press Reader - The Czech Play That Gave Us the Word ‘Robot’
An article providing an overview of the context and philosophical ideas present in R.U.R.
Project Gutenberg - R.U.R. full script
This script includes a brief introduction and details of the characters.
University of Michigan - R.U.R.
An overview of the play, including background information, list of characters and a summary of each act.

Review, 2016
A detailed review of the National Arts Centre Studio production.
Review, 2018
A detailed review of Empire of the Son, evaluating the play, performance and staging.
Study Guide - Empire of the Son
A comprehensive study guide for Empire of the Son, including information about the show, writer and performer, Japanese culture and Japanese immigration to Canada.

About the author
A brief biography of Kae Tempest.
Britannica - Sophocles
A detailed overview of the life, career and plays of Sophocles. Includes links to related information about theatre, tragedy and other topics.
The Guardian, interview with Kae Tempest
Writer Kae Tempest discusses the making of the National Theatre production of Paradise.
Learning guide - Paradise
Comprehensive study guide for Paradise, including character descriptions, production notes, synopsis and links to interviews with the writer and creatives.
Review, 2021
Kae Tempest’s Paradise, showing at the National Theatre under the direction of Ian Rickson, lends contemporary relevance to the Greek myth of Philoctetes - detailed review on performances and staging.

Antigone, full production
The full production of Antigone, written by Jean Anouilh, performed in 1974. You will need to log in to Digital Theatre Plus.
Antigone - Bench production, 1977
Information about the play, playwright and production information from the Bench theatre's 1977 staging of Anouilh's version.
Britannica - Jean Anouilh
Concise biography of Jean Anouilh.
Key Concepts in Ancient Greek Theatre: The Chorus
The Key Concepts in Ancient Greek Theatre series offers a range of short, authoritative and accessible e-learning videos to introduce students to five areas of Ancient Greek Theatre. This episode explores the chorus, using clips from Medea, Antigone and Oedipus to compare the role of the chorus in Ancient Greek Theatre and contemporary performance. You will need to log in to Digital Theatre Plus.
Review, 2015
A detailed review of a 2015 production of Anouilh's Antigone.
Review, 2017
Review of a 2017 production of Anouilh's Antigone.
Study Guide - Antigone
Digital Theatre+ Study Guides are specially commissioned from leading theatre academics and practitioners, with expert knowledge of the texts that they explore. The guides examine plays from literary and contextual, as well as dramatic perspectives, to provide a thorough and manifold access point to key texts, from the classical to the contemporary. You will need to log in to Digital Theatre Plus.

Useful books

ACTIONS the Actors' Thesaurus by Marina Caldarone; Maggie Lloyd-Williams
ISBN: 0896762521
Publication Date: 2004-04-01
An essential companion for actors in rehearsal - a thesaurus of action words to revitalize performance.
All About Theatre by National Theatre
Call Number: 792 MCI
ISBN: 9781406358698
Publication Date: 2015

Useful websites: acting and monologue preparation

Accent audio collection
This collection of audio files have been recorded by the Acting and Music Theatre students at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. The recordings have been made under a range of recording conditions, from interviewees lounge rooms to cafes and pubs around Perth so the sound quality varies accordingly.
Actions: the 60 second challenge
This video demonstrates an actor using actions to deliver the same line in a variety of different, purposeful ways.
Active Verbs list
If you are breaking your monologue into beats and objectives, you can use this list of active verbs to help direct your vocal and body movement choices.
Developing a Character through Script Analysis
This guide will help you develop an understanding of your character through script analysis.
How to perform a monologue (for auditions)
This article looks at performing monologues from an audition perspective.
Laban's Eight Efforts: a visual guide
This diagram shows the eight movement efforts in relation to weight and time.
Laban's Eight Efforts in Combination
This youtube playlist demonstrates each of Laban's Eight movement Efforts used by three different actors.
Using the Stanislavski System to approach character development.
This guide will help you apply the Stanislavski System approach, using techniques such as objective, super objective and the Magic If.