Preparing for Speech Festival- Dramatic Performances
It’s that time of the year again! No, we’re not talking about Halloween yet. Or Christmas, for that matter. It’s time for speech festival preparation! Did you sign up to perform a dramatic monologue or duologue or a dramatic scene? Did anyone sign up for all three? Well, if you did and are looking for some advice as to how you can break a leg and rock the stage, you’re totally at the right place. Here are some common Q&As many competitors may have regarding these categories of dramatic performances.
Q: I’m a bit shy and self-conscious, so I’m not very comfortable with expressing myself onstage. I’m scared that people will laugh at me for being fake or acting in an exaggerated manner. What do I do?
A: So maybe you do have to be a tad bit exaggerated when you’re onstage. It is the only way you can properly convey your emotions, especially to a large audience. And maybe you’ll have to be just a tad bit outrageous and dramatic. Maybe you’ll have to cry or yell or scream or shout and it’s perfectly okay for you to feel self-conscious about that! Not everyone is comfortable displaying raw emotions, especially in front of a crowd of people you don’t know well. But if you’re worried about seeming a bit weird, keep in mind that being reserved on stage doesn’t exactly make you look good either. So express yourself and try to push your doubts and shyness aside! Find the diva in you and impress everyone in the crowd.
Q: How do I properly prepare for the competition?
A: Let’s talk about prepared pieces first. First things first, read the piece. Make sure you fully understand the meaning of every word, the motives behind each character and the emotional arc they go through during the piece. Then, think of how you’re going to properly utilize the stage. Will your characters move from one end to the other at a certain point? At what point will they stand, and at what point will they sit down? How will they interact with each other? Write notes in the margins of your piece so you won’t forget what to do at what point. Then, practice! Remember your lines, run through your steps, and get props if you need to. Don’t just practice until you get everything right, practice until you can’t get anything wrong. It takes time and it takes patience, but once you pull off a smooth final performance, it will all be worth it.
Q: I struggle with stage fright. What do I do?
A: Stage fright is the formidable foe of many people. Rest assured, you’re not the only one who’ll be struggling with it and you probably never will. So don’t feel bad if you do have stage fright- it’s okay! What matters is what you do to combat it. Power posing are high-energy poses that can help you boost your confidence before your performance, so do try it out.
Good luck, and break a leg!
