The story shelf

Story shelf

Browse ideas for scripts, performance, stagecraft, rehearsal and production. Each piece starts with a particular question; take what fits your group and leave room to improvise.

Three people standing with their backs against a black wall facing sideways and an empty wooden chair spotlighted on a stage

Performance

The Stage Picture: A Silent Conversation Between Bodies

A stage picture lets spacing, levels and focus tell a story before dialogue begins. Learn to sketch contrasting…

Nov 2, 20268 min read

Young man holding a large key prop toward a thoughtful woman in a dimly lit room with black curtains

Stagecraft

One Scene, Two Props: Choosing What Carries the Idea

Choosing props for a scene? Compare a literal object with a suggestive stand-in to see how each shifts the audience’s…

Oct 29, 20267 min read

Open theatre programme for The Merchant of Venice with hand-written cast list and costume pieces in a rustic room

Production

How Amateur Theatre Societies Shaped Their Own Traditions

Amateur theatre history reveals how local societies shaped their own traditions through shared choices about plays…

Oct 23, 20265 min read

Group of four people in casual clothes rehearsing or discussing in a bright room with wooden floor and large windows

Rehearsal

The Rehearsal Myth: More Runs Do Not Fix a Fuzzy Aim

A clearer rehearsal aim turns repeated scene runs into useful decisions, helping amateur casts spot what needs…

Oct 20, 20267 min read

Two women indoors with one standing holding a chair and the other sitting on a chair facing each other

Scripts

A Five-Minute Scene for a Long Afternoon Indoors

Make a five-minute scene indoors with a playable map, clear stage pictures and a satisfying ending, using ordinary…

Oct 15, 20266 min read