Identify different styles of writing and writer’s voice 

When someone speaks to you, you can often infer, or guess, meaning from their tone of voice and body language. In written dialogue, writers choose words carefully to give the closest meaning. For example:

• Jackie closes the door. 

• Jackie closes the door softly. 

• Jackie slams the door

Stage directions give actors additional information about tone of voice and body language so they can give more meaning to the script.

Activity 1:

Read the stage directions from Secrets and Words below.

Highlight which words show Jackie’s mood and that she is in a hurry. Underline the words and phrases that are relevant.

The house is silent. Then Jackie bursts through the door and heads straight to the drawers where all the bills are kept. She grabs a load and heads to the kitchen. Then she grabs the calendar where John has written when he’s away with work etc.

Jackie starts rifling like a woman possessed. It’s not long before she’s faced with the reality of John’s affair in front of her. She suddenly stops. She stares into space.

Jackie starts to sob.

Activity 2: Rewrite the stage directions to completely change the atmosphere of the scene.