surprise role-play: the moderator or a participant previously
instructed intervenes throughout the play with a surprise impulse, so
as not to disturb the unfolding of the play, but also to stimulate
spontaneity in participants;- Structured role-play implies the precise and clear statement of the play
situation, with room for spontaneity; includes the analysis of the initial
situation and of the roles played. It can be:
partners role-play (dyad),
group role-play (e.g. conflictual roles between groups); - Holistic role-play is performed with the entire group (no observers) and
includes: direct approach (no preparation) of the play situation, carrying out
the action in context, improvisation within the play (the main roles are
assigned, and the supporting ones presuppose a higher degree of spontaneity);
roles are collective, the play leader has the main part, to organize and
stimulate the participation of the others.
The stages of role-play
Role-play follows the stages below :
- counsellor / moderator describing the topic, situation proposed. In this stage
are introduced the setting, location, time, conditions, aims, scenario, status
and role, relationship between the characters involved; - motivating the participants, warming up or icebreaking in order to accept and
involve in the role-play, triggering positive attitudes. The moderator
intervene in order to get the interest of the participants by showing the
benefits of the method proposed, and also in order to obtain their agreement
to taking part in the activity. Actors and observers volunteer or are appointed
to the roles; - casting (actors, observers, possibly extras) and handing out charts to every
participant with a description of the situation, role, behaviour to be adopted,
setting the stage, instructing the observers regarding the aspects to be
watched. It is important that roles are connected with the life of the
participants and their previous experience for a better transposition into the
proposed situations. Actors can play the part of significant people in their
lives or even their own role in different situations. Charts will include: the
name, occupation, image, important data for the role (age, marital status,
children, etc.), biographical data (an abbreviated CV), information on the
context of the role;