Interpreting a Character

In drama, the way a performer uses their body can convey a character’s personality, emotions, and intentions without the need for words. Physical skills are an essential part of a performer’s toolkit, allowing them to interpret and express their character in a meaningful way. Below are key physical skills and techniques used by performers to bring characters to life.

How Performers Use Their Body

A performer’s body is their instrument of expression, and how they use it can tell the audience a great deal about their character. Body movements help to communicate a character’s emotions, social status, energy, and relationships with others.

Posture: The way a character holds their body can indicate their emotional state, confidence, or social position.

Example: A character with a slumped posture may be seen as insecure, sad, or tired, while someone with an upright posture might appear confident, proud, or formal.

Physicality: A character’s overall physicality refers to how they move, stand, and interact with their environment. It includes aspects such as:

Strength: A powerful, muscular character might move with broader, stronger gestures.

Grace: A delicate or graceful character might make more fluid, controlled movements.

Body Language

Definition: Body language refers to the non-verbal signals sent by the body through gestures, posture, and movement. It is an essential part of how a performer conveys the inner world of a character.

Openness vs. Closedness: The positioning of the arms, torso, and legs can suggest whether a character is open or closed off.

Open body language: Arms and legs uncrossed, standing tall, facing forward. This often suggests openness, confidence, or receptivity.

Closed body language: Arms crossed, hunched posture, avoiding eye contact. This can indicate defensiveness, discomfort, or a lack of confidence.

Mirroring: A character might unconsciously mirror the movements or posture of another, indicating a close connection or empathy. Conversely, opposing body language can indicate conflict or tension.

Example: If one character stands tall and erect, while another slouches or avoids eye contact, it can signify a power imbalance.

Eye Contact

Definition: Eye contact is a powerful form of communication. How a character uses their eyes—whether they look at someone directly, avoid eye contact, or glance around—can convey a great

deal about their intentions, emotions, or relationships with others.

Direct Eye Contact: Looking directly into the eyes of another character can indicate confidence, dominance, attraction, or sincerity. However, it can also be seen as confrontational or aggressive in certain contexts.

Example: A character in a leadership role may maintain direct eye contact to assert authority.

Avoiding Eye Contact: A character who avoids eye contact may be feeling insecure, guilty, shy, or evasive. It could also indicate powerlessness or fear.

Example: A character lying to another might avoid eye contact to conceal their guilt.

Glancing or Staring: The length and intensity of a character’s gaze can reveal subtle emotional states, such as longing, curiosity, or distrust.

Example: A character gazing longingly at another person can suggest unspoken affection or desire.

Facial Expressions and Gait

Facial Expressions

Definition: Facial expressions are a crucial aspect of conveying a character's emotional state and reactions. A character's face can communicate everything from happiness and surprise to anger and sadness.

Smiling: A smile can indicate happiness, friendliness, or even sarcasm or insincerity, depending on the context. A forced smile can be a sign of discomfort.

Frowning or Scowling: A frown can indicate confusion, displeasure, or concentration. A scowl often suggests anger or frustration.

Eyebrow Movements: Raised eyebrows might indicate surprise, curiosity, or disbelief, while furrowed brows can indicate confusion, suspicion, or anger.

Gait

Definition: Gait refers to the way a character walks or moves. A character’s gait can reveal a lot about their personality, mood, or physical condition.

Quick, energetic gait: This could suggest excitement, urgency, confidence, or impatience.

Slow, heavy gait: This might indicate sadness, fatigue, or a sense of defeat.

Stiff or limping gait: This may signal injury, discomfort, or even a reluctance to move freely, which can suggest a character's emotional or physical struggle.

Gesture

Definition: A gesture is a movement of the body, particularly the hands or arms, that conveys meaning. Gestures can emphasise speech, reveal a character's emotional state, or provide insight into their personality.

Expressive Gestures: Large, expressive gestures can show strong emotions such as excitement, anger, or frustration.

Example: A character waving their hands dramatically could be expressing frustration, or a character pointing with a raised finger might be showing authority or accusation.

Subtle Gestures: Small, subtle gestures can reveal the inner thoughts or emotions of a character without being overt. For example, a nervous character might tap their fingers or fidget with an object.

Example: A character with their hand to their chin might be deep in thought or considering something seriously.

Pace and Quality of Movement

Pace

Definition: Pace refers to the speed at which a character moves or acts, and it can be used to express urgency, control, or emotional states.

Fast Pace: Quick movements or fast walking might convey excitement, urgency, anger, or impatience.

Example: A character rushing around the stage can indicate stress or urgency.

Slow Pace: Slow movements or deliberate, controlled steps often indicate thoughtfulness, sadness, or hesitation.

Example: A character slowly walking away could indicate withdrawal, sadness, or contemplation.

Quality of Movement

Definition: The quality of movement refers to the style and energy with which a character moves. It is often used to convey emotional or psychological states.

Sharp, jagged movements: These can indicate aggression, nervousness, or tension.

Smooth, flowing movements: These can suggest calmness, grace, or confidence.

Heavy, laboured movements: These can indicate tiredness, burden, or depression.

Using Space and Levels

Using Space

Definition: The way an actor uses the physical space of the stage can influence the dynamic of the scene. Characters might move closer to or further away from others, signalling emotional distance or intimacy.

Proximity: Standing close to another character can suggest familiarity, intimacy, or dominance. Standing farther away can indicate detachment, formality, or discomfort.

Blocking: How characters position themselves in relation to others on the stage can suggest power dynamics, relationships, or the importance of specific characters in a scene.

Levels

Definition: Levels refer to the physical height at which an actor is positioned. This can be used to indicate a character’s status, power, or emotional state.

High Levels: A character standing on an elevated platform or a raised surface might be seen as powerful, dominant, or superior.

Low Levels: A character sitting or lying down may appear vulnerable, submissive, or in a position of inferiority.

Equal Levels: Characters standing on the same level can suggest equality, cooperation, or shared emotional states.

Specialist Skills and Physical Tension

Specialist Skills

Definition: Some characters require performers to use specific physical skills, such as dance, mime, combat, or clowning, to fully realise the character’s actions or intentions.

Dance: Characters in musicals or period plays might require a certain level of dance or movement skill to express their emotions or the cultural context.

Mime: In some productions, especially those involving physical theatre, performers may use mime to convey emotions or actions without speaking.

Stage Combat: For characters involved in fight scenes or violent actions, stage combat skills are essential for safety and realism.

Physical Tension

Definition: Physical tension refers to the tightness or looseness of the performer’s body. It can communicate a character’s emotional state and level of stress.

High Tension: Tensed muscles, clenched fists, or a stiff posture can suggest anger, fear, or nervousness.

Low Tension: Relaxed movements or a loose body can indicate calmness, comfort, or apathy.

By mastering these physical skills, performers can create more dynamic, believable characters and enhance the overall storytelling of a production.