Tips for Styles and Settings and Situations - Writing Christian Dramas, Skits and Plays

Coming soon!

This page is an under constitution and will be filled with general ideas to help you decide on the style and setting to write a play on your topic.

Formats

This the the method of HOW the story or message will be presented. Mixing up the format of a church drama makes for some real variety and creativity, and in some cases allows you to share a message with far greater impact than the traditional format of actors talking through a story on stage.
Here's some options of different drama formats:

  • Characters talk/act out a story amongst themselves (stereotypical drama presentation)
  • Monologue of character direct to audience
  • Puppet play
  • Mime synchronized to the dynamics of a music track to tell an emotional story
  • External Voice over describing actions on stage, like a narrated documentary
  • Commentator describing actions, like sports commentary
  • Voice over which is the conscience of what character is thinking on stage
  • Two narrators, fast paced short lines, bouncing of each other, and actors act and say their short lines
  • Revealing/hiding words/letters as story unfolds
  • Singing musical number
  • Character/s talking on the phone

Plot Twists / Novelties

  • T'was all a dream. Use this sparingly. Good for showing and then resolving a 'what if' alternate story line that differs from what we know actually historically happened in a story.
  • Misdirect the audience. Have a setting different to the actual story, but works as an analogy - and have an obvious "Ah-Ha" moment towards the end which reveals the mirrored story and makes people realize what everything actually represented in what they just saw.  e.g. A kid dropped off on a plane by the dad and an air hostess looking after them and in the end, asfter behaving like a shild in a womb, are PPUUSSHHEDD our the door - and they were actually in a womb - not a plane!
  • A second identical act is identical to the first, except now angels are visible, or a different decision is made and played out
  • Cameos of a previous character can appear in another play (eg Fathers day and Mothers day)

Settings:

  • Job interview
  • Councilor/psychologist session 
  • Office cubical
  • Desert, Island, Jungle, lake, rain forest, savanna
  • Car, Ship, Train, Plane, Bus, Spaceship
  • airport, station, pier 
  • Ambulance/firetruck/police car
  • Tank, battleship, submarine, fighter jet
  • Alien planet
  • School classroom, playground, principal's office
  • Auction
  • Womb
  • Courtroom
  • Jail cell
  • Guards
  • Wedding, Funeral
  • Roller coaster riders
  • Church
  • Backyard / porch / BBQ
  • Beach
  • Casino
  • Circus
  • Stand up comedy
  • Game show
  • elevator
  • Factory
  • Drive though
  • Gym
  • Funeral
  • Garage
  • retirement home
  • Hospital
  • Nightclub / Concert
  • Museum
  • Movie theater
  • Kitchen
  • horse riding
  • hairdresser
  • golf course
  • Pirate ship
  • playground
  • Science lab
  • Sports game
  • Zoo

 Situations:

Character personalities:

  • Funny / pun master
  • Sarcastic / pessimistic
  • Tough hero / unbreakable
  • Schemer / ambitious
  • Lazy / tired
  • Bad attitude or habits
  • Worrier / Depressed
  • Oblivious / Carefree
  • Focused / Analytical problem solver
  • Impatient 
  • Compassionate / motherly 
  • Selfish
  • Rude / aggressive
  • Jealous
  • Accident prone

Character Development

To help the audience connect to the characters and the story being told, it can help to drop in some clues to their life situation, such as

  • Have their name used early on
  • Have a logical backstory with relevant details hinted at or referred to
  • Communicate their personal motivation and what's lead them to it

Character roles

Characters usually play a specific role in telling a story, else they are of no importance to the story telling.. Some major roles used in storytelling include:

  • Protagonist
    This is the main character of the story, who the audience is most invested in. Usually a story is told from their point of view. You can have more than one protagonist, particularly if they have a common mission/part in the story. Usually the hero of the story, but could also be a villainous 'anti-hero'.
  • Antagonist
    The villain of the story, working against the protagonist, who the audience hopes fails.
  • Love interest
    The desire of the protagonist. Else in reverse, one who is in love with the Protagonist
  • Confidant
    The best friend or sidekick of the protagonist, who might be the one who makes things happen
  • Deuteragonists
    Similar to a confidants, but though close to the main character, they have their own story playing out separate to story’s main plot.
  • Tertiary characters
    Minor characters within the story who do not necessarily link to the main storyline.
  • Foil
    Primarily used to magnify the protagonist’s qualities, the foil is effectively the opposite of the protagonist.

COPYRIGHT

All items on this site are written by Scott Wegener, a multi award-winning Australian creative writer, specialising in fun Christian dramas and articles. He believes in looking on the lighter side of life while still valuing the eternal seriousness of life's decisions. This site is essentially a place Scott stores his works, sometimes without much copy-editing (do forgive any spelling/grammar creativity you spot on this site that comes free of charge due to his slight dyslexia).

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