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Types of Introductions – Part 1

Before performing a play, it is a good idea to introduce it, but find a creative way to do it. The children/audience knows that a play is coming so you want to do something other than, “And now it’s time for a puppet play…” In this and the next couple of posts, I’ll describe four different ways to introduce your plays.

1)    Ask a question. Think through the main teaching of your play and ask a question related to that theme the audience will relate to. If your play deals with problems, you might ask a question such as, “Have you ever had a terrible, horrible, no good day?” BRIEFLY describe that the puppet (call it by its name) has had a day like that.

Instead of going right into the play, though, take one more step. Ask the audience to pay attention to how the puppet handles their problems; do they handle them well or not so well? What would they do different that might have helped?

Then, after the play, take a few moments to discuss it and encourage the audience to handle their problems the proper way. Remember, at the end of the play, go back to your original question and discuss or teach briefly on it to help strengthen the impact of the play.

2)    Tell a SHORT story of an experience in your life or someone you know that goes along with the theme of your play. For instance, if your play deals with showing kindness, relate an experience when you showed kindness or someone showed it to you. Then tie it into the play and perform the skit.

Once done, BRIEFLY review your story and the puppet story and then challenge the audience to show similar acts of kindness. If they hear about the impact the kindness had on you, and then see it in the puppet play, they will be more likely to try it out for themselves.

In my next blog entry, I’ll share the third type of introduction.

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