Summary
This drama takes place on the film set where an
Historical film about King Henry VIII of England is being made. The scene
being filmed is one between Henry, his wife, Anne, and William, the King's
secretary. Filming is very difficult because Brian, the actor playing Henry, is
always disagreeing with the director and is very rude. He also doesn't know his
lines. The other actors get cross and when Brian shouts at the make-up assistant,
the director decides to make some big changes!
Characters
• Brian is
the actor playing King Henry VIII. He is a famous film star and is very
big-headed and rude. He always thinks he's right and is very difficult to work
with. The student playing this role needs to be able to play a loud, larger
than life character.
• Kim is
the director of the film. She is a friendly, confident character who is good at
making everyone feel at ease. She is very patient, but is also someone who
knows how to deal with difficult situations.
• Mark is
the camera operator, filming the actors. He is good friends with Kim and is an
easy-going character. He doesn't have many lines.
• Sasha is
the actress playing Anne, King Henry's wife. She is friendly and polite, although
she does get very fed up with Brian.
• Neil is
the actor playing William, King Henry's secretary. He really doesn't like Brian
and gets quite annoyed when filming is made very difficult because of Brian's
behaviour.
• Bunny is
the make-up artist. She is in charge of making sure everyone's make-up is just
right and goes around touching up the actors' faces with powder, etc. She also
helps the director. She's quite young and nervous and gets very upset by Brian.
She doesn't have many lines.
Preparation
Props
• a make-up
brush and powder compact for Bunny
• a chair for
Kim, the director
• a video
camera for Mark (this could be mimed)
• a mobile
phone for Brian
• a crown
• a
clapperboard (e.g. a small whiteboard) with 'King Henry the Eighth, Scene 2, Take
1' written on it.
Drama warm-up
This game is like 'Simon says' but it is called 'The
director says'. Ask a student to stand at the front of the class and to be the
director. He / she says 'The director says ...' and then gives the class an
instruction, e.g. 'The director says sit down.' The class must then sit down.
The class must obey all the director's instructions until the director gives an
instruction without first saying 'The director says ...'. Any student who
follows this instruction is out.
(Sasha and Neil are standing on the film
set. Bunny is doing Neil's make-up. Mark is behind his camera and Kim
is sitting in her director's chair.)
Neil Where's
Brian, Kim?
Kim I'm not
sure. He's very late.
Neil He's
always late.
[Bunny finishes Neil's make-up and starts Sasha's.]
Neil Thanks.
Bunnv.
Sasha (to Bunny) Sorry? What’s your name?
Bunny (shyly) Bunny. It’s my
nickname.
Sasha I think it's cute!
[Kim walks over to Mark. She looks at her watch.)
Kim We must
film soon ...
Mark How was your weekend?
Kim It was brilliant, thanks. I went to Manchester and visited friends. What was your camping trip
like?
Mark Well,
it was rainy and I didn’t take my waterproof clothes? So I was very wet!
(Brian enters. He is talking on his mobile
phone)
Brian Yeah,
yeah, yeah ...Give me a call. Must go... bye for
now.
Kim Hello, Brian! You're very late.
Brian Hello, darling! I'm here, everyone!
Sasha Hello, Brian. Did you have a good weekend?
Brian Not really. I went to Neil's party. It was
terrible. The food was really bad and the people
were boring.
Neil
[angrily] Brian!
Kim [giving Brian the King's crown] Calm
down, Neil. Here's your crown, Brian. Let's film. Bunny,
the clapperboard, please.
[Bunny
holds the clapperboard in front of the camera. Brian, Neil and Sasha get ready
to film.]
Bunny 'King Henry the Eighth', Scene 2, Take 1.
Kim And ...action!
[Brian's mobile phone rings.]
Kim Cut!
Mark I don't
believe it!
[Brian answers
his phone.]
Brian Hi,
darling! Yeah, yeah! Amazing! How are you?
Kim Brian!
There weren't any mobile phones in the sixteenth century!
Brian [talking
on phone] Darling, must go! Yeah, yeah, text
me later, OK?
Neil Brian! We want to film! Today!
Kim Are you ready, Brian?
Brian [rudely]Yes, yes!
[Bunny
holds the clapperboard in front of the camera. Brian, Neil and Sasha get ready
to film.]
Bunny 'King
Henry the Eighth', Scene 2, Take 2.
Kim And ...
action!
Sasha [to Neil] Are you
going to talk to the king, William?
Neil Yes,
Queen Anne, [to Brian] King
Henry, I'm going to go to Rome tomorrow.
[Neil
and Sasha wait for Brian to speak. He doesn't.]
Sasha Brian! Brian! Brian, it's your
line!
Kim Cut!
Brian, it's your line!
Brian Is it? [He takes off his crown.] I
don't like this crown. Spanish kings didn't have crowns like this.
Mark What?
Kim King
Henry the Eighth wasn't a Spanish king! He ruled England for
thirty-seven years!
Brian Are you
sure? When did he rule England?
Neil About
five hundred years ago! He became King of England in 1509.
Brian No, no, no. King Henry lived in Spain. He was
very dark with a curly moustache. I want a curly moustache and more
make-up.
Kim Brian! He was quite fair with a
beard.
Mark And he was
English.
Brian [rudely] I want
more make-up!
Kim OK, OK!
Bunny, please do Brian's make-up.
[Bunny
walks over to Brian and starts to do his make-up. Brian suddenly throws
Bunny's make-up brush on the floor]
Brian [shouting at Bunny] What
are you doing? Stop it! I don't like that colour! [Bunny starts to cry and exits.]
Kim What's the matter? Poor Bunny! Are you
always
difficult, Brian?
Brian I'm not
difficult! You're difficult!
Neil We are not!
Sasha
Kim Brian,
I'm not going to work with you any more. Please
leave now.
Brian What?!
Kim Go! I
don't want to work with you.
Brian And I
don't want to work with you. Goodbye!
[Brian
throws his crown on the floor and exits.]
Neil Kim,
what about the film?
Kim Don't worry. I've got an idea. Why
don't we
change the film? Let's make a film about Queen
Anne!
Mark That's
a great idea!
Kim Here's
your crown, Sasha!
[Kim
puts the crown on Sasha's head.]
Sasha Are you
sure, Kim?
Kim Yes!
Neil Brilliant!
Kim OK, stand by, Queen Anne. And ... action! (They all laugh)