Preparing Text for Rehearsal with Cara Nolan

In this workshop, we will explore how to prepare text for rehearsal from a director’s perspective, while also ensuring it is clear, accessible, and useful for actors and the wider creative team. Focusing on practical approaches to script preparation, we will look at how a director can break down and analyse text in a way that supports both storytelling and collaboration within the rehearsal room.

Throughout the session, we will examine techniques for identifying objectives, themes, rhythms, and key moments within a script, as well as ways of organising and annotating text to create a shared understanding of the work. We will also explore how thoughtful preparation can help establish a productive rehearsal framework, encourage creative discussion, and give actors the tools they need to engage confidently with the material.

The workshop is designed to provide practical methods that participants can apply to their own rehearsal processes, whether working on new writing, devised work, or established texts. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how effective text preparation can shape rehearsals, strengthen communication within a company, and support a more focused and collaborative creative process.

Workshop running time: 2 hours