Steve Capener

Ancient Roman Society had very clear class distinctions

Senatorial Class: This was the political class dominated by nobles, Men of senatorial class wore tunics with broad stripes.

Equestrian Class: The basis for this class was economic. Basically meaning how much wealth a man possessed. Equestrians wore a tunic with narrow stripes

Commons: All other freeborn Roman Citizens. Males wore a toga

Freedpeople: Men and women who had been slaves but had bought their freedom, Although not completely free because they had various restrictions on their rights. Their freeborn children, however, became full citizens, Commmons. Freedpeople had no special distinction of dress, though their names indicated their status as free.

Slaves: Born or sold into slavery through war or piracy. No distinctive dress although those that ran away were sometimes made to wear metal collars with inscriptions such as "I have run away. Capture me, When you have returned me to my master, Zoninus, you will receive a reward"

RESEARCH: From your study of Roman Theatre so far, you will need to specifically chose a character for the monologue, (ie. A Gladiator, An Emperor, A Games Spectator etc) Further Research your character and document information such as;

Age of character
Gender of character
Race of character
Social standing of the times
Cultural influences

Relationships with their family/friends
Character motivation
What other characters say about them
What they say about themselves
What they say about other characters

Click the link below to view a sample of a

Roman Character Monologue

You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues. Wisdom, justice, fortitude, temperance. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them, But I have other virtues, Father. Ambition. That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. Resourcefulness. Courage. Perhaps not on the battlefield but there are many forms of courage. Devotion, to family and to you. But non of my virtues were on your list. Even then, it was as if you didn't want me for your son. I search the faces of the gods for ways to please you, to make you proud, yet I can never do it. One kind word, on full hug where you pressed me to your chest and held me tight would have been like the sun on my heart for a thousand years. What is it in me that you hate so much? All I have ever wanted was to live up to you. Caesar. Father.

Task : Monologue Performance

You are to write and perform an original solo monologue lasting 2 to 3 minutes in length. You will use both in class time and out of class time to rehearse your monologue. No scripts are allowed on stage so you will need to learn all of your lines.

The focussed outcomes of this assessment are;

Role/ Character - costuming/props are optional (note: set up and striking time will be 1 minute only)
Verbal Communication - use of voice, diction, projection, volume, accents etc
Non verbal communication - gesture, facial expressions, movement

You in Ancient Rome