Storytelling for Social Impact: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Powerful Plays

Prepare to be inspired as we explore the transformative power of storytelling and theatre in the pursuit of a better world!

Meet Arayna Saxena, a young changewarrior who has discovered the incredible potential of using storytelling to create social impact through theatre. With her passion for writing plays that inspire change, Arayna has experienced firsthand the profound influence that theatre can have on audiences. Now, she is sharing her knowledge and insights in a comprehensive manual, presenting a set of easy steps that will guide aspiring playwrights to create impactful plays for social change.

Step 1: Understanding the Basics of Playwriting

• Study play structures, settings, characters, dialogue, and costume elements.
• Familiarise yourself with scene descriptions and stage directions.

Step 2: Choosing a Theme

• Reflect on themes related to social issues/causes, life skills, or personal experiences.
• Select a theme that resonates with your target audience and promotes important messages.

Step 3: Brainstorming Plot Ideas

• Facilitate a brainstorming session to generate story ideas related to the chosen theme.
• Research how theatre skills can effectively convey the theme’s message.

Step 4: Shortlisting the Most Emphasised Idea

• Review the brainstormed ideas and select the one that resonates most with the audience.
• Consider available resources, target audience, and relatability of the story.

Step 5: Division

• Create a rough plotline and outline scenes.
• Develop main characters and assign traits.
• Set goals for each scene and structure the dialogues.
• Use the story mountain as a reference for creating the story arc.

Step 6: Writing Dialogue

• Craft realistic dialogues that reflect character personalities and motivations.
• Step into each character’s shoes and write dialogues true to their ideals.
• Infuse dialogues with genuine emotion and conversational style.

Step 7: Refining the Script

• Seek feedback from peers or mentors and make necessary revisions.
• Aim for at least three drafts to refine the story, characters, and impact.

Step 8: Adding the “Dramatic Effect”

• End each scene with impactful dialogues summarising the main message.
• Use costume choices to reflect character personalities or the play’s theme.
• Enhance online plays with appropriate zoom backgrounds.

Step 9: Overcoming Distances – Promoting the Online Play

• Use online platforms like Google Meet or Zoom to share the play.
• Incorporate relevant backgrounds to create a realistic effect.
• Consider recording and posting the play on social media for a wider audience.

Embrace the journey, inspire change, and leverage the art of storytelling to make a positive difference in the world.

Over 1750 Young ChangeMakers have made a positive impact in their community and have worked on crucial topics impacting 5000+ young students and adults from economically weaker sections. They have gathered new skills, networked with industry experts and other ChangeWarriors, and found solutions to real-world problems, all in a few weeks!

To start your changemaking journey apply to Global Challenges & Social Justice Summer Program today.