How am i meant to learn all my lines?

Question:Im in a musical of hamlet a school. And i go the role of polonius and i have LOADS of words and a singing solo song which is REALLY LONG. Wha is a good way to learn it all, and sing really well on stage?

Thanks For Helping Me ;)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Im in a musical of hamlet a school. And i go the role of polonius and i have LOADS of words and a singing solo song which is REALLY LONG. Wha is a good way to learn it all, and sing really well on stage?

Thanks For Helping Me ;)

Hey I'm a drama teacher and get asked that question all the time and once learnt all the lines to a play in a night (the main part in the school play was ill.) I recommend learning by the 'little and often' method. 10 mins while having breakfast, 20 mins on the bus, etc. That way I find it sticks in more. Consolidating this by roping in a friend or family member to read with you and test you will help too. Some people in the past have also benefited from recording a reading of the play and listening to it while they went to sleep and another girl said that she could only learn by recording all the other lines and leaving gaps for hers. Sticking a recording on your ipod could be a good plan.
Another significant thing is the merits of learning while doing, so that instead of sitting down and learning you're learning while you're blocking the play so that the words are linked to the actions which you do, for example it would be much easier to remember that your line is 'go away' if on that line you're pointing at the door. The body has a greater capacity for remembering movements so making assosiations between the words you say and the actions you do will help.

Above all, start learning early little and often and gradually it should seep in before youve even really sat down to learn it.

Hope this helps and congratulations!!

Jodie

its easier singing them than learning them. like a song you like and cnat get out of your head. if you hear it again and again, it should embed in your mind. Wow, how u get the role? i wish i could be in some sort of production one day. im really interestd in things like that. you give me some advice and let me know what i should do. what are the 1st steps? enrol in a drama school? i'm in my early 20's lol

Hi
I've been in a situation just like this, i was the main character in alice in wonderland so i was alice, and had so many lines, just practise everynight. practise each page at a time and say the lines over and over again. practise to your parents or to your friends, whenever you get the chance. just relax and everyday read trough your lines at least once. there willcbe rehersals, and its weird how it happens but eventually you will realise you are remembering your lines. Brains are amazing for remembering things. Hope this helped! Good luck!

practice practice practice

Start by reading the lines with your fellow actors, one scene at a time. After several goes, start to recall what you can without looking at the writing.

Go over and over it again and again until you can put together several scenes in sequence.

The more times you do it, the more confident you will be and the better you will come across to the audience.

Remember that its not the end of the world if you make a mistake- audiences prefer someone showing a bit of character and the human touch so just go for it!

Good luck

Practise.
Practise practise practise.

Read.
Read and read and re-read

Speak it out loud.
Maybe get a friend or even better, a co-actor to run through it with you. You can practise your lines and then maybe help him run through his.

You'll also learn your lines over time, doing the rehearsals.
Good luck and hope you do great!
=)

Reading your lines with the rest of the cast is the best place to start, as this will help you memorise your cues as well, then when you start to block the piece try to associate certain lines with where you move on stage.
If you're performing from the original text, the best thing you can do to help you is find the rhythm of the language, iambic pentameter is fairly easy to remember because it is so rhythmic.
You could also try repeating each part of your speech over and over again in front of a mirror, it really does help.
And get people to test you when you feel confident enough :)
Good Luck with it all

I don't know about you, but I always learn lines best when I hear them. Maybe record yourself reading them out, then play it back to learn it.

Ah yes, the usual question of lines. Memorization is no walk in the park unless you have a photographic memory. Here's a few things I do:
1. I record the whole scene on the computer and listen to it over and over(I am an auditory learner, I don't know about you). Then I record it again, only without my lines. It's better to learn the other actors' lines too so you know what to say next. Basically acting is listening and reacting with others. You never act, you react. Sorry, I'm rambling now.
2. Read your lines just before you go to bed. Your brain digests what is has learned over the day when you sleep, and things you're thinking about and/or reading just before you sleep you can memorize faster.
3. Have people run lines with you. Make a copy of your scenes and read with them on book. When you feel ready read off book. When you don't know what your line is they can tell you. But stay in character when you do that. If you sound angry and you can't remember your next line, say "Line" in the same tone. It helps you keep the character going.
Break a leg, and I hope my tips helped.