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When refining and polishing ideas, it is a good idea to watch other theatrical works and take ideas and inspiration from them.

• adapt them to fit
• play with ideas
• look at contemporary theatre companies - watch their trailers, see what engages and how that can be applied

It is important to be willing to let go of things, make changes and keep on researching. It could help to listen to others, step out of the scene and watch it with the eye of a critical friend. Other ideas include:

• Trying some off-textimprovisation, placing the characters in a different situation, eg what would they be like in ten years time, at work or on holiday?
• Trying the play in reverse or swapping characters over to see them through another pair of eyes.
• Re-enacting the sub-text only - what is it that’s not said and how can this be emphasised?
• Hot-seating the characters - if this is done while walking around the space, it places less pressure on the person being asked the questions and gives less time to overthink answers.
• Filming and watching it back to make improvements - can everything be heard and seen, does it make sense and can the audience understand what is taking place?
• Trying out alternative endings - what difference do they make and could two or more be included to really make the audience think?