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The issue of ‘status’ and its importance in a dramatic performance is discussed. Actors Adrian Lester and Lolita Chakrabarti demonstrate how to create status by delivering the same line in varying styles and judging it on a ‘status scale’. The relevance of this to Shakespeare’s plays is also briefly discussed.

Before watching the clip, introduce the idea of status by asking the group to work in threes to create three still images that show different status relationships. Look at them and discuss how status is created. Watch the clip. Give the same groups a section of the scene in which Romeo refuses to fight with Tybalt, and Mercutio steps in. Give each group three numbered playing cards and tell them to play their role, according to their card. They should swap until they have played all three of the status cards. Then they should choose which card suits which character best and explain their decision to the class, with a demonstration. End with a discussion about how much status is used in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.