Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Work with the script
• Part 2 of 4: Remember the lines
• Part 3 of 4: Rehearse with other actors or on your own
• Part 4 of 4: Last Check
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Do you often forget your lines? Having trouble memorizing your speech quickly? Actors who forget words are often annoying and a burden to the other members. Learn to memorize your lines to be nice to the director, other actors, and yourself.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Work with the script

1. 1 Highlight or underline your lines so you don't waste time searching for your text throughout the script.
   • If necessary, take notes (such as loud / soft, fast / slow) for specific phrases.
   • Sometimes it is helpful to rewrite your lines by hand.
2. 2 Read the script to fully understand the plot of the play. Learn to understand the intentions (what he wants to get), obstacles on the way (what prevents him from getting what he wants), the tactics used (what he does to get what he wants) and emotions (energy, sadness, joy, excitement) of the character. All directors want to see the emotions and energy of the actors. In this case, if you forget the line, you can come up with a believable phrase, and the audience will not notice anything.
   • Try to live the day as your character and behave accordingly.

Part 2 of 4: Remember the lines

1. 1 Rewrite the lines. This step is self-explanatory - rewrite your lines many times so that they are deposited in the subconscious memory. To save paper, you can print text on your computer, then delete it and start over.
   • Try writing with your other hand. If you are right-handed, rewrite your lines with your left hand, or vice versa. So the brain will have to strain 3 times more than using the dominant hand.
2. 2 Ask yourself questions about the character to immerse yourself in the role. If your role is to go upstage with a towel in hand, then consider why your character needs to do this. Also, to immerse yourself in the role, you can ask why the character behaves in a certain way. You can even come up with a backstory - what happened before the events of the play and what will happen after.
3. 3 Read the lines out loud. Say the preceding line, your line, and the next line. Go through a scene or page in one go. Check yourself after each page so as not to forget the text you read.
   • Pronounce your lines in different ways. For example, speak sad lines in a cheerful voice, or speak loudly when you need to whisper. Engage different emotions. Making yourself laugh this way can help you remember the phrase better.
   • In monologues, try repeating one or two sentences at a time. Then add another sentence. When you have about five sentences, repeat the entire passage to help you remember it.
   • Use the strength (volume) of your voice and intonation wisely (speak with expression).
4. 4 Divide the text into parts. Try to memorize the text in small portions. Remembering everything at once is not easy. If you divide the text into parts, then you can memorize replica after replica until you memorize all your lines. For example, memorize scenes in turn.
5. 5 Try singing your lines. This can be helpful if you love to sing. Sing the lines like a regular song, then reread the lines. Such a song will forever sit in your memory, and you will never forget your lines.
6. 6 Consider or perform your movements around the stage as you speak your line. Our brains are better at remembering information that is related to action.
7. 7 Take a break. Relax if you are tired. Rest is good for the brain. You can exercise to relax.

Part 3 of 4: Rehearse with other actors or on your own

1. 1 Rehearse with a partner. Ask the person to follow the scripted text as you repeat your lines. The partner can highlight or circle phrases and words in the text that you have forgotten or confused.
   • If you don't have a partner, you can use various smartphone apps to help you memorize and rehearse texts.
2. 2 Rehearse with friends or family. Recite your lines while they follow the script closely.
3. 3 Record your lines. Use an MP3 player or other device with a voice recorder to record how you read the entire text, with pauses after your cues. Listen to the tape while driving or exercising and repeat the lines to yourself. So you will remember all your lines and the lines of other actors. It works like with songs: the more you listen to the lyrics, the better you sing along with the recording.
   • Record your remarks on a smartphone (one sentence at a time) and play it back several times, then repeat with the recording, and then without recording.
   • Write down all the lines of the play, with pauses in the places where you want your words to appear. Then turn on the playback and say your text during the pauses as if you were rehearsing with other actors!
   • When rehearsing with a friend or relative, ask him to read the role of another actor so that you know the order of the lines without a script.
   • This way you can remember not only your lines, but also the preceding cues and the order of the cues.

Part 4 of 4: Last Check

1. 1 On the evening before your speech, you should know your entire text. Take every opportunity to rehearse before performing.

Tips

• Highlight phrases and lines in which you are confused. Then come back to them again and think about why the character is saying this or what he wants to say by it. By thinking about the text, you won't even notice how you memorize the line.
• If you forget the words or get confused during the speech, then it is better to say the wrong words, but confidently! Viewers will almost certainly not notice anything.
• Memorize the last words of previous remarks so that you can always join on time.
• Read the script before bed. This will help your brain remember the text better.
• Write down your movements on stage with a pencil. It is not uncommon for directors to make changes to scenes as the performance is being prepared.
• Work at intervals of no longer than one hour. This is how long a person can actively memorize information.
• Sometimes it's not enough just to know your lines. If the unexpected happens and you have to improvise, then you need to know the beginning, middle and end of the scene in order to return to the script again.
• Remember the first and last lines. This will make it easier for you to improvise. You should always memorize at least a couple of words from each sentence or several sentences in order to have a general idea of ​​the statement.
• Make cue stickers and place them all over your home so that the text always catches your eye.
• Rewrite or retype your lines. This will force you to read the text carefully to help you remember the lines.
• Make cards and write two consecutive lines on each. Then shuffle the cards and restore the correct order from memory.
• Print a copy of your script and highlight your lines in one color. Then take another marker and highlight all the important points.
• In dialogues, your lines are often a response or reaction to the words of the dialogue partner. It is not necessary to memorize other people's lines. It is enough to understand the essence of the statement and remember that your remark should become an appropriate reaction to such a phrase. This makes it much easier to memorize dialogues.
• Ask a friend to follow the script while you are speaking and not looking at the text.

Warnings

• Take breaks while memorizing and rehearsing your words!
• Remember to bring your script to rehearsals.
• Don't overwork yourself to look forward to the day of the show!
• Control yourself! Leave stage fright in the past! What difference does it make if you mix up a couple of words? The audience won't even notice, so keep improvising!
• Never get out of character during a performance, otherwise it will be very difficult for you to pull yourself together and remember your text.

What do you need

• Scenario
• Markers
• Pencil
• Dictaphone