DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES
BACKSTORY BUILDER
ENTER
BACKSTORY BUILDER
Spin the roulette now!
MOTIVATIONS
DAILY LIFE
SECRETS
LIFE EVENTS
RELATIONSHIPS
ORIGIN STORY
SECRETS
Who, if anyone, knows their secrets? What would happen if it came to light?
MOTIVATIONS
What is your character’s ultimate goal or dream?
MOTIVATIONS
What moral line would your character never cross? What could push them to cross it?
secrets
Are their secrets tied to a specific object, place, or person? If so, what is its significance?
ORIGIN STORY
What is one memory from their childhood that shaped their personality?
MOTIVATIONS
What is the one thing they are most afraid of losing?
RELATIONSHIPS
Are there any unresolved conflicts or tensions in their relationships?
LIFE EVENTS
What is one event from their past they wish they could relive or change? Why?
secrets
What is something they’ve hidden even from themselves?
RELATIONSHIPS
What role do they play in their closest relationships?
The Backstory Builder is an interactive game designed to help drama students develop rich and detailed backstories for the characters they are creating in a devised theatre process. Using a roulette wheel and a numbered prompt system, students explore different aspects of their characters’ lives, such as origins, life events, relationships, secrets, daily life, and motivations. The flexible format allows teachers to tailor the activity to individual, pair, or ensemble work, making it suitable for a wide range of explorations.
Dowload the teacher guide here:
ORIGIN STORY
What traditions, values, or beliefs were passed down to them from their upbringing?
LIFE EVENTS
What was the most devastating loss they’ve experienced? How did they respond to it?
MOTIVATIONS
What external forces or people are standing in the way of their goals?
RELATIONSHIPS
Who do they trust the most, and why?
DAILY LIFE
What’s something they think about every day, whether it’s a worry, a hope, or a memory?
LIFE EVENTS
What was the happiest moment of their life, and why did it mean so much to them?
daily life
What does a typical day in the life of your character look like?
SECRETS
What is the deepest secret they carry, and why are they hiding it?
RELATIONSHIPS
Who do they consider their rival or enemy, and how did that relationship form?
ORIGIN STORY
Where were they born, and how does that environment affect who they are today?
ORIGIN STORY
What is their family structure?
daily life
What does your character do for a living? How did they get to that point?
LIFE EVENTS
What is the defining moment that made them who they are today?
daily life
What does your character enjoy doing in their free time?
BACKSTORY BUILDER
Black Box Education
Created on September 17, 2025
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Transcript
DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES
BACKSTORY BUILDER
ENTER
BACKSTORY BUILDER
Spin the roulette now!
MOTIVATIONS
DAILY LIFE
SECRETS
LIFE EVENTS
RELATIONSHIPS
ORIGIN STORY
SECRETS
Who, if anyone, knows their secrets? What would happen if it came to light?
MOTIVATIONS
What is your character’s ultimate goal or dream?
MOTIVATIONS
What moral line would your character never cross? What could push them to cross it?
secrets
Are their secrets tied to a specific object, place, or person? If so, what is its significance?
ORIGIN STORY
What is one memory from their childhood that shaped their personality?
MOTIVATIONS
What is the one thing they are most afraid of losing?
RELATIONSHIPS
Are there any unresolved conflicts or tensions in their relationships?
LIFE EVENTS
What is one event from their past they wish they could relive or change? Why?
secrets
What is something they’ve hidden even from themselves?
RELATIONSHIPS
What role do they play in their closest relationships?
The Backstory Builder is an interactive game designed to help drama students develop rich and detailed backstories for the characters they are creating in a devised theatre process. Using a roulette wheel and a numbered prompt system, students explore different aspects of their characters’ lives, such as origins, life events, relationships, secrets, daily life, and motivations. The flexible format allows teachers to tailor the activity to individual, pair, or ensemble work, making it suitable for a wide range of explorations.
Dowload the teacher guide here:
ORIGIN STORY
What traditions, values, or beliefs were passed down to them from their upbringing?
LIFE EVENTS
What was the most devastating loss they’ve experienced? How did they respond to it?
MOTIVATIONS
What external forces or people are standing in the way of their goals?
RELATIONSHIPS
Who do they trust the most, and why?
DAILY LIFE
What’s something they think about every day, whether it’s a worry, a hope, or a memory?
LIFE EVENTS
What was the happiest moment of their life, and why did it mean so much to them?
daily life
What does a typical day in the life of your character look like?
SECRETS
What is the deepest secret they carry, and why are they hiding it?
RELATIONSHIPS
Who do they consider their rival or enemy, and how did that relationship form?
ORIGIN STORY
Where were they born, and how does that environment affect who they are today?
ORIGIN STORY
What is their family structure?
daily life
What does your character do for a living? How did they get to that point?
LIFE EVENTS
What is the defining moment that made them who they are today?
daily life
What does your character enjoy doing in their free time?