Sometimes when your students do a playwriting assignment or an improvised scene, they’ll need a prompt to help them choose what kind of relationship their characters will have. Many students, when told to create characters with a “relationship,” think they have to write or perform a romantic pairing, which can be awkward or embarrassing. But have no fear! Below is a list of platonic, gender-neutral relationships your students can choose from:
- Teacher and student
- Professor and student
- Teacher and principal
- Student and guidance counsellor
- Student and school bus driver
- Student and librarian
- Hairstylist and client
- Makeup artist and client
- Celebrity and assistant
- Celebrity and fan
- Singer and backup dancer
- Actor and director
- Director and stage manager
- Director and producer
- Director and designer (costume, lights, etc.)
- Model and photographer
- Athlete and coach
- Chef and server
- Server and restaurant patron
- Airline attendant and pilot
- Airline attendant and passenger
- Reporter and interviewee
- Magician and assistant
- Child and babysitter
- Store employee and customer
- Doctor and nurse
- Doctor and patient
- Nurse and patient
- Call centre employee and customer
- Technical support and customer
- Housekeeper and cook
- Two employees at the same store
- Roller coaster operator and guest
- Hotel manager and guest
- Landlord and tenant
- Superhero and villain
- Superhero and sidekick
- Superhero and rescued person
- Royalty and peasant
- Royalty and bodyguard
- Vegetarian and meat-eater
- Psychic medium and ghost
- Writer and director
- Ventriloquist and puppet
- Pirate captain and naval officer
- Pirate captain and first mate
- Author and illustrator
- Pen pals
- Driving instructor and new driver
- Tradesperson and apprentice
Kerry Hishon is a director, actor, writer and stage combatant from London, Ontario, Canada. She blogs at www.kerryhishon.com.
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