St Mary’s University Twickenham and ELAM Performance&Theatre Saturday Club welcomed multidisciplinary artist and producer Nyasha Daley for a Masterclass on writing and performing soliloquies. 

To begin, Nyasha introduced the concept of a soliloquy, which is an act of talking to oneself and she explained its significance in performance. She played a selection of clips showcasing soliloquies alongside comedic interpretations, helping Club members grasp the form’s versatility. 

The session then moved into interactive exercises. Club members were given scenario cards and improvised performances in small groups. Nyasha followed with a discussion on presentation and projection, emphasising posture’s role in an actor’s confidence. Club members were then challenged to recite song lyrics as soliloquies. 

In a final task, Club members devised an ‘evil villain’ character and performed an original soliloquy. Those keen to showcase their work delivered their pieces to the whole group. 

By the end of the Masterclass, Club members had gained valuable insights into crafting compelling soliloquies for theatre and film.