Scripts are held during performance. No full costume. If used at all, costumes are partial and suggestive, or neutral and uniform. No full stage sets. If used at all, sets are simple and suggestive.
Narration provides the framework for dramatic action.
Reader's theater was developed as a convenient and effective means to present literary works in dramatic form. This is still its primary use, though many scripts now published are original dramatic works rather than literary adaptations. Originally popular on college campuses, reader's theater has now moved to the lower grades, where it is seen as a key tool for creating interest in reading. And if the script is based on an available book, they of course want to read it. What's more, reader's theater is a simple activity for the teacher, since it requires no setup apart from the reproduction of scripts.