ELIMINATION,

BYE, BYE
(17/11/2014) (NEWSPAPER PROJECT & SCHOOLS TOUR)

This week was a mix of fixing the last pieces for the
Newspaper Project and the start of setting us up for
the schools tour. At the beginning of the week we
worked with Gavin and Carleigh in the studio with
our sexual discrimination piece, they gave us and
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the actors notes in order to move it forward and
explore more with new ideas. It was nice to be able to work on our own in the space the piece will
be performed in; this gave us the opportunity to play with music, space and positioning of different
scenes. The next day we worked on each note that was given to us, we were fortunate enough to
have the space of the auditorium as everywhere else was occupied so this gave us an advantage of
working to a similar scale of the studio. We went through the list of notes and worked on each and
ticked it off once it was complete. This day I found the actors to not have a lot of focus so rehearsals
became tedious for us as the directors because we wanted to get through everything but with actors
not being professional on the space this causes us to get agitated. From this experience and others
that are similar I have learnt what it takes to be professional in the space, I am learning from them
and notice if I do that in myself and know if to and how to change it. I did not realise how much
being a director would enforce me as an actor and it has now made me see things differently. After
discussion we came to the decision to cut the mums scene as it was not working for the piece and it
was not made clear who these characters were in relation to the character Sam for the audience
sake. Shannon Chapman and Alice Differ-Jones took it well and were very professional about the
situation because of this they no longer had dialogue but they understood the reasoning for it. The
most challenging part of the rehearsal that day was the stage combat; Carleigh Portelli stepped in to
help choreograph the sequence to make it more realistic and rough. Previously it looked too staged
and the audience would have known what was about to happen next however the only problem we
had was that Victoria Wilton-Garcia was absent so was not present to learn the new sequence.
Although she had the opportunity to pick it up the next day, not being present when it is taught
there and then is always annoying for myself as an actor and
as a director now too I find because it is never the same
again and not all the same notes are given out. The
experience is never shared between the actors so they do
not get to go on the journey together.
One of our tasks this week was too research a given theatre
practitioner, mine being Patsey Rodenburg and to gather as
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much information as possible to then bring to the floor being this practitioner inside a conference
meeting. At first I was very nervous about it all and found the idea of it very daunting however when
inside it I found it very fun and playful. I learnt a lot about the different practitioners that the other
actors were being too which I wouldnt have if I researched them myself as a word document.
Working this way makes the tedious part of our training fun and I think like our schools tour piece,
we are learning without realising. There was improvisation too inside the task which made us as
actors to be on the balls of our feet ready to debate and discuss the topics that were bought up.
From all the different types of theatre we had to place on the wall, I was surprised how many there
were as I had not heard of some of them and I did not realise how many were created so recently
since 1900. I think we worked well as a team; we backed our opinions with facts and evidence of our
knowledge and used persuasive language for the rest of the team to agree. All in all it was
entertaining and an interesting way to approach our research.
The highlight of the week for me was the mock audition; it was great
practice in terms for drama school auditions. Although I know I was not
prepared with my speech I walked into the space with confidence and
enthusiasm and I hoped I was myself. I could feel I was a little on edge
during the interview and I had to think a lot about what I was saying with
many erms inside my sentences. I really appreciate my feedback given
from Carleigh, Innes and as an outside eye Anna. Hearing it from different
actors that I have worked closely with to not working with at all, first
impressions are everything so I will take all the notes on and work my
hardest to improve myself as an actor and for my auditions.
I learnt many new skills and knowledge about different topics inside the
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workshop led by Innes and an outside actor Beckie. Firstly with Innes
we covered Commedia DelArte, it started off with leading with different parts of the body which I
always find fun to explore and play with however inside this workshop which I have never done in
previous ones we had to lead with our hands. It was the most freeing I felt because there seemed to
be many possibilities to play with while the rest of the body followed. My favourite was clapping my
hands together like a Spanish flamingo dancer because it was cheeky and different from the others I
had discovered. Then working together as a company we had to create a snapshot image with the
phrases Innes spoke out, for example a family of rabbits and firefighters I always enjoy doing this,
as there seems to be a panic and pressure from all the actors to get into a frozen position for the
director to analyse. As the variations can be extreme, it
is always a surprise to find out the word then react
instinctively and work with others in the space too. This
led on to soundscapes which was interesting as I had
never done it how we had done it that day which was
sitting individually with our eyes closed and creating the
first sound that came to our head. I personally enjoyed
the haunted house the most as I could imagine and feel
each noise each actor created. I made a story up inside my head to of walking through the haunted
house from The Woman in Black and encountering with the different noises created like the
creaking door and the wind, which caused the curtains to blow etc.

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The most intense and challenging day was with Beckie as it

really tested us with our fitness and more so our energy levels
in order to work with children which I have learnt to be
extremely hard. We played a variety of games which targeted
at different ages in order for them to understand, join in and
have fun. At the end of the workshop we had the opportunity
to lead the workshop with the fellow actors playing children in
a class and each time for a different leader the scenario and
attitude of the children would change. I found this very
difficult; it seems a lot easier than it actually is. Keeping the
children engaged and wanting to be part of the workshop and
then think about how to deliver myself as the leader and
communicate on their level depending on their age is a lot to
think about and be alive the entire time. As the leader I need
to be one step ahead all the time because otherwise the
children will catch up and take over of fellow actors and myself
for us to then in theory have to start again of grabbing their
attention.

GAMES & EXERCISES

-

HEP

BING, BONG, NAME

CAPTAIN FISH FINGER

BALANCING THE SPACE

On Friday I was part of Skills London 2014 along with Harriet Avery,
Daniella Sanderson and Levi Wotton we were there to promote the
Miskin Theatre. We felt out of place at first and did not have anything to
show the best light of Miskin however in the afternoon Nicki and
Lindsey came with Miskin hoodies and leaflets. We then felt a lot more
comfortable being there and talking to hopefully new actors joining
about the course and Miskin itself. We also had the opportunity to look
around at the other stands that were advertising their college/ business
and we really enjoyed taking photos and having conversations about
different topics. I ended up enjoying the day and it was a nice way to
end the week!