Week 47

 Monday 27th January 2025 

We started the session by focusing on active listening- getting into groups of four with a starting sentence and then navigating the most dynamic words with in the sentence. We were doing this to highlight the changes within line delivery, and how depending on the way the lines are delivered will effect the reaction of the other actors in the scene, making sure we're active listening and reacting accordingly to the emotional beats. Our groups line was "freeze, drop your weapons or I'll shoot"- creating both a devised comedy and a devised tragedy using the same lines. This was really effective because it made us focus on the subtext of the theme, whilst pushing us to be more creative with the things we create. Our first piece was a comedy- building of societal stereotypes and playing with them to find a balance we knew would be comedic, whilst our second- having a tragedy focused followed a very real and current plot line of robbery and extremism, pulling the stereotypes right down and delivering it in a way the created tension and anxiety. 

Normalised and DNA set and costume work      

We then moved onto focusing on the set design of the show, and how we can make both DNA and normalised use the same set. As a class we have all decided to in a way intertwine the too plays- placing them in the same universe just years a part. I personally really love this approach, because it pulls all the rehearsal processes together, making the experience as a whole more collaborative.  

People Places and things work photos:

Wednesday 29th January 2025  

Today we continued our audition process for our current performances, this time focusing on DNA and the auditions for that. I found the auditions quite difficult this year, as there more we are auditioning for and a lot more complex character relationships to delve into. We started of by doing the connections recalls- starting off with the group auditions and then slowly working through the pairings. I personally think my recalls went well- and I'm happy with the consistency I brought back from the first auditions. When preparing for my Rosa and Reema recall I tried to take from different angles for certain sections, this is because I wanted to make sure that my responses to my new partner fit what they were giving me instead of trying to apply something I did previously with someone else. We then moved onto the DNA auditions- I personally could of delivered a stronger performance and felt slightly under prepared for it, in the way off character approach and group collaboration. If I was to do this audition again I would of been more specific on my acting choices, whilst also raining in some of my more comedic moments that I included in my performance. Overall I think this weeks sections of auditions have gone okay, but could of been improved slightly. 

Thursday 30th January 2025  

Today auditions continued for DNA, focusing on the group scene and how people work/bounce off each other. The group scene for Brian is quite a funny one and I do personally really enjoy doing it, finding it to be a good use of my more energetic traits. Brian also had another little section do audition for- which was the crying, as its a staple throughout the scenes, especially the beginning ones as he does quite literally just cry thought the whole of it. I think these recall auditions went quite well today, although I did make a few mistakes when it came to the dialogue, but I was also filling in a few times so had to adjust to the other groups that I hadn't rehearsed with, which made it a little bit tricky at times, but I think I covered it okay.  

I then stayed back in collage as we had the zoom call with Normalised writer. I find these sessions with the writer to be really helpful as it allows us as a group to ask any burning questions we have about the play, but most importantly the characters and any specifics details we have about them. We also got a chance to see some of the other groups doing the same plays, getting to hear their ideas as well.