Unit 6 - Performance workshop

Thursday 15^th June

We were in rehearsals from 9am up until the show.

In the morning, we focused on going through the script and having a word rehearsal. Alys was unable to get to the rehearsal for 9am so as a group we decided to go through the script and go over our lines to make sure that we were secure with our lines. Most of the group have met up outside of lecture time to rehearse over our lines.

When Alys arrived, we kept on going through the script. Once we had finished the run-through, we decided to work on the scene that needed the most development – the monologues. We had worked on this scene in a previous session but hadn’t worked on it so much so that it is ready to be performed. The scene consisted of the 5 characters walking around the stage and when a character walks into the lift, the rest of the characters froze on the grid. We wanted to have a piece of music that was played whilst the characters were walking around the grid but we couldn’t find one which fitted the scene. However, when Alys came into the rehearsal, she said that she had heard a piece of music that she thought would be good for this place in the show. We listened to it and we all agreed that this would be a great piece of music. The piece of music is called ‘Clubbed to death’ and a link to the song can be found here:

We then practiced the transition from ‘Our day part 2’ (which is the scene before) into this scene. We all turned one by one with the beat of the music and then we walked around the grid. When a character entered the lift to deliver their monologue, the music would stop. However Callum does not deliver a monologue and instead solves a Rubiks cube. Therefore we decided to play the music over this. When we practiced this through the first time with the music, it fitted really well so we decided to use this music.

After a lunch break, we sat down and had a discussion about what we were going to be doing this afternoon. At 1:30pm we were starting a tech and dress rehearsal. Then at 3:30pm we will be having a full tech and dress rehearsal. We will also be practicing our monologues and duologues that we will be performing downstairs prior to the show. Here are some notes that one of my performing arts lecturers, Cara made whilst she was watching the tech and dress rehearsal:

Black curtains needed to be put at the side to cover the mirror

Emily – missed line at the end of ‘our day part 1’ as not loud enough

Timings at start were a bit off (grid and phone calls)

Angel – don’t shuffle and stay focused

Clock is wobbling on the wall above Charlotte when leaning against the back wall

Angel – ‘Lily in the library’ keep up projection

Charlotte – ‘Shall we go?’ Couldn’t hear last bit of line

Emily – love the power of the monologue

Rubiks cube colours fitted in really nicely with the grid colours and the coloured lighting

The colours and white tired it together

Charlotte - The line ‘pull the wings off’ don’t let it drop and as it is a very important line as starting to give insight into character

Charlotte – ‘1 2 3 4 5’ louder and slower

The baby Guinea pig scene great

Daneille – great breathing

Quiet backstage!

I think both of the tech and dress rehearsals went fairly well. In the first rehearsal, Alys was giving the sound and lighting crew cues but was not prompting us at all. We were given notes from both of the rehearsals from both Alys and Cara. I received a lot of comments and feedback which I took on board and applied to the second dress rehearsal and the final performance.

In between the first dress rehearsal and the second dress rehearsal, I spent some time practicing my monologue and getting the right expression in the right places. I took on board the feedback that I had received during the first dress rehearsal from my lecturers. After the second dress rehearsal, I was told that my monologue was a lot better. I now just have to remember these comments for the performance tonight.

I am quite nervous to perform the show because I haven’t had much experience in performing drama before. I was nervous that I was going to forget my lines and not perform to my best ability.