Workshop 1

What is Theatre?
Theatre to me is an artistic way of expression which is viewed by an audience. This means the performance can be revealed in any way with any purpose as long as someone else can interpret it from their own mind and vision. It's sharing art and allowing another person to join in or consume your performance.

What have you learnt over the last two terms? What skills have you already developed?
Over the last two terms I have learnt the importance of delivering lines and engaging into a characters persona fully. Our naturalistic term showed me how to dive into the detail and construct a character from scratch, to the point where you think about what they would do in a "given circumstance". Also the power of naturalism and acting between transitions - acting whilst your'e not speaking is as important as being the protagonist. The political term encouraged me to not throw away any lines as each line builds on the greater image of the overall message. Similarly, the importance of the message your'e trying to convey within the performance is key. This term helped me understand the fact that as an actor you want to provoke thought from the audience and make them question the society they live in, by adding a political theme to the performance.

What do you think experimental theatre looks like?
I think experimental theatre looks like  a collision of multi media's. It allows instillation, art, dance, physical movement, singing etc. The word "experimental" makes me think that the performance has endless possibilities which can interpret an actors mind to become whatever it wants to be. An actor can come up with an idea and straight away adapt it to be as abstract or naturalistic as they want. Experimental theatre looks like a blank canvas which waits for it's artist to manipulate it due to whatever emotion or feeling they have.

What are your expectations of experimental term?
I think during the experimental term it will show an open door between the director and an actor in which whatever idea seems suitable to the performance will be taken on. Imagination is vital during this term as it will cause actors to do things just for the sake of experimenting. Also, I think this term holds mystery because you don't have a strict policy to follow -  your'e following your imagination which is limitless.

Cost of an actor.

Walking on the grid, then added music.
This exercise made me think about my limits and determination. As we were instructed to add a goal at the end of the gird it made me more determined to reach the end of the grid because I was passionate about my goal. However, being restricted to the grid meant I had to follow a certain pattern and avoid bumping into other actors which made the task harder. I believe, it showed that to reach our goals there will be things in the way that we will have to overcome and also do we really know our limits because, I could've pushed harder to reach my goal but a natural human tenancy is to hold back against your limit. Including music to this practical added to the tension and emphasized how physically you can show courage, drive and commitment just through movement. Music impacted on the stress of reaching my goal and made me think once the music was off have I truly reached my goal. 

Knee fight in pairs
During the knee fight exercise I was pushing myself to keep fighting and strive to remain consistent energy. It made me analyse my opponent and their weakness because my goal transformed into hitting the back of their knee. Also, when my partner was attacking me with more energy straight away, it made me wake up and want to deliver more. The task made me think about the power and fight that an actor must maintain during their performance. This power must remain evident because you do not want the audience to see you disengaged or tired.

Fishing lines
The fishing line task made me think about persistence and seeking help because, being the fish I didn't want my partner to take me away from my habitat into their world. Grazing and scarping against the floor meanwhile the fisher pulls the line with all their strength highlights the pain behind a famous hobby. This made me think about an actors intentions. A simple exercise such as finishing, can be seen in any light due to your intention. If an actors intention is to be villainous then your body language and facial expression would show. In addition, including the music of a sea side brought this task to accompany its purpose. The music made me oblivious to the intention of the actors as it covered the devious or kind hearted mindsets.

Lover trying to leave
Immediately, involving music in this piece made it embody the qualities of physical theatre. The music encouraged the purpose and message of the task. Being the actor not wanting the lover to leave made me want to sink into my partners body. This means in order for them to stay I wanted to show I am apart of them by taking on their physical shape. Significantly, this task made me understand that you can show the meaning of wanting something so much through silence and movement. Which highlights on Artauds technique as he believed the physical representation is much more important than the lines.

Alphabet boxes solo, group
Primarily, this exercise was about body language and self reassurance because, it was up to the actor where they placed the letters within their own box and how they touched the letters. Reaching each letter with any part of the actors body made me resemble a broken doll and how you can't tell what they're trying to communicate as the audience isn't aware of where the letters have been placed. Music brought this task to life and created meaning within the touch of each letter. It meant the actors could follow the beat and start to crafts words that mean something to them which emphasize how you can show passion and journey through movement. I think, adding text would've made the audience understand the task more but, from when it is experimental theatre conveying different interpretations opens the audiences imagination.

Dancing in the dark
This task meant we had to disconnect from our mind and just move to the music in whatever way our bodies found suitable. During this I felt drained but powered up because, we had been doing it for such a long time and the room was starting to get hot from when everyone was showing dedication to this task. Doing it in darkness meant you was free to move however you want and truly express movement through the music. It isolated everyone from each other and made you feel like you had an independent purpose. I notice my body taking on the instrumentals and moving freely, non of my actions where planned and I literally felt as if the music was controlling me. As the track would slow down my movement began to intimately become slow and delicate but, when the music got fast my body just sprung into action. I started to lose sight of being tired because from when I wasn't thinking about my movement, I was thinking about myself and how I felt. The purpose of this exercise is to show the determination of an actor through movement and if actors can disconnect from their minds. Allowing the music to take control and make your body create interesting and flowing shapes without having to plan the process. It is our bodies that are the important tools to a successful performance. This emphasizes on Artauds "Visual Poetry" technique because he believed the body has the power and capability to provoke an emotional impact with the assistance of sound/music.