Evaluation

I think that my character being a puppet master and controlling all of the other characters from the raised block worked well because it depicted the theme of the government being controlling really well. The audience can see that the MP knows about the troubles of the other characters - even manipulates their situations - and still doesn't care, which creates a feeling of injustice. this started off in rehearsals with me having the character of a news reporter and being more of a puppet than a puppeteer. I ended up changing my character last minute, only days before the show which was a real challenge for me, however I think that it was a wise choice since the MP was far more effective at portraying the message intended than the new reporter. I also think that the cross cutting in Sophia's monologue, with Greta showing the rude, uncaring manager, worked well. It's a good dramatic device, and highlights the parallel in two characters. In rehearsals we initially planned on only having Sophia on stage, showing only her side of the conversation, however we made the choice to add Greta since it gave two different insights on the situation.

What didn't work, in my opinion, was the final protest scene. I think that it could have been cleaner and better thought out. We should have taken more time during rehearsals to make it sharper and more rehearsed, but also tried out different ideas and ways to make the scene have more energy.

If we had had more time to make some changes, then I would have liked to create a more dimensional character for Greta. We could have created another scene for her where she gets to explore the character and create more layers. Her's was the most minor part, which I would have liked to explore and elaborate on.

Devising 11

These were our initial ideas and responses to the stimulus, Money Don't Matter 2 Night by Prince:

• gambler, life's a game of luck
• cruelty
• greed
• big brother, always being watched
• lies
• war, slavery

It's interesting to look at our first thoughts, 4/5 weeks ago, and see how they developed into the performance that we eventually performed. How we pinpointed the most universal theme, which was the illusion that money seems to decide how well you do in life, e.g. if you have lots of money then less bad things happen to you, and we developed it into a very political piece.

Another stimulus of mine was 2Pac, or Tupac Shakur, who was hugely influential in the time that our piece was set, early 90's, and who's music spoke about the same kinds of things as our piece: violence and hardship suffered in the less privileged part of society. 

Another was a song by Arrested Developement called Let Your Voice Be Heard (above)

Devising 10

Lighting

Lighting is important in our piece, especially for my role. Every time I have a line the lighting changes to a dim, blue wash, which reflects the colour of a TV, which is symbolic of how all of my promises and assurances are fickle and unreal. 

Sound

The use of sound in Yunusa and Scarlett's scene is pathetic fallacy, the rain falling reflects both of their disheartened moods, and the sirens that go off after Yunusa throws a bottle reflects the change in power in the play, and reflects the heightened emotions.

Devising 9

Research

David Cameron speaks at #cpc13

Here I looked at the opening statement, where Cameron talks about being on the side of "hard working people". He jokes around and very much plays up the role of being on the side of the "little guy".

I think that this is a card that many politicians are playing at the minute, selling themselves as people the public can relate to, for example David Cameron not wearing a tie in his bid for Prime Minister. I'd like to play on that, my character will be jovial and hearty, playing up to the audience and trying to get them on my side, however the undertone of the speech will be that I simply don't care about those in need.

I am also looking at how politicians move and hold themselves whilst giving speeches, things like using their hands to emphasize a point, they all stand very straight and assured their voices are well trained and they are all well spoken. These are all things I will incorporate into my performance.

Devising 8

Whilst I was reviewing my character, I felt like something was missing. When people watched our piece they gave us the impression that they got a sense of what our message was, however it didn't quite "click". So I reviewed my character, and pinpointed the message that I was trying to convey, which was that the voice of the people wasn't being heard and that nobody knew of or cared about their struggles. So I began to think about how my news reporter character was relevant to that message.

Eventually I decided to change my news reporter to an MP. The performance is very political, and a news reporter would be far more appropriate if we were trying to convey a message about journalism. 

I have decided to have the opening monologue be giving the same message - that many are unemployed and homeless however the government just doesn't care - but in the form of a speech by an MP. The final monologue will be done in the same way.

Devising 7

Personality of the character

My character is used as a symbol in the play of the government's control and complete disregard for the suffering of the lower classes. The idea of a "puppet" was key in my development of the character. Things like the movement of my body - as if I were suspended on strings - and the blank smile are key in this symbolism. I want my smile to seem empty and false, like a doll, and also to signify the pretty front that the government has for their elitist regime.

I will also have a lot of make up on, and my hair pulled tightly, to signify the importance of looks in that world. This will mirror the Manager and Scarlett's reaction to Raymond's messy appearance as a homeless man.

Devising 6

Describe the exercise: Just Be. Give your reaction

The exercise essentially called for you to walk to the center of the room, without portraying or emulating a articular mood or emotion, to simply walk to the center of the room with purpose. Then we had to stand there and just be ourselves. For me it was just as important to be supportive of others doing the exercise as it was to do it myself. When someone finds the courage to stand in front of a class full of people and simply be, completely honestly and without any walls or defenses to hide behind, then it is incredibly important to let them see that they are accepted. I often felt that when someone achieved it whilst looking at me then there was an unspoken understanding, and I think that that is just as much the point of the exercise as allowing yourself to just be. When I did it myself, I was able to quite comfortably just be, as I feel that I am quite centered in myself and who I am. I don't feel any shame or fear about bearing myself to the people around me as I do feel a sense of self acceptance within myself. It's hard to explain, at first I was preparing myself by trying to find the "Right mood" to do it in, but after a while I kind of slipped out of that mind set where I felt that I had to feel a certain way/approach the exercise in a certain way, and I just wiped all of the thought processes away. There were times during the exercise when I would feel a slight connection with one or two people and that brought me a great sense of peace and happiness, which I really enjoyed taking from the workshop

Devising 5

Choose one idea and say what worked and why

I think that the conversation between Scarlett and her manager on the phone, where Greta and she stood back to back and conducted the conversation. I think that it worked particularly well because it portrayes how hopeless Scarlett's situation actually is in the performance and how her manager is completely unwilling to help her. This incorporates the technique of cross cutting, whereby two scenes are staged simultaneously, showing the audience both sides of the conversation and visually portrays how cutthroat the world the characters live in actually is.

What do you want to work on? Do you have any ideas for that work?

I'd like to work on my character's personal traits. I will be stood behind the other characters, slightly raised and overlooking the plotline. My character of a news reporter will be a symbol for the idea of "Big Brother "constantly keeping tabs on the people. I also want her to be very pristine, almost unnaturally so, representing the glossy, happy front that the "Big Brother" keeps, brushing the troubles of the protagonists of the performance under the carpet.

Devising 4

How we developed the idea

We developed the idea by adding more dialogue and including more interaction, this helped to establish the situation that the characters where in. We intend for the audience to empathise with the characters if the homeless man looking for work, setting a world wherein there is vast inequality and need for change.

We improvised various situations and scenes and eventually decided on the scene in which Yunusa is playing a homeless man looking for work, since this one showed not only his struggles but also how other characters react to him. We were able to show the prejudices that the upper classes held towards his character and the subsequent difficulties that he faced.

Devising 3

Homework:

1) how can we improve what we have done in class?

Well we want to give the piece more context, for example the TV Reporter is telling the audience who the characters are and what they are doing, and we're planning on researching into the time frame (early 90's) and adding some more character development

2) what more research do we need to do?

Look into music/movies/art of the time, have a look at cultural changes, read newspaper articles about the global state at the time, just after an economy boom in the late 80's the 90's would be a starting to feel the economic effects of that

3) how can we use what we learned from today's exercises?

Using the improv freeze frame exercises we can improve our group's improvisation skills and add to the work we've already done in expanding the plot line 

Devising 2

Today the group tried improvising work involving the Protest scene. We used dynamics such as freezing, slow motion and becoming aware of the audience. We created about a minutes work of semi improvised work.

Devising 1

What are the main feelings you tried to express?

The emotions we were attempting to portray were the feelings of pain and loss. To communicate with the audience how hopeless the characters felt and how they needed a voice. There was then a transition from pain to empowerment, when the characters raised themselves in protest and used music as their freedom of speech.

1 idea for what you would like to do next in the scene

I would like to somehow find a way to show how the music unified the characters, or perhaps to show how oppressed they felt by their situations/government.