Devising

The start of a new term and the start of a new project. The project is normally done in two groups- splitting the group in half- however we have been informed that this term we are devising a piece as a whole class. We have been advised to allocate a director amongst us who will control the devising and help piece together our production. We have been told that anyone who wishes to be considered for this role must write a proposal on how they would go about directing the group and what methods they would use. I have considered writing a proposal myself as I enjoyed directing last year for tens however I feel I may struggle with involving everyone's creative input. I feel I may take complete control and end up doing a piece of my own and using my fellow class mates as merely actors. As a result of this I have decided that I would like to perform in the piece and possibly take the role of costume and props also.

We have also been studying different practitioners styles of directing and works to possibly help inspire our own directing styles and our devising. We have looked at Gratowski and his method of plastiques. We were shown some simple plastiques and learned that it is a complete discipline; controlling every part of your body at every moment, never allowing any of your limbs or body to fall but to be placed. We also watched video footage of professionals performing plastiques and witnessed how physically challenging it really is.

From this I have taken away a greater stage and performance discipline that will hopefully help me become a greater performer.

Critical Theory

At the start of this new term we have begun critical theory. This involves us learning about different practitioners and how they project their work. With the information we learn we have been instructed to write a 3000 word essay on either one or two of the practitioners covered.
The practitioners we are studying are:

Forced entertainment
Peter Brook
Jerzy Gratowski
Pina Bausch
Guillermo Gomez Pena

These are all different practitioners using different forms and methods of theater.

The Job Of An Actor

What is the job of an actor? To lie professionally? Laze around and do nothing? Or is it a doss. Well for me being an actor isn't becoming a movie star and become famous its about working hard and enjoying a career that suits you. I love acting. I love being an actress. I love waking up every morning knowing that I can be anyone I want and knowing that in doing this I could explain a political view or maybe make someone understand something better with my performance.

To me being an Actor is such a free and exhilarating job. Don't get me wrong I know its not all fun and roses but its still something to be proud of. I take great pride in knowing that whatever I do I have had to work hard for and that I might be out or work for a while -like most actors- but I know that if I work hard and keep using the passion I have I will succeed.

TENS

For tens we have decided on an idea involving the perfect image. We have named our piece, 'No food a day keeps the wobble away'. our piece is developed to shock the audience. we have decided to do this by using shocking images and grotesque movements throughout. For example we open the piece with a strange monologue by a weight obsessed teacher contradicting herself on what she thinks the perfect image is. We also have a scene were two school girls vomit after thinking they are fat. Lastly we have the sandwich boards that has multiple images starting from morbidly obese to dangerously anorexic. In this scene the girls rip off the images until they are faced with the thinnest which they both agree is the most attractive.

The piece is designed to explain how society has created this image that is both dangerous and -for most women/men - unobtainable . It also explains that most of our insecurities start when we begin secondary school and that it all starts with comments from our piers.

gay theatre

We recently did a seminar on either Gay, feminist or black theater. I chose to do mine on gay and found loads of information that I had never come across before. For instance through doing this project I have come to realize that Gay theater is very rare now and has become part of everyday theater and is no longer classed as a genre of its own. I also discovered the Dublin Gay theater festival which promotes old and new pieces of Gay theater once a year for a week. I am hoping to go to this festival next year as it seems interesting and fun.

Our new Project..... TENS

for our next project we are directing in pairs. Lloyd and I have decided to work together and have had many ideas ranging from banana wrestling to evil clowns. We have started to work around the idea of the perfect image showing how stupid and consuming it can become. we have started to create images in our head that we think could be used. for example the idea of make-up turning them into clowns and anorexia being a school lesson. Lloyd has also written some short extracts of script that we are working around to help base on piece.

Barcelona!!!

From 8th of Feb to the 11th of Feb my class went on a cultural trip to Barcelona. during our stay there we explored many of the min attractions and on several occasions got lost!
One of my favorite places that we explored was Park Guell. It was designed by Gaudi and is considered to be one of his best work. I enjoyed this particular adventure as although there were many tourists enjoying the sites it is obviously a major part of the culture and is enjoyed by the locals.
Barcelona was a great experience and i wouldn't have changed anything about it. i would love to go again and explore more of its magnificent sites and culture.

Community Focus Project

Our new topic at uni is to devise a piece with the community focus clients from the arts depot. we have been working on many different ideas and so far we have decided to devise a piece on a story line of 'superheros in rehab'.

I have to admit I was nervous to be working with the clients as I was unsure how the sessions would work but after meeting them and doing a few workshops I am more then comfortable with them and cant wait for our next session.