in rehearsals we discussed things that society does and how it is not considered strange. we looked at the psychological side of everyday life. we discussed how people don't talk during travel and in a way switch off. why is it that we ignor the things around us when were not with the people we know. I suggested that it may be due to our parents and teachers drilling into us as children not to speak to strangers and how this anti social society may be a repercussion of this. however I feel my theory may have been over looked as nothing further was discussed on my issue and it was put aside for 'another session'.

we continued to discuss further scenarios and were split into groups to devise a short piece on a time were society fails. my group struggled as we were unsure on what we were suppost to be doing as people still didn't understand the concept. although we struggled another group did a short scene about how an unattended bag on a train and how long it takes for the passengers to react after noticing. they showed that although every passenger had noticed that the bag was there and that they were clearly worried they waited for another person to react before them.

our directors have proposed the theme of society and how people react to one another in everyday occurrences. I have suggested that we open the theme up to society in general as I have many ideas of how we accept things that seem extremely strange. an example of this is a scene I have imagined. it starts with a group of people on stage appearing to get ready for work. they would brush their teeth, have a wash and put on their suits all in front of the drawn curtain. When they have completed this the curtain will draw revealing a job center. they will the begin to cue up and receive their doll money with the word 'wages' written on the envelopes in bold writing. the curtains will draw again and the actors would perform the same morning ritual in reverse to show their day has ended.

another scene I have in-pictured was three actors playing like children. after a while a projection will appear of a puppet master/ leading member of society e.g. a teacher or an army sergent. with this the children become puppets and are minipulated in how they play. the children turn to teens in school to soldiers killing one another in the puppet format (Thunderbirds). This along with the puppet master portrays how we have no say in how we lead our lives and that society dictates our choices and actions.

Amy and Lloyd appear open to this however I have an incline that they are set in their vision. when discussing this with my class I have become very aware of how many people don't understand the concept. I fear this may lead to problems in the future.

We have now been told that Amy B and Lloyd are going to direct us. I'm quiet excited as I have worked with Lloyd before and feel she can bring many skills and ideas to the group. Although I am happy with the choice I wold have welcomed the oppertunity to read their proposal - and the others- and been able to give my opinion on who wold direct our devised performance.

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.