WORKSHOP WEEK ONE: Wednesday
Today was quite a fun one. We had acting workshops with Ali De Souza, who is a really lovely chap. We threw sticks at each other and did all the silly things actors do to get themselves ‘in the zone’, so to speak. I don’t really know how much I learned from it, i don’t feel any more enlightened as to an actor’s process. Maybe if I manage to learn these bloody lines for Hamlet I will… I really hope tomorrow will give me a real feel for the entire process and I’ll be able to draw similarities etc.
After this, we had some more score reading classes, which were enjoyable as always, but very difficult and I found myself relying heavily on the singing to get me by (it was all in french, my favourite). This will only get me so far in the real world and I’m going to really work hard on those quiet, monotonous orchestral intervals!
Lastly we had a workshop with J-Wilkz about ground plans and mark ups. I unfortunately had to step out for a contact lens appointment (my eyes are fine, fyi) but otherwise it was good fun and it made me feel a lot more confident about the whole thing when the time comes to do it. It helped that we used Sweet Sorrow’s groundplan and the designer, Rachel, was there as she could tell me about the set and what her aims were. I also got all the details about props, the play etc. which is always good! It leaves me with an action plan for the little prep i can do for SYT:
-When do we get into SYT and which room are we using? Their rehearsal rooms are quite small so sizing the set down for rehearsals will be a big priority.
-How many rostra are we going to need in the rehearsal room when the time comes? The rostra there is very handy but takes FOREVER every day to set up.
-Is the length or height of the set more important when doing a rehearsal mark up?
-When am I going to meet the director!?
-The Schedule – wtf?
I reckon I’ll be spending a lot of time in the rehearsals, and it will be very different to the shakespeare last year (it was nice and warm the whole show for a start)! But yeah, a lot of this stuff is for when the time comes – but I’m trying to prepare myself as much as possible.
Laura
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Good to hear that your eyes are fine…. because your gonna need them.
Great to read your early plans/thoughts for SitC and how the classes are influencing your thoughts (I assume!).
The intention of putting all of the ‘performance’ workshops before the recitals was to try and bring everything together for that last session. Again, it’s all about processes and not about final outcomes.
The acting classes with Ali did look fun, though there was a serious underpinning to them i.e. becoming empathetic with the performers (as you know) but consider reflecting on how some of these techniques and observations can aid yourself as a Stage Manager?
Good work Laura.