PRACTICAL SKILLS – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Friday 7th December- Today was the first season rehearsal in which we worked in our individual three companies. We spent our first 20 minutes in E.0.44 creating a workshop as a team which we were going to trial with the companies of Hamlett and Romeo and Juliet. We spent the final hour and a half watching workshops and trialling them all together. This was a great introduction to what we will be doing when we perform to schools as a part of Theatre In Education.

I appear from in videos 3-6.

Video 3: 0.00-9:46, I am taking part throughout this whole workshop.

Video 4: 0.00-5,02, I am taking part throughout.

Video 5: 0.00- 10.01, I am a member of this workshop throughout.

Video 6: 0:00- 3.08, I am a member of this workshop throughout.

These videos show us working together as a group and working through the new activities created as a tester for when these are developed and taken into schools. They show that the cast of Romeo and Juliet taught Hamlett their activities and worked with them on possible ideas, followed by Hamlett teaching and finally A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

When watching this back and gathering feedback from Erica and Poppy, we learnt that if you are leading the exercises we need to ensure that we are not winning and helping out the other teams, who will be the children as much as possible. As it is noticeable knowing who is running the session that throughout they are standing an equal chance at winning as those who are participating as a member of this.

Tuesday 8th January- Today in our season rehearsal we worked in E.0.44 and began to block scenes 1-4 and pages 1-8 in the script. We discovered how the blocks will be placed and fit into the play as well as understand our positions throughout and how we will deliver each line and when throughout these scenes that were covered.

I appear through videos 2 and 3.

Video 2: 1:50- 8:21, 11:40- 12:33, 20:00- 21:54

Video 3: 7:47- 9:40, 10:45- 11:15, 12:32- 12:51

These videos specifically show us working through these first stages of the script with our director Erica, taking note and building on this to create a block a whole finished scene and transition.

When watching these three videos back, I can see that it will be so much easier when we are not using the scripts and can express ourselves further. However, I also notice that as we run this through for the second time, as shown in video 3, our confidence grows as we see that the blocking becomes set and we are performing with more fluidity in general in comparison to the first time.

Friday 11th January- Today in season rehearsals we continued our blocking process. We were working in the theatre space and due to some cast members missing, we blocked the end of the play. Specifically, we blocked scene 8 until the very end. We worked very well in this session and worked at a fast pace to be able to finish with time to spare to run this again and refine small details.

I appear from 0:17- 2:50 in this video.

This video shows Erica directing a couple of us in the very final sections of the play. We are blocking this here, taking note on what is being said and forming the very final time we will see the audience in this performance.

When watching this back, I notice that my delivery of my lines can be a lot slower and more exaggerated, specifically in the very final moments. Additionally, I can begin to make more of my gestures as I move upstage and finish this line.

Tuesday 15th January- Today in our season session, we worked in E.0.44 with Erica, running everything that we had blocked so far, then filling in any gaps we had. Therefore, we began and finished our blocking of the middle section from this time until the scheduled rehearsal finished.

Video 1: 7:09- 8:57, 10:02- 10:33, 11:50- 12:10, 15:46- 16:47, 17:25- 18:20

Video 2: 0:00- 4:20, 4:35- 5:10, 24:37- 29:50

Video 3: 6:10- 10:08

These videos show us running our first half of the play followed by blocking the section of dialogue which we had not staged yet.

When watching this back, I notice that my character needs more energy on my first entrance, I also received this as a note from Erica as my character is meant to be a mischievous sprite and its crucial that this comes across when I first enter the stage.

Thursday 17th January- Today in season rehearsals for A Midsummer Night’s Dream we worked specifically on running the play as a whole with the whole company and watching our progression and seeing how the form and shape of the piece are developing as we perform this as a whole, without stopping, for the very first time. After this, we received notes from Erica and spent time talking these through with her as our director and writing these down so that we are aware of what we need to improve.

I appear throughout the second video on the playlist

Video 2: 6:50- 8:32, 9:26- 9:51, 10:56- 11:20, 14:15- 16:20, 18:00- 19:32, 24:37- 26:15, 27:40- 27:55, 38:13- 39:25

This video specifically shows our run of the play and how the duration of this planned out in this rehearsal. There was the occasional pause to see where things may be unclear. However, this presents a very tidy run of every blocking we had covered so far.

When watching this back, I notice that my energy will need to be higher in specific areas. However, I can not get this insight visually until I watch myself back. I also received this not from Erica today. The specific moment is my entrance in 6:50 as my energy should be significantly higher than the character Quince’s.

Friday 18th January–  Today with Erica we worked in E.0.44. We started with a small warm up and began straight away with breaking down the play. We roughly worked through scenes 1-4 as a whole and managed to specifically look at refining and blocking these small moments so that specific elements are starting to be brought into play. Additionally, some of us began to put our scripts down and perform without these restricting us.

I appear throughout videos 2 and 3.

Video 2: 11:00- 2:40, 31:08- 31:59

Video 3: 4:58- 7:30

This video shows us specifically working through the detailed blocking of scenes 1-4. We are stopping and taking feedback for how is best to continue and what we can do to improve the characterisation and mindset of our characters at this specific moment.

When watching this back, In comparison to performing with a script I am noticing that my movements are much more free and I am less restricted. It will be idea, if we are all off book by next week as we have a lot more space and I can see that we are connecting more effectively when looking at the physical elements of our performance.

Wednesday 23rd January- Today in season rehearsals we specifically worked on blocking and refining the scenes 5, 6 and 7. We started and completed the whole session working in E.0.44 with Erica, our director. We managed to work on a new section and develop the detail within this part further. However, moments before this we ran parts of the play to see how everything was looking on the whole.

I appear throughout both video 1 and 2.

Video 1: 9:22- 11:40, 13:22- 13:51, 15:04- 15:33, 18:00- 20:44

Video 2: 4:48- 5:35, 8:30- 11:39, 15:55- 21:21, 27:30- 28:40

This video shows us completing a run of everything we have done so far, followed by starting to cut down the last elements of the production that have been roughly blocked but not in much detail.

When watching this back, I particularly notice how much difference the smallest aspects make and how important the intent is behind what we are doing. When our movements and intent is precise and accurate there is more chance of the understanding being 100% clear and this also being portrayed in the best possible way. Personally, I find these very helpful and love the factor of receiving feedback in detail as we work through the final parts of the play as a whole. 

Friday 8th and Monday 11th February-  These videos show us completing two runs of the show in full without stopping.

From the date of the 11th, a few cast members are running in costume as we have our first performance tomorrow. Additionally, I am not in the final four videos as this shows the Mechanicals and Lovers running specific scenes again with Erica.

Video 1: 6:29- 8:12, 9:10- 9:40, 10:46- 11:10, 13:53- 16:05, 17:40- 21:12 (in the final part of the recording, me and Dan are on a block stage right).

Video 2: 0:35- 2:00, 3:27- 4:08, 14:19- 15:21

Video 3: 15:50- 16:35, 17:40- 21:02

Video 4: 0:00- 2:43, 3:36- 4:13, 13:09- 14:15

Video 5: N/A

Video 6: N/A

Video 7: N/A

Video 8: N/A

This video shows us following the procedure of the run and carrying it out to its full length. We ran the show on both days to ensure that the performance was embedded in our heads and we weren’t lacking anything or forgetting any given notes.

When watching this back I notice that we are making great improvements as we get closer to the performance. However, I also notice the energy has the tendency to drop which we need to avoid and keep up at all times due to our performance audience.

Tuesday 12th February These videos present the evening in which we performed all three Theatre In Education performances to peers and parents in the Conservatoire East Theatre.

I appear throughout Video 3 as this is the AMSND performance.

Video 3: 6:12- 7:58, 9:00- 9:25, 11:10- 11:36, 14:25- 16:26, 17:36- 23:04, 35:26- 36:34