The play is named 'The Wardrobe' and is written by a very talented writer, Sam Holcroft. The play is based around a wardrobe which survives over five centuries which presents significant scenes in the lives of teenagers, young adults and/or children who use the wardrobe, as a place of safety, of which they feel safe and hidden from the outside world. Each scene shows a little piece of history of which was scene in the previous scene, and this for me is what makes the play so touching.
We started focusing on workshops for the new play. There were a lot of interesting ones for example we focused on status, and experimented in pairs by crossing one an other and trying to portray a level of status. Me and Dan, walked across as old people and experimented in a number of ways who could show the higher status, or lower status, by different techniques used. A way in which I tried to higher my status, was by keeping my head up and eye line above Dan's and the tone of my voice was strong and demanding as if nothing bothered me.
A fun activity I enjoyed was acting out a short scene, showing a boss and a lower class employee, we were asked to get into pairs, and experiment with how the boss shows the higher status, by having strong tone of voice or even switch it around and have the boss the lower status actor. I liked this exercise because it helped me determine different techniques used which I can later use and take on during performances.
Entering the wardrobe.
One of the first things we were made to do, was a bit of creative thinking, we were asked to enter either alone or in pairs, in an interesting way. I particularly liked Shelby's, she made her's interesting and funny by just giggling into the wardrobe. Me and Alicia, decided to go as a pair and were just going to make it seem like we were both running and hiding from something but it didn't go exactly to plan when we bumped into each other on purpose except she used all her force and fell down. At least it was entertaining.
The first character I tried out was Nell a young 17 year old woman, who was the fiance to Anthony, a 18 year old boy who unfortunately had been conscripted to war. The scene was quite lovely and touching, and really brought out a atmosphere in the watchers as for the first time we were bringing to life in our imagination what was actually going on at that time. Nell had no idea what was going to happen and neither did Anthony, or perhaps she did? This is an interesting scene, and it is in my top 3 characters that I would like to play. All of the scene show a sort of tough time, something negative about the scene, but it is as if all the characters are making light of a serious situation. The wardrobe itself stands as a place of protection and privacy where these children and young adults can go to feel safe. I think the story is touching and I can't wait to perform it.
The second character I was given to try out was Sarah. Sarah was so much fun to play, and I think I could learn a lot from portraying her character. I loved how it is a scene between three girls in the wardrobe having a gossip and a giggle , because since I am naturally a giggly person it would give me some ease and confidence to feel that giggling is part of the character, and it would seem very natural to me. This scene is also great in the way of giving a challenge, in the scene that the actor has to take on the role and portray the tragic event of the time, which was in fact the plague as this scene was set in 1665. Sarah is mistaken by her fellow ladies maids for having the plague, in which she does not. So whilst auditioning for this part not only did I have to show a giggly gossip, with a sarcastic sense of humor, but I also had to show the dramatic pauses and the quick change of tone, which was sort of a prelude to the dramatic event. I really enjoyed reading for this character.
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