Year 2 - Half Term 1 & 2

WEEK 1

11/09/23 - First Day Back!!!

Today was the first day back and to get us started and warmed up we played cat and mouse. We then moved on to the main part of the lesson which was improvising. We started with 'What's falling out of the sky?' which is a task were you walk around the room and when Kelly says "Whats that" you look up and catch something, the best way to do this is to say the first thing that comes to mind as you are trying to improvise so you shouldn't be thinking of what your going to say. After we did this a couple times we partnered up. I was with Sophia, Then we had to tell them what the last thing we caught was, mine was a baby bird and hers was a bowl of cornflakes. During this we had to try and convince the other that we actually had a bird or a bowl in our hands. We then split the entire class into two and got into lines opposite each other and whoever you were facing was the person you were partners with. For this task i was partnered with Harvey and his line was "How are you?" and my line was "I'm fine thanks." and every time we walked up to each other we had different scenarios of how we say it. There was sad, happy and even as an old person.

For the next part of the lesson we got into four groups and wrote down what rules we want for the year. 

12/09/23 - Progression lesson with Tom.

Today was our first ever lesson with Tom and we talked about progression which for us was all about university and what we want to do after college. First we talked about our upcoming assessment and we all wrote down all of the points. We then talked about UCAS and how to apply to universities from there, that we only have 6 spots for university but can have more if we go through conservatoires. He then gave us an assignment which is to write a personal statement for uni within the next two weeks, so that he can check and give corrections if needed.
He then told us that he had a bunch of classical monologues for us that would be perfect for uni auditions and to look through them and take the ones you want. I took four, Nurse from Romeo and Juliet, 2 Phebe ones from As You Like It, and Hermia from Midsummer Night Dream. 

13/09/23 - Horrible History deaths.

Today we started off with "the worlds worst...". To do this game we were put in groups and got into a circle. You then get given a piece of paper and for example, it could have written on it the "the worlds worst baker"  and you have to go into the middle of the circle and act out being the worlds worst baker and people around you try to guess the what your the worst at. Once someone has guessed it they replace you and the game carries on.

We then split into four groups and Kelly asked us to talk about any worries or anxieties we may have to see if anyone also has the same worries so if anything happens we can talk to each other and trust each other even more as a group. 

After this we got into pairs, I went with Scarlet. The task was to hug your partner in a different way whether that be happy for them, proud of them or disappointed for them, this was a bonding task as well so i'm glad i was with a first year because its good to get to know them as we will be working together.

We then got into groups of five and played a horrible histories death version of two truths and a lie where one of us had a fake death and 4 of us had true ones and we read them out and people had to get which one the made up death was.

WEEK 2

18/09/23 - improv.

Today we started off with playing 13, this is where you get into a group and go round the circle counting to 13, each person can say up to 3 numbers at a time so one person could say 1,2 and another could say 3,4,5 but if you land on 13 your out. We then played the game where we all lay on the floor and count to 42 (the amount of people in class). However you can not talk over others we all need to say one number. 

Today we worked on improv, we split the class into four groups and had to pretend we were world champion tug-of-war players. We would go against one of the other groups. As we were doing it we had to believe we were genuinely in a game of tug-of-war so if the other group was pulling back we would move forward and vice versa.

After this we went off into separate groups and did more research for the globe.

The aim of today was to learn how to bounce off of each other and know how to respond in different ways to keep the scene going.

19/09/23 - Uni talk and Evan Hansen scenes.

Today with Tom we discussed more about unis, like which ones we were thinking of and how far we have gotten with our personal statements. We then got into pairs and worked on our Shakespeare monologues. The one I decided to work on today was Phebe from As You Like It.

When we swapped over to Kelly we were asked to get into pairs. Originally I went with Alayah but then she asked if we get into boy and girl pairs. So I then went with Aiden. After this we were given a scene from Dear Evan Hansen, it was a scene between Evan (son) and Heidi (mum). We then went off and read the script through, going through different emotions and ways of saying things.

We then wrote down all ideas and questions we had and answered them as a group. The aim of today's lesson was to learn how to analyse and break down scripts using more emotion.

20/09/23 - Murder mystery and makeup talk for the globe.

Today we started off with wink murder and mafia boss.

We then played a murder mystery game, we got into groups of five, I was with Taron, Kieran, Will and Sophia. This game is very similar to two truths and and one lie but with deaths and you had to create your own death up and try to trick everyone into thinking it was a real death. 

My group came up with a school boy who died by chewing on a lead toy. 

After this game we spoke with makeup about what we think would be some cool makeup and costumes to do for the globe.

The aim of today's lesson was to try and come up with creative deaths to help us get into the spooky head space for the globe.

21/09/23 - Solid plan for the globe in our groups.

Today Josh from the globe came to visit so the aim of today's lesson was to get a solid plan into action so he knew what we were wanting to do in the spaces so we went off into our groups and discussed who would be a main character, what makeup we could do and told Josh all about our ideas. 

WEEK 3

25/09/23 - Duologues.

Today we started off with a game of cat and mouse to get us up and moving. We then got into pairs and did a gibberish task, this is we’re you talk to your partner in gibberish. The aim of this is to use movement to get your point across as the other person can’t understand you so you have to work with all of your senses. This is to help people with communicating.

We then played a game of conga to separate the group up and pair up with the person behind you, this is to stop people from pairing up with the people they normally do. 

I was paired with Charlie. We got given duologues to choose from and chose one about two people talking about a woman in a coma. We did this because it really let us think about all the emotions that would be going through someone’s head if this actually happened.

26/09/23 - Script analysis.

Today we learnt about how to correctly analyse a script. Find the facts and ask questions to fully get into the head space of the characters.

27/09/23 - Performing our duologue.

Today me and Charlie performed our monologue. I loved doing this with Charlie because she is just so in depth about her character constantly asking how can I make this even better. We got some great feedback from everyone when they watched it. Some of it being “you bounced off of each other really well” and “you were able to keep the scene going even if Charlie improvised you were also able to improvise to keep the scene going”. I really liked this feedback because it shows how I have improved. We also got some suggestions on how to make the scene even better which I also liked because no scene is ever perfect and everyone is helping you do the best.

The aim of today was to perform in front of others and be able to watch others and give them positive and ‘negative’ feedback. 

28/09/23 - Independent work day.

Today is an independent work day so i came into college and caught up on any work that needed doing and finished writing my first personal statement draft. 

WEEK 4

2/10/23 - Diction.

The aim of today's lesson was to learn how to speak clearly, which is diction. We all learnt different tongue twisters and performed them in groups and then everyone joined in. This is a key thing to performing as it is really important that everyone can understand and hear you while on stage.

3/10/23 - Stage Combat.

Today with Tom we did a stage combat lesson. To get warmed up we did little relay races. He then taught us how to do a normal punch, an uppercut, hair-pulling and foot stamping. The most important rule to stage combat is to make sure your partner or whoever you are fighting is ready and prepared so no one gets hurt.

After we had learnt the basics we worked on a rough scene idea for Peter Pan.

5/10/23 - Globe Audition.

I’m going for Mary Ann cotton.

I think my audition went well, I am much more confident in my acting this year. My feedback from Kelly was try not to look up when trying to remember lines. I will work on this when learning new things by having someone with me to point out when I do it so I can stop the habit.

Audition piece that I wrote myself:

"1,2,3"

Pacing back and forth.

"11,12 No 4,5"

Pacing away from the door turns and sees everyone. Tour guide may say something before she speaks.

"Oh hello... 13,14 No 6,7"

Confused slightly then looks at someone in the group.

"Wow you look just like my William, or was it, James? Yes, yes! James. Oh, my dear James was such a lovely man.

Oh it was so unfortunate that one of his children died just a few weeks after I started working for him, from... gastric fever of course. He was so lucky to have me there to support and help him through such a difficult time. I mean what would he have done without me. Unfortunately, as he started to fall into my trap, my mother decided to become ill. So, the only option was, well to speed up her untimely death. She was just getting in the way. It's what she would have wanted, I helped her out! However, I had left my daughter with her. I knew she didn't deserve to grow up the way I did, my life was just so unfair. I let her come to live with me and lames, but the house just became so full, deserved more money! i mean I had to do something to help my dear out."

Snaps out of it and start pacing again.

“8 9, 15, 10, 16 ,11, 17, 9 10, 9 10, 9 10, NO"

Turns abruptly to audience.

" I was hung, I was there for quite some time before they realized, they had made a mistake with the trapdoor, I told you my life was unfair. I mean who can't place a trapdoor high enough to break someone's neck, doesn't seem that difficult. I was pushed by the shoulders until l died because of this. After everything l did to help, I was the victim. I wasn't violent, a women's weapon. Arsenic. Sure it's a slow and painful death but I did what I had to do if it wasn't for me they would have all suffered!

I would have never been caught if they didn't figure out that arsenic and gastric fever looked identical."

WEEK 5

09/10/23 - Performed audition in front of whole class

Today, the year 2's and the year 1's split up. The year 2's worked on their independent scripts, my group went to the black box room to figure out what characters and what lines we would all say. We didn’t finish this, so we will carry on the next time we work on it.

After lunch, we all joined back together and all the Mary Ann cottons performed their auditions in front of the whole class. After this Kelly asked everyone to vote for their two favorite Mary Ann cottons. Whoever gets the most votes gets the role. 

10/10/23 - sang through all Peter Pan songs and Kelly work

For the morning, we worked through all the Peter Pan songs with Tom. From this I have figured out that I must do more work on the captain hooks songs, in preparation for my audition.

In the afternoon, we continued with our independent scripts. Me and my group got the first half of the script on to its feet. 

11/10/23 - Queen Mary and Radium girl instead of Mary Ann cotton 

Today, the whole class got told who was performing in the globe production for definite, this left 3 Mary Ann cottons, however there was only 2 shows left. So I decided I would be Queen Mary I and the other 2 could be the Mary Ann cottons’. Kelly also asked us 3 to work on a radium girl script for the globe as she would like that adding in so I am also going to be performing as a radium girl also.

WEEK 6

16/10/23 - Worked on the Globe ending.

Today we worked on the globe piece ending, this is my scene as Queen Mary I as the ending scene is the execution and the Queen is the one who runs it, I learnt my lines and we started to block the scene. I like this scene as I need to be very assertive and I am excited to perform a role like this. After we blocked it we did a run off it. The main struggle with this scene today was the audiences interactions as they need to be cheer in some parts for me to be able to quiet them down however we couldn’t get the timing of that today but I know with a little more practice we will be able to pull it off in no time.

17/10/23 - Radium Girls.

Today our little group of Radium Girls went off and began writing down a basis of the script. It only needs to be small so we were able to complete it today, we decided to go down the path of getting ready for a big event (The execution). There’s three radium girls in the scene and we have one girl mention how bad another’s jaw has gotten and to cover it up with some makeup. We did this to explain why the radium girls had deteriorated jaws as they all suffered with phossy jaw but only had a short amount of time to bring light to the situation so thought pointing it out using makeup would be the best solution. 

19/10/23 - Costume.

Today was costume, I showed Layah my costume as that is her production role so she knew I had it sorted. I am wearing my prom dress as the Queen would also were something similar, it’s a little bit more modern to what she would have worn but it saves me buying a whole new dress. And Kelly agreed it was okay. I then went off and made sure I knew my lines for both the Queen and Radium Girls.

WEEK 7

23/10/23- Moving to The Globe.

Today is our first day in The Globe and it was time to look around and figure out where all scenes were going to take place and do our first official run through in the venue. Once we had gotten to know the spaces we started on a run, my first run was a a Radium Girl as Paige would be doing Queen Mary I on the first night. This run through went smoothly it could definitely use a few tweaks but that what did afterwards just separately in our performance groups then we swapped over and I do a run through of the Queen. Again needed a few corrections here and there but we ironed them out ready for tomorrow.

24/10/23- Show day one!

Today I am a radium girl so the first thing I did was get into costume then go get my makeup done. Then it was performance time!

  

25/10/23- Show day two!

Today I am Queen Mary I so I put on my dress got my makeup done and was ready to perform!

Week 1

06/11/23 - Peter Pan Auditions.

Audition day and I’m going for Captain Hook - over the holidays I spent time learning his monologue and now it was time to show what I had done. I went into the room and performed the monologue, however afterwards I wasn’t completely happy with how I had done it. Kelly wanted hook to be a strong and independent women who bossed around the male pirates if it was going to be a female and I didn’t feel I had brought that. If I could do it again I would change how I performed it completely. I am disappointed I couldn’t match what Kelly wanted but glad I gave it a shot.

07/11/23 - Singing auditions. 

Second round of auditions and it’s singing, Peter Pan is a musical so Kelly is looking for someone who can act through song you don’t have to be the best singer but you have to be able to perform while singing. Unfortunately after my audition I was very upset with myself, but I now realise I was being a bit harsh on myself. Singing is not my forte, I love it but in the privacy of my own home so if I sound like a dying cat no one else can hear. So going into this audition was very out of my comfort zone. I don’t think I am the best singer but I do believe I can hold a note however I just blanked, I was so nervous about the singing I just stood there, I didn’t act through the song and I knew then that this role was not going to be mine.

08/11/23 - Dance auditions.

Something I am definitely no good at, dance. But the same with singing you don’t have to be the best dancer you just have to act through it because if you are drawing people in with your facial expressions no one is worried about your feet, Since I knew hook was very unlikely now I decided it was time to just let go and see what happens, a little disappointed but not angry because if I know that hook just isn’t for me I’m glad I gave it my best shot. Dance auditions were in a group of 4 and I just tried to enjoy myself the best I could. 

Week 2

13/11/23 - Cast list.

Today we get the cast list. Kelly did it bit differently this time and asked us individually to come up to the front and she would tell us privately, I got the role of Twin 1 and I am working with Alex who is playing Twin 2, Alex had actually already told me this before Kelly did not realising I didn’t know but I was fine with it as I am happy with this role, a little bit disappointed as to be expected but very excited to work with Alex as we get along so I am not complaining. I am also a brave girl as ensemble.

14/11/23 - Singing.

Tuesdays are reserved for singing. They have been since we started this project and will be until we nail them and get to performing. Tom is teaching each of the songs in there groups, so while we wait for lost boys or brave girls to be shouted over, Alex and I make a start on lines. 

15/11/23 - Wendy’s house.

Today we learnt the dance for Wendy’s house. This scene is we’re all the lost boys are listening to Wendy talk about her dream house and they all as a team build her this house. We weren’t the basic movement for this song and got straight into it seeing how the timing and movement would work. After we had it down Alex and I decided we could add a lot of characterisation into this dance and all the future dances we were going to learn. We wanted the twins to be as funny as possible so for this song there is a part were we are holding a prop and spin with it, I suggested it was a door and I would spin and nearly hit her and she would duck and after Alex agreed she liked the idea we went to Abby with it and she loved the idea so we added it to the scene. 

16/11/23 - Production roles and costume.

Costume is always a stressful time for me as I usually have to buy my own things which can be a bit of a pain and sometimes embarrassing. We decided we wanted the lost boys to be in neutral coloured modern clothing, the idea is that they just found these clothes lying around. I then came up with the idea that Alex and I should be mix and match and that I have leg warmers that we could actually put on our arms and have one of each colour. I then discussed Brave girls costume and we spoke about these being the opposite to the lost boys and they would wear bright coloured cargo's, this is a bit annoying as I will have to buy some but not a major thing as I can buy a pair I know I will wear in everyday life.