Quick introduction to Boal:
Rachel introduced to the class a new drama practicioner Augusto Boal (16 March 1931 - 2 May 2009) a Brazillian theatre director, writer and politician. He was the founder of "Theatre of the Oppressed, a theatrical form originally used in radical popular education movements.
Our practical work consisted of two exercises famous of Boal's theory:
“The theater itself is not revolutionary: it is a rehearsal for the revolution.”- Augusto Boal
Theater of the Oppressed is an arsenal of theater techniques and games that seeks to motivate people, restore true dialogue, and create space for participants to rehearse taking action. It begins with the idea that everyone has the capacity to act in the “theater” of their own lives; everybody is at once an actor and a spectator. We are “spect-actors!” — a term which Boal coined. http://beautifultrouble.org/theory/theater-of-the-oppressed/
In my opinion, as I've become fond of Boal's theories and so on, I like the idea of taking personal experiences maybe good memories or bad memories to help develop your characterization. If you can put yourself into the same situation, or near enough something similar, then you can really feel the emotions that the character will have. If you can do this and really get it into you that you are this character and you are feeling these emotions to make you feel happy or depressed or maybe angry then it changes your performance entirely for the better. The mood given off to the spectators is always manipulated by the emotions used in facial expressions, body language and tone of voice because that's where the power of the character is shown most effectively.
Why is it important to share a disciplined approach to performance work?It's important because it shows dedication and understanding of rules that are respected of you as students/actors and it also improves the final performance.What do you think are your main challenges? (skills & behaviour)
I think showing respect to everyone involved in your group/class because everyone deserved the same treatment and it's important that everyone knows how to treat the rest of the class.
Why were you interested in the production role you have selected?
I've chosen costume because I have yet to be a part of this sector and have wanted to give off my thoughts and ideas of how people should be dressed on stage.
What would you like to achieve in this production?
I hope that from this role I can take the skills I learn into my future career and can expand on the knowledge of costume designing and arranging.
Who is Augusto Boal? What did he want to achieve?
Most of Augusto Boal’s techniques were created after he realized the limitations of didactic, politically motivated theatre in the poor areas where he worked. He found that his attempts to inspire the people living in poor or "slum" areas to rise up against racial and class inequality were inhibited by his own racial and class background, since he was white and comparatively financially comfortable.
Explain how each exercise developed your skills and the skills of the group?
Constantin StanislavskiBorn in 1863 in Moscow, Russia, Constantin Stanislavski started working in theater as a teen, going on to become an acclaimed thespian and director of stage productions. He co-founded the Moscow Art Theatre in 1897 and developed a performance process known as method acting, allowing actors to use their personal histories to express authentic emotion and create rich characters. He died in Moscow in 1938.
When he observed the great actors and actresses, Stanislavski noticed how fluid and lifelike their movements were. They seemed to be in a state of complete freedom and relaxation, letting the behavior of the character come through effortlessly. He concluded that unwanted tension has to be eliminated and that the performer at all times attain a state of physical and vocal relaxation.Apart from one-person shows, performers are not on stage alone. They interact with other people and Stanislavski was aware that many performers tend to "stop acting," or lose their concentration, when they are not the main role in a scene or when someone else has dialogue. These performers make a great effort when they are speaking but not when they're listening. This disrupts the performer and causes them to move into and out of a role. That, in turn, weakens the sense of the ensemble - the playing together of all the performers.
From the book 'THE SYSTEM' on Stanislavski written by Jean Benedetti I have been looking at techniques he uses to create a better of experience in the acting world and develop your skills as an actor. The certain technique I've chosen is a concentration technique which evidentally helps concentration. "Moreover, the actor who focuses entirely on the stage action is more likely to produce active participation in the audience. They no longer sit back in their seats, waiting to be 'entertained'; they are drawn to watch more closely and understand."
The technique is clearly to have the audience interested in what they're watching on stage and have them engaging with the actors. I will apply this to my character in various scenes, mainly in my scene with Helen at her flat and also using 'Circles of attention' an exercise we were shown and performed in class. I will use it and have a sense that the flat is the whole world and the other settings are there but not to be an interest in this scene.
Each of us were given a warm up exercise of Boal's to perform to and with the rest of the class which was recorded.
This is the video link of my exercise 'blind person and the bomb'. This exercise helps to develop your senses of awareness on stage, knowing where other actors are and what props and set are placed where without having to assure yourself. I feel this is quite a useful skill to have as you do need to know where everything is placed on stage.
I did enjoy doing this exercise as it's a physical exercise which is something I prefer being involved in and I feel I did it well. I'm no teacher and don't have amazing teaching skills but doing this has improved my abilities and I know what I did wrong and what I must do next time to be more convincing.
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