Four Ways to Speak Out - 8th December 2009

Dear All,

What a brilliant way to end the semester and our training within the module. As we start to work towards the final concept it is worth remembering the process you underwent to discover the concept behind Four Ways to Speak Out.

We felt it was vital for you to bring this space alive through your bodies and not just your imagination. This is why before we sat and discussed the concept, we asked you to respond to the spaces through embodied gestures. The sheer coincidence between our starting point/s and your responses is exciting! Remember how important it is to respond to tasks fully (emotionally and physically) as it is only with the material you generate that Paul and I can move you forward and shape the work.

We have a clear starting point - now we hand it over to you to complete as an ensemble. Think about the different framing devices we used to evoke the environments and the possible narratives and characterisations. The spaces (pub, bedroom, lamp-lit street corner, wasteland), the dresses, the items symbolic of each space, the soundtrack and its lyrics, the real life testimonials, and finally the gestures you performed within the spaces to reinforce their energies. Let them truly sink in until you can start to get a feel for who you could be in this community.

Questions for this week:

1. Which of the above framing devices struck a chord with you and why?

2. What made the creation of the ensemble piece so much more intense today in comparison to the day when you learnt/revisited the clap-technique?

3. What is the relationship between provocative social issues and the genre of physical theatre?

Thank you for a really exciting semester! Looking forward to journeying on together.

Royona & Paul

Where We Start is Where We End

Yesterday was a session that was not in our usual way of working, and again we would like to thank you for the maturity and commitment with which you approached the themes and the tasks given to you.

You should now have at least an awareness of the way music can work in physical theatre and how important it is to not simply put on a piece of music because you like it or because it has a good beat. Music is a layer, just as movement or text is.
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The session also marked the end of the skills-building period. You should now have a palette of techniques, skills and understanding with which you can move forward into the creation of the performance. There have been good days and bad, slower days than others, days that are emotionally draining and days that have been physically demanding.
We have all been on a huge journey, let us not forget that; learning and experiencing along the way. Time then, to reflect on this and perhaps for this week the important thing to consider is:

Your reflection on the past twelve weeks of work; your journey, your highs and your lows.

You may also like to:

Consider your views now on the use of music in physical theatre.