Our First Rehearsal - 02/02/11

I led the first workshop on Wedesday and although we weren't able to rehearse in the large space we had envisaged using, I was incredibly happy that everyone kept their focus and dedication throughout the day.

Here are some notes, bits of feedback and photos from throughout the day.
(If it's slightly confusing - Some are my notes previous to the rehearsal, some post-)

Breathing – Get a good posture, 10 deep breaths into the diaphragm. With each inhalation I want you to focus on concentrating all your worries into your breath with the exhalation picture the atoms of your breath filled with the negative energy lifting and rising from the room out into the sky and drifting into space. Feel the freedom and ease of the moment knowing we are in this space to create and play without the inhibitions and worries of everything else.

Now sitting quietly, steadily arriving in the space, becoming more aware of the subtleties of your breath. How deep are you naturally breathing? How long is the breath? Note the qualities and understand that your breath is the most pertinent thing in your life. Focus on thanking your body, appreciate how your system functions and is mostly out of your control.

Think about the size of the universe and how your breath is affecting it. The vastness of it all serves to remind us that we are all free to enjoy this moment without anxiousness or negativity. Realise absolutely that there is nothing but this now, the ever-changing present and that it is impossible to fear in this now.

Stretching

Concentration and Awareness- Walk around filling the space. Be aware of the gaps without especially looking at them.

Start to explore different speeds, how does this affect your feelings and intentions?

Whilst still fulfilling both of the previous things start to vary your levels and your width, how does this affect your feelings and intentions?

I say a word and without thinking, whilst being aware of the space I want you to move directly into a speed and use of level that you feel best represents the word for you.

When I clap my hands I want you to absolutely reverse this physical representation of the word.

Moving into…

Individual Movement Improvisation

Paired Movement - Work in pairs feeling your way into a shape without thought allow your body to move instinctively react to your partner, read poems at random for inspiration, how does the uses of text alter and affect the movement and in turn the emotion,

Script Work – Worked with Pete individually. Developing his sense of false power born through his weakness got him to feedback on his preliminary character ideas. Whilst this was ongoing, Helena, Claud and Stef quickly read through Pinter’s play ‘The New World Order’. I then brought Pete in blindfolded and sat him down in the throng of Pinter’s dialogue. I wanted to see how Pete would feel in character moving from a position of supposed power to that of enforced weakness. This exercise was partially affective I believe it gave Pete a greater sense of how his character would react under the pressure of intimidation.

Post Lunch Discussion – We talked about the story more; trying to find more human driven emotions and intentions…still needs work.

Music Workshop – I taught Claud and Helena a short piece of music that I wrote the night before. Not really supposed to be anything firm, I just wanted to get a sense of how they both learnt and responded to the sounds and harmony.

Movement – Whilst doing the above I asked Pete and Stef to devise a movement piece in response to their characters intentions. They were unsure, but brilliant.

Performance – We finished the day by combining the two and seeing what effect they had on each other and the combined power of them in unison.

Ohhhh and most importantly...a pesto powered lunch. :)

They are beautiful.