Double - Children's Theatre - Individual Work - 06/12/15

Throughout this unit, we have worked together to devise scenes, come up with ideas and of course decided the play we were going to perform! However, there have been instances where I have done things outside of lesson individually in order to further our performance!

Cider Jar and Poultry Meat cardboard cut-outs!

Firstly, Lorna started making some of the props including poultry meat and a large cider jar (pictured left)! I helped her by cutting the chickens out, going over the edges with black marker again (as after cutting them out, the edges weren't even no longer) and helping her reinforce them as the cardboard would be very floppy with just one layer, whilst she drew and painted the props themselves and reinforced them also.

Additionally, we needed some music/sound effects for the show as some of the more exciting scenes would be very boring without it. After we, as a group, found the music for, "Boggis' Chicken House Raid," and "Bunce's Duck and Goose House Raid," I looked into finding some music for other scenes. The song we found was called, "Sneaky Snitch," and was made by Kevin MacLeod. I already had knowledge on the composer and creator of the track and I knew he was a very well known producer of royalty-free, instrumental music! I looked into his archive of songs on Spotify and found many more songs for other scenes! Below is the list of songs I found and what scenes they were used in:

• "Hidden Agenda," - The sneaking in, "Bean's Cider Cellar Scene."
• "Arcadia," - When the animals broke into the cellar and they saw all the wonderful cider in, "Bean's Cider Cellar Scene."
• "Scheming Weasel," (x2 due to the original track being too short) - When Rat appears in, "Bean's Cider Cellar Scene."

Finally, during the early days of devising we decided that for the Farmer's scenes, we wouldn't bother devising these scenes in class and we'd have someone devise and script them outside of class; I stepped up to this task! I wrote a script for Scene 2: The Three Farmers Introduction (was previously Scene 1), Scene 3: The Plan For Shooting, and Scene 6: We'll Never Let Him Go! I also wrote a script for what would've been Scene 13: Still Waiting but we thought this scene would remove from the atmosphere of, "The Great Feast," scene. Upon bring these scripts into lesson, everyone was happy with them and they only needed minor changes made to make them work with the rest of the scenes.

Double - Children's Theatre (FMF) - Blog 15 - 04/12/15

Today in Double, we performed a full runthrough of our production and I feel it went superb! We also performed with props and costume for the first time! Here is the list of props and costume we used:

• Fox ears and tails (four of each)
• Inflatable Belly (For Boggis & Mole/Rob)
• Farmer's Hat (For Boggis/Rob)
• Spoon (For Boggis/Rob)
• Gun (For Boggis/Rob)
• Spectacles (For Mole/Rob)
• Chickens and Cider Bottle Cardboard Cut-Outs
• Spade (For Bunce/James)
• Gun (For Bean/Lewis)
• Rat Nose (For Rat/Lorna)
• Walkie Talkie (For Boggis & Bean/ Rob & Lewis

We laid out the props on prop tables in each of the wings for easy access and so they weren't lost; they were all on their specified table which was relevant to where the user was coming off! This performance was our best yet and there were a great deal of good notes:

• Charlie engaged the audience very well and instantly with his characterisation!
• All of our costumes looked great and were effective at portraying our characters!
• Rhiannon's approach to Mrs. Fox was a great deal softer as opposed to her previous sarcastic and vindictive approach! This was much more child friendly and refreshing!
• Our music worked very well; it was timed properly and all links worked!
• "The Race," was as great as ever and was extremely side-splitting!
• "The Great Feast," song was a very sweet ending to a tense and funny production!
• Lorna's characterisation of Fox Cub and Rat were very contrasting and because her actions were very cogent, she produced very authentic characters!
• Lewis' characterisation of Rabbit was absolutely hilarious (not one to blow my own horn!)
• Lewis' Bean voice was maintained throughout the entire production and showed his ability to characterise very well as this voice contrasted very well with Rabbits!
• Lorna and Lewis maintained great focus for the whole run!

Some key improvements which we need to work on feature:

• Lorna needs a backpack for the, "Terrible Shovels," scene (Charlie: Kids go pack your stuff)
• Ollie needs to learn his lines for narration in order for everyone else to know what comes next; some of his lines cue others lines! He also needs to be much more engaging and energetic with the audience! The children's theatre unit is meant for entertaining the audience of children and this means being energetic and interactive! A way for Ollie to improve his interaction is by repeating the Boggis, Bunce and Bean rhyme many times in order to get the audience buzzing at the get go!
• Rob should eat food during the shooting scene instead of actually shooting Mr Fox! This plays to his character's personality better and adds yet another layer of comedy!
• Charlie's, "Fried Chicken?" section needs to be longer and clearer in order for the children to hear and fully understand the humour of the joke! Also, during, "The Great Feast," scene, he should elongate his, "dad dancing," as this is a very humorous part of the scene which the children will appreciate!
• James needs to really learn his lines as he was constantly delayed and he missed some very key lines (James: We could stop him?). He also needs to work on his characterisation for Fox Cub as he's not very believable! Children need convincing characters to relate to during a performance in order to fully entertain them. Also, when in the role of Bunce, he needs to keep his posture consistent as this removes the whole atmosphere and stigma of his character.
• Lewis needs to try and find a walkie talkie prop for the, "We'll never let him go," scene. Having a walkie talkie instead of a mobile phone is much more relatable to children as children of the age we're performing to, 4-6, won't have a mobile phone but they'll be lot more familiar with walkie talkies!
• As a group, we need to be quieter when we're in the wings; the children might hear us and they'll be less focused on the actual performance!

Below is a list of all costumes for each character:

• Charlie (Mr. Fox)
• Blue Suit Trousers
• Blue Suit Jacket
• White Shirt
• Black Bow Tie
• Black Shoes
• Fox ears and tail
• Rhiannon (Mrs. Fox)
• Dress
• Leggings under dress
• Apron
• Vest top under dress
• Fox Ears and tail
• James (Fox Cub)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Fox ear and tail
• Lorna (Fox Cub)
• Black leggings
• Black Top
• Fox ears and tail
• Rob (Boggis)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Inflatable Belly
• Farmer's Hat
• James (Bunce)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Farmer's Hat
• Lewis (Bean)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Farmer's Hat
• Necklace for Fox Tail Necktie
• Fox Tail Necktie (After, "The Shooting.")
• Ollie (Badger)
• Black Trousers
• Grey Waistcoat
• White Shirt
• Lewis (Rabbit)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Bunny ears
• Rob (Mole)
• Back Joggers
• Black Top
• Inflatable Belly (Worn on his back)
• Spectacles

Single - Contemporary Theatre Unit (FSN) - Blog 30 - 04/12/15

Today in Single, we decided to perform Flint Street but with a twist! We performed all of Act 2 (minus songs), however when we were the children we performed as if we were the adults and vice versa! I felt this was useful as this helped establish the relationships between parent and child a lot better and gave us a new challenge. However, I feel an ordinary rehearsal would've been more useful as this child/adult switch up activity wouldn't be how we'd perform it for the real thing.

Double - Children's Theatre (FMF) - Entire Production Outline - 06/12/15

Scene Order:

Scene 1 - Fox Family Introduction

Characters: Mr Fox, Mrs Fox, Fox Cub (James), Fox Cub (Lorna)

- Narrator introduces the Fox Family

- Mr Fox introduces himself and his family

- Narrator mentions the farmers, Fox Family exits

Scene 2 - The Three Farmers Introduction

Characters: Boggis, Bunce, Bean - Songs: Combine Harvester

- Bunce runs in with a chicken drumstick, checking beforehand, he eats it

- Boggis enters puffed out, he sees Bunce and takes the drumstick, he holds it above him

- Bean enters seeing them argue, he takes the chicken from Boggis and they get in a line

- The farmers bop in time with the music

- Narrator describes each farmer, each farmer steps forwards and mimes during their description

Scene 3 - The Plan For Shooting

Characters: Boggis, Bunce, Bean

- Boggis and Bunce argue over their farms

- Bunce hits Boggis and Boggis cries, Bean enters to stop the argument

- Bean asks for suggestions on how to get rid of the fox

- The Farmers leave ready for the shooting

Scene 4 - The Shooting

Characters: Mr Fox, Boggis, Bunce, Bean

- The Farmers run behind the audience with their guns, Mr Fox comes out

- Boggis steps in Fox poo

- Mr Fox smells, "fried chicken," then runs to the side, Farmers get into position for shooting

- FIRE! The Farmers open fire on Mr Fox, everyone freezes while Mr Fox is in mid-run, Bean shoots his tail off

- After Mr Fox exits, Boggis and Bunce run for the tail, Bean snatches it off of them

- The Farmers form a plan to dig Mr Fox out

Scene 5 - Terrible Shovels, Terrible Tractors and The Race

Characters: Mr Fox, Mrs Fox, Fox Cub (James), Fox Cub (Lorna), Boggis, Bunce, Bean - Songs: Chariots Of Fire

- Mrs Fox is fixing Mr Fox's tail, The Fox Cubs are playing and hear noises

- Mr Fox realises its The Farmers and gets the Cubs to pack some stuff, they exit and James changes to Bunce

- Fox Cub (Lorna) returns and Mr Fox starts digging with the kids help

- The noise gets louder and Mrs Fox and Fox Cub (Lorna) join in, The Farmers get ready up on the steps

- As the music starts we start the race in slow motion, The Fox Family escape

Scene 6 - "We'll Never Let Him Go"

Characters: Boggis, Bunce, Bean

- Boggis and Bunce complain that they'll never catch Mr Fox, Bean tries to think of a plan to catch him

- After multiple interruptions, Bean decides that they'll stay there until Mr Fox comes out

- After much complaint, The Farmers shake on it and they get Bean's wife to deliver some supplies

Scene 7 - Starvation Kicks In & The Plan

Characters: Mr Fox, Mrs Fox, Fox Cub (Lorna)

- Whilst Mrs Fox comforts Fox Cub, Mr Fox must come up with a plan

- With help from the audience, Mr Fox exits with his family and plan in his mind

Scene 8 - Boggis' Chicken House Raid

Characters: Mr Fox, Fox Cub (James), Fox Cub (Lorna) - Songs: Sneaky Snitch

- Mr Fox and his cubs sneak, dig, crawl and duck to Boggis' Chicken House

- After grabbing as much as they could, they took the chicken back to Mrs Fox

Scene 9 - A Surprise For Mrs Fox

Characters: Mrs Fox, Fox Cub (Lorna), Mr Fox, Fox Cub (James)

- Fox Cub (Lorna) wakes up her mum to show her the chicken her and her father got together

- Mr Fox enters with Fox Cub (James) and a lot more chicken, Mrs Fox panics for their safety

- She orders Mr Fox to get rid of the chicken but ends up keeping the lot

- Mr Fox thinks its not enough and hatches another plan

Scene 10 - Bunce's Duck And Goose Raid House Raid

Characters: Mr Fox, Fox Cub (Lorna), Fox Cub (James) - Songs: Sneaky Snitch

- Mr Fox and his cubs sneak, dig, crawl and duck to Bunce's Duck and Goose House

- After grabbing as much as they could, they took the meat back home

Scene 11 - Bean's Cider Cellar Raid

Characters: Mr Fox, Fox Cub (James), Rabbit, Mole, Badger, Rat - Songs: Hidden Agenda - Arcadia - Scheming Weasel

- Mr Fox decided he needed cider for a great feast, he and Fox Cub (James) pay Bean's Cider Cellar a visit

- Along the way, they met Rabbit, Mole and Badger (narrator)

- They popped up into Bean's Cider Cellar and were amazed by the sight

- In their awe, they bumped into Rat who tried to scare them off but failed miserably

- As the animals round up some cider, Bean's wife appears and they all hide behind a large cider bottle

- When she finally disappears, the animals are relieved, Rabbit and Mole leave before she comes back

- Rat calls for Bean as Mr Fox and his friends flee

Scene 12 - The Great Feast

Characters: Mr Fox, Mrs Fox, Fox Cub (James), Fox Cub (Lorna), Rabbit, Mole, Badger - Songs: You've Got A Friend In Me (Instrumental)

- Badger tells the audience what became of The Three Farmers and announces the beginning of The Great Feast

- Mr Fox and his friends run in and sing, "You've Got A Friend In Me"

- We end the song in a tableau and say goodbye to the audience

Prop List

• Fox ears and tails (four of each)
• Inflatable Belly
• Farmer's Hat
• Beanie
• Spoon
• Plastic Spade
• Shovel
• Gun
• Pistol
• Spectacles
• Wire Frame Glasses
• Chickens and Cider Bottle Cardboard Cut-Outs
• Rat Nose
• Mobile Phone (Used as a Walkie-Talkie)

Costume List:

• Charlie (Mr. Fox)
• Blue Suit Trousers
• Blue Suit Jacket
• White Shirt
• Black Bow Tie
• Black Shoes
• Fox ears and tail
• Rhiannon (Mrs. Fox)
• Dress
• Leggings under dress
• Vest top under dress
• Fox ears and tail
• James (Fox Cub)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Fox ears and tail
• Lorna (Fox Cub)
• Black leggings
• Black Top
• Fox ears and tail
• Rob (Boggis)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Inflatable Belly
• Farmer's Hat
• James (Bunce)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Farmer's Hat
• Lewis (Bean)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Farmer's Hat
• Necklace for Fox Tail Necktie
• Fox Tail Necktie (After, "The Shooting.")
• Ollie (Badger)
• Black Trousers
• Grey Waistcoat
• White Shirt
• Wire Frame Glasses
• Lewis (Rabbit)
• Black Joggers
• Black Top
• Bunny ears
• Rob (Mole)
• Back Joggers
• Black Top
• Inflatable Belly (Worn on his back)
• Spectacles

Single - Contemporary Theatre Unit (FSN) - Blog 29 - 03/12/15

Today, we started with a worksheet! This asked us three main questions about our unit on Flint Street Nativity!

Below are the questions underlined.

Discussing one activity or exercise, explain how this as developed your own skills and understanding as an actor.

I wrote about the subtext exercise we performed during the adult section. This helped us explore character relationships by analysing the language used within the script. This gave us a great deal more understanding of the subtext of the script!

Because of this exercise, I now react differently to other people's lines due to my understanding of the subtext.

What research have you done into the play itself?

• watched the play (movie)
• spent time with my younger sister (Age 7)
• watched children's programmes with my younger sister

What are your recommendations for developing the production further?

• swapping kids with adults
• a student questionnaire
• film rehearsals for analysis
• swapping roles with each other
• perform a full uninterrupted runthrough
• sort out the staging

Double - Storytelling - Blog 12 (Snow Queen) - 02/12/15

Today we quickly ran through what we had for Story 1 and then continued to devise what we had left. We finish on placing Charlie on the floor on, "Dashed into a hundred million or more pieces," and then continued with the following movements:

• Once on the floor, on the line, "as large as a grain of sand," all of us get into the foetal position.
• On, "which is evil," we all stand up. Ollie and Lewis lift Charlie (lying like a log) up to standing just by his arms and shoulders. Rob and Rhiannon walk towards Charlie with their upstage leg pressed against Charlie's foot (e.g. Rhiannon enters stage right, her left foot stands in front of Charlie's left foot and vice versa for Rob) Lorna and James, move downstage and as Charlie rises, they act as if they are pulling him up with rope.
• On, "splinter in their heart," we perform pulsing hand movements in the rhythm of a steady heartbeat, (this action is led by Lorna). On each pulse, Charlie pulses his chest.
• On, "window panes," we formed a circle around Charlie which was the same order as the circle at the beginning, with the exception of Charlie (Lorna, James, Lewis, Rhiannon, Ollie, Rob)
• On, "wicked sprite laughed," we each performed back bends in cannon. As we performed them, Charlie reached out to the audience in an attempt to escape.

For our performance of this Story, which is linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGVOn8UjDug , I have listed a few ways we could improve our performance:

• When we get, "dashed into a hundred million or more pieces," I got into the foetal position straight away as opposed to on the line, "grain of sand."
• Also on this move, Rob and James are supposed to switch positions so James is now at the front so he can pull his imaginary rope to help Charlie up, now when everyone gets up, James and Rob switch then which looks very messy.
• When we turn around when in a line, we are all meant to turn over our right shoulder. However, on both times, Charlie turned over his left.

Also in this lesson, we helped James summarise his Story so it is long enough to make a scene out of but not too long! For next lesson we will all already have our scenes summarised and bring in devised plans! I have already summarised my story (from four pages down to one and a bit) but I still need to devise my piece; I believe silhouettes would be a great way to portray my story!!

Single - Contemporary Theatre Unit (FSN) - Blog 28 - 01/12/15

Today in Single, we attempted to run the entire show but only got up to the introduction of Herod! I feel performed my part rather well today, despite not being able to use my script; this led to the needing to be prompted often. The majority of lines I forgot were from Act 2 so I will spend most of rehearsal time at home learning Act 2.

After performing, Assistant Director, Ashley, gave us notes on how to improve as a group and also positive/negative feedback individually. As a group we needed to make sure we were looking up when listening to Mrs Horrocks, be a great deal louder (this led to some people not hearing their cues for their next lines), characterise our movement a lot better for when we enter/exit and walk around onstage and finally be fully 100% confident with our lines/lyrics. Ashley said that I maintained high focus and energy throughout the runthrough and that I was making great improvements!

When we came to, "Don't Grow Up Like Your Dad," (Star's song), I was asked to perform it! This was the first time I performed it within a runthrough and excluding the one time where I skipped a few lines, I feel I performed it rather well!