~ Preperation for Specialist Study ~

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Futures


After I complete this course, I would like to go on to an acting degree course at a drama school. I also really enjoy musical theatre and I would like to be able to perform in a musical. In order to do this, however, I will need to develop skills in singing and dancing. I will also have to learn how to act, and perform while doing the aforementioned skills. In order to develop this ability I will take classes and/or a course in musical theatre.

I am looking at courses in or close to London because I think London has the best opportunities for  acting in theatre because of the number of venues. I am looking at London School of Dramatic Arts (LSDA) [http://lsda-acting.com/courses/] as my top choice.

What I have covered this year

Over the course of this academic year I have worked on dramatic projects both within my course and outside of it. Outside of my course, I am part of a drama group with the Almeida Theatre called the Almeida Theatre Young Company. With this group I have been working with a professional writer to develop an hour-long play we will perform in late July.I have learnt about developing a piece with a script. This is interesting as I have never worked with a writer before, and this style of theatre making is different to devising. Because of this, I have further developed my problem solving skills in the rehearsal space, and I have learnt how to think about a play in terms of why we chose that play, rather than just focusing on my character. This process of theatre making has made me analyse a script in more detail, thinking about why what we want the audience to think, and how we want them to feel. I am also now more comfortable to put forward my ideas, even if they end up not being used.

{Brainstorm of what we've covered this year}

Skills Audit (updated)

I started the year with the following skills:
  • Motivation and commitment
  • Acting instincts 
  • The ability to work independently 
  • Learn lines
  • Work on the characterisation based on the script
Since then I have learnt:
  • How to work in a group
  • How to solve problems in rehearsals
  • Using research to develop characterisation
  • How to use improvisation to develop a piece of theatre
  • How to use improvisation to correct any mistakes in a performance

Shakespeare Speech

I performed  Hermia's speech in Act I Scene I from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' ['How happy some o'er other some can be']. I read the scene that this speech is in, so I could understand the context and the character.

In the scene before the speech, Helena and Hermia talk about Demetrius, Helena complaining about how he won't love her no matter how hard she tries, while Hermia complaining about how Demetrius won't stop loving her. Just before this speech takes place, Hermia and Lysander (who are in love) tell Helena their plan to run away together, because Hermia's father is against their relationship.

I received the following feedback:
  • I was in the moment
  • My thought and action was clear
  • Good contact with the speech (thought process was clear)
  • I hit the consonants at the end of my words
I should work on the following:
  • Although I adjusted my vocal projection to the space, I could have been louder
  • I should do tongue twisters to avoid lisping
  • My vocal range, i.e. pitch and tone

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