Thursday, 28 January 2016

Audio Ensemble - Post 06

Audio Ensemble Performance
Tuesday 19th – Thursday 21st January 2016
Stylised Performance
     With rehearsals coming to an end, we analysed our performances based on what we have given to the piece and what we hope to achieve out of this radio play.  Firstly, we looked to our interpretation of the piece and questioned the performance style and our abilities as the performers.
     The style of this performance, ‘Atching Tan’, is shown through the perspective of young adult female lost between her passions and her inevitable future.  The play has a modern day setting, located in the south of England (UK), and shows/questions the relations between neighbouring lifestyles; the life of a gypsy traveller and the life of an educated young man.  Therefore this radio play would be performed in the style of naturalism.
     Vocally, the performer can cover accurate vocal traits that come naturally, in response to the characters thoughts, meaning the emotions will be reflective and meaningful to bring the play to life.
     An exceptional example of naturalism in a radio play, I found, was in the audio adaptation of Mike Bartlett’s ‘Cock’, starring Ben Whishaw:


     As stated in the introduction before the radio play, the story follows the need and frustration of sexual desires.  Such character emotions and thoughts thrives these people to progress throughout the story.  Therefore a naturally driven performance supports an audience’s connection to the characters and the story.  If exaggerated or stylised in any sense then, the audience may lose that connection.  Plus, naturalism gives the performances the opportunities show their vocal adaptabilities to bring every day, or unique, circumstance/situations to life in such a way that brings the image to life in the mind without giving us any images.
     Thus our performance style of ‘Atching Tan’ shall be through naturalism to enhance the images of the setting, the characters, and the situations for our audience.  Plus we as performers can test our understanding of the play through vocal traits that best suit the scene; for example, Lovvie and Nelius’ conversation in the church in SC 19 Page 34, gives the sense of whispering within their dialogue.  As well as the tension between John and Nelius in SC 23 Page 41, the voices could be raised to a louder tone and deeper pitch to enhance the dramatic tension. 
     All of these notes support the enhancement of the images of what is happening and tests us performers to bring the play to life with exceptional intention.    

Response to Performances
     One of our main goals this week was to observe our own voices and take note for any self-observed feedback, that could help our individual performances.  In one of our rehearsal sessions I recorded, several scenes and took note of my performance:


     Within the first few minutes of this clip, I noticed several positives and negatives within my vocal performance.

Positives:
·         Establishing the pacing of the scene.
·         Conveying the setting image across to our upcoming audience.
·         Showing select emotions within John’s character.

Negatives:
·         Lisping within my projection.
·         Lacking in articulation.
·         Conveying minimal emotions towards Lovvie.

     In summary, I wasn’t too pleased with my performance during this rehearsal session.  There seemed to be more negatives than positives.  I personally set about a goal, to work extremely closely on memorising lines, to allow fluency in the main performance, plus practicing facial warmups and tongue twisters may support my projections and articulation.  Through this I will be able to bring John to life with accurate and true intention.

Performance Feedback
     Supporting my self-observation, I took note of several peers giving me performance feedback.  Once again these are areas that I will focus on and rectify in time for the performance.  The feedback notes consisted of:

·         Minor emphasis behind stronger lines.
·         Give more passion to convey John support to Lovvie.
·         Pace my lines to extend that isn’t rushed or slow.
·         and Show more remorse and sympathy for Lovvie.

No comments:

Post a Comment