Evaluation

I am so pleased with how these performances have went! The feedback sessions, the rehearsals, the great directing, the work we all put in as an ensemble... it's contributed to a successful performance!

The beginning really set us off. I liked how Tuwaine is the first to stand and speak, and one by one we gradually get up and contribute. I think this represents the war and the feelings of soldiers in itself - how at first everything was normal and calm and clear, and then suddenly out of no where everything comes at you at once and you're not sure where to focus. I think we took on board the feedback as this section seemed longer than it was in rehearsals, which meant we all, as actors, took time with our movements and really put effort into what we were saying. It was important to remember - as reminded by our directors - that although everyone is speaking at once and you may believe no one can hear you, at least 1 person is focused on you so it was important to actually speak words of sense and follow the object, as opposed to just talking to yourself about your plans for weekend because you thought no one can hear you.

My favourite section is the pub scene with the soldiers, although I am not in it. I think it's a really light and comical relief from the other emotional and heart wrenching scenes we've incorporated into the performance. I think it's been a good opportunity for some of the boys to show of their talent as a tighter ensemble, like when certain groups leave the bar and show their own devised pieces as groups. Many audience members laughed when lifted me, and I think this gave us all more motivation and energy to continue with the performance.

Our rehearsed box scene went equally as good. Considering the "wives" group spent most of the time up until this point watching the rest of the performance from on stage, this was the time the audience really got to engage with us in the moment. The music and the words we read out individually from our letters created an emotional atmosphere which was calming after the more chaotic sequences performed beforehand. I loved the emotions in the words most of the girls spoke, after a reminder that these were letters from supposed loved ones and not just words on paper. The waltzing was the part I usually found most difficult in rehearsals, but I think it went well. Ignoring the fact that I seriously cannot dance even simple movements, the structure of this part made it harder too, all of us girls dancing in a tight circle and spinning endlessly, it was easy to bump into those dancing close to you. However, without any casualties, I think we managed to hit our objective and get the right reaction from the audience.

During our third and final show, we did have a problem with our soundtrack during the final scene, which was interesting to know didn't put the actors off. We were suppose to have a sound track of a world war 1 veteran talking about his experience of the war, following by some moving music. It was disappointing that this cue failed, as it was my favourite part and it was the final scene and the final time we'd ever do it. However, I still think the performance was just as effective and the audience didn't know any different.

Overall, I am unbelievably pleased with this term and our final performance. Honestly, I spent the entire of year 12 loathing physical theatre because I was just convinced it wasn't for me, but I have actually felt excited and enjoyment for this year. I feel blessed to have had such an amazing director, cast to work with and an opportunity like this.

The feedback session was really useful today after doing our first tech run. At the moment it's going really well and I'm appreciating as an actor the different parts of the war we are exploring. It's been suggested by our directors that we need to portray the emotions through our facial expressions as well as our body movements, which I agree with completely. I think that Amaya is doing a good job at this already. When she does her sequence movements with Jack, it really is beautiful. The way he lifts her and her elegant graceful moves - her face too shows pain and love and the fear of separation.

 I have taken this into consideration myself and believe the wives part with boxes is such a good opportunity to really... act. When I open my box, I completely put myself into the position of a WW1 woman who's just lost their husband in such a tragic event. The facial expressions are crucial in this scene because it's the best way to portray the emotions to the audience.

Another key part in the feedback was how we had to take our time during the performance and every section. Our piece as a whole isn't very long, and the choices we have made, we can afford to appreciate and make our performance longer. At the moment, I wouldn't say that we rush it but especially in the opening sequence, we could enjoy it and chill out with it all. For now, it seems like we all get up to say what the war means to us, and once the music kicks in and people fall silent one by one, no one wants to be the last one speaking so it leaves the music playing for a long amount of time before the couple's begin their sequence.

Personally, I'm going to use this feedback and improve myself within this performance. I'm going to take my time when I perform myself and focus on the acting in this performance, not just the the movements.