Single Drama

This week, the company worked on the busy train station scene in act 2 when Christopher gets to \London. We worked to show that when Christopher gets to London, he can't cope with the noise and how busy it is. The gradual build-up of noise which then leads to everyone walking around in a hurry and Christopher panicking. This causes him to slowly curl up in a ball and not know what to do with himself. I like how it shows how busy London really is and he doesn't know how to deal with it as he's never got this far before. It shows that people with autism struggle to make simple brain journeys on heir own.

I think that overall, our performance it starting to take shape as we have blocked the whole  play now and we've been given our first set of lines that we have to remember. I think that we could maybe work on the scene changeovers as they are meant to be quick but I feel like ours are quite slow when they change scene because we are still getting use to the play. It has helped me develop my skills as an actor because it has shown me that by writing off-script scenes, we can learn about what our characters are like, even if it's just a small role like Number 40.

I also researched how drunk one was played in the production and I thought that I could probably almost play it however I wanted to really. I thought that the charecter is quite open to whatever interpretation you like as long as it's along the lines of being a football fan as they are going to see a match and football is the most popular sport in England.

Off-Script as Number 40

Today, we went off-script and we had to improvise and I had to improvise as Number 40 and I had to interact with the other neighbours. Our group decided to talk about when Christopher was going around the neighbours houses asking about if they knew anything about who killed Wellington. I decided that Number 40 would be a person who would be worried for Christopher and angry at him at the same time. I think that Number 40 would be angry at him for poking his head in his buisness. We though that I should start the conversation by talking to Mr Alexander about how he was poking his head around my buisness. Since We know that Mr Alexander is Christopher's friend, he sticks up for him and I would be constructive about what to do and feel worried for him. I then decided that my character wouldn't like Mrs Sheers because of what happened between her and Ed and would think she would hate Christopher because of what happened between her and Ed. We then ended the scene with Mrs Sheers storming off and everyone else needing to get back to their daily routine. I felt that it helped me understand that Number 40 is on Christopher's side but he thinks that Christopher needs to stop poking his head into other people's buisness.

Research on autism

Autism is a life-changing disorder characterized by a profound withdrawal from contact with people, repetitive behavior, and fear of change in the environment. The emotional disorder affects the brain's ability to receive and process information. People who have autism find it difficult to act in a way that other people think is "normal". They find it difficult to talk to other people, to look at other people and often do not like being touched by other people. A person who has autism seems to be turned inwards. They may talk only to themselves, rock themselves backwards and forwards, and laugh at their own thoughts. They do not like any type of change and may find it very difficult to learn a new behavior like using a toilet or going to school.

What Man on the Street thinks of Christopher.

What was that kid doing?! He doesn't know what to do? Where is his parents? He's wants to go to London and he doesn't know what to do to get there. How is he going to cope in London if he can't cope in Swindon?! He was just standing there outside the station and asked "Where's the station?" Is he blind?! He's not going to last five minutes in London. Maybe he's run away from his parents or something. Well if he gets lost, that's his fault for running away. Why did he ask me? Out of everyone at the station, he asked me? But why? I should of told him to go away before I spoke to him because I knew that he was going to be a handful. He's not my problem anymore though, thank God for that. Maybe if his parents took control of him, he wouldn't be asking stupid questions. Because of him, I was late to work and now my boss is nagging me. What a prick.

Number 40's thoughts of Christopher

I think that Christopher is an okay kid. He's too young to be going around mine and other peoples buisness though. I heard that he has autism but I think that he needs to talk to his dad about what happened between him and Mrs Sheers or somebody will tell him and he's not going to like it if someone else tells him. If he doesn't watch his back, somebody is going to get hurt and we all saw what happened to Ed when Judy ran away. We all know how much of a gossip Mr Alexander is, that's why I personally stay away from him so I know he can't spread anything round about me. Like I said Christopher needs to stay out of other people's buisness or somebody is going to tell him why his parents are no longer together and to a person with autism, it could be heart breaking to see the consequences.

Ways to tell a story

Read a book-You can read a book to the audience so that they an listen and understand the story. This is effective as it would be easy to follow as they can imagine things in their head. Also if they don't understand, they can ask questions.

Through song-You can sing to the audience which could tell them what's going on or they can sing through the character telling the audience their thoughts and feelings.

Movement-You can move around so the audience could tell where the character or the scene is taking place. This could also show what the character feels.

Through dance-This is more advanced than movement. You could dance in the show to show the emotion of the character. An example of this could be that if a person was dancing ballet, it could show that they're upset.

Monologue-You can say about what the character feels about the current situation or what they are going to do. You could also use this for a character who would narrate the story.

Narration-This is where one performer would speak directly to the audience to tell a story, give information, or comment on the action of characters.

Image Thaeatre-This is where still images are used to explore the abstract concepts for relationships or emotions as well as realistic situations.

Cross-cutting-This technique was originally used in film. This is where two scenes are intercut to establish continuity. This can be done to show two or more scenes at a time.

Mythical Stories

Medusa

Many years ago there was a beautiful women called Medusa. She lived in a place called Athens in Greece. She was a very kind and she obeyed her Greek gods and goddesses. Even though there was pretty girls there, Medusa was one of them.

Every single day Medusa always boasted about her self. She says to other people she is the most prettiest out of everyone in the whole wide world.

On Sunday, Medusa told the miller that her skin is more beautiful then fresh white snow. On Monday, she babbled the cobbler that her hair is brighter than the sun. On Tuesday, she commented the blacksmith's son that her eyes are greener than Aegean sea. On Wednesday, she boasted to the public that her lips are redder than the reddest rose in the world.

When Medusa wasn't busy she would boast about her self while looking in a mirror. She thought she was the prettiest woman in the whole wide world. She admired her self.

On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her. Until one day Medusa and her friends went to the Parthenon. It was Medusa's first time going to the Parthenon. The Parthenon was the biggest temple in Greece. In the Parthenon was the goddess of wisdom and beauty and that was Athena. There was statues of most of the gods and goddesses in the Greek culture. All the people who went there obeyed Athena, all except Medusa.

Medusa saw all the statues and she whispered "Who ever did this statue did do a good job but it would look better if I was the statues." Every picture she saw she said that the person did a good job but she would look better in the picture and she is so delicate.

When Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, "My this is a beautiful temple. It is a shame it is wasted on Athena for I am much prettier than she is, perhaps one day people will build an even grander temple to my beauty."

Then Medusa's friend grew pale. The priestesses heard what Medusa said and they gasped. The roomer went really quickly through the whole temple and everyone started to leave. Everyone knew Athena will get angry if anyone compared her to someone else.

Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection in the large bronze doors that she hadn't noticed the fast departure of everyone else. While Medusa was gazing the figure changes. The figure changed into goddess Athena.

"Vain and foolish girl," Athena shouted angrily, "You think your a prettier girl than me. While other people are working, playing or learning you just boast about your self. Medusa there is more to life than beauty alone you see."

Medusa tried to point out that her beauty was an inspiration to those around her and that she made their lives better by simply looking so lovely, but Athena silenced her with an angry wave.

"Nonsense," screamed Athena "One day beauty will fade away. But I will make it fade away now and all your loveliness will be gone forever."

When Athena uttered those words Medusa turned into a terrible monster. Her hair thickened into hissing snakes and body turned into a snake.

"Are you happy for what I have done? Now anyone who looks in your eyes will now turn into stone and no one will be able to save them," snapped Athena,"Even you, Medusa, should you seek your reflection, will turn to rock the moment you see your face."

Athena then sent Medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters, the gorgon sisters, at the end of the earth, so that no innocent people would be turned to stone at the sight of her by accident.

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Jason was a prince, who lived near Colchis, Greece. When Jasons father died, it was his turn to take on the throne. But, his uncle, Pelias stole it from him.  

The only way to get his throne back was by stealing the golden fleece from an island on Colchis, which was across the Black sea. So, Jason and his companions built a 50-oared boat, called Argo, and set off to Colchis. They became known as the Argonauts.

When they set off, the argonauts were attaked by a flock of birds, that dropped sharp bronze feathers on them. When they finally arrived in Cholchis, Jason was tested by ploughing a feild using firebreathing bulls, and sowing it with serpents teeth. The teeth turned into warriors, and Jason managed to trick them into fighting each other. When Jason went to get the fleece, he realised that it was guarded by a snake, so his lover, the sorcress Medea, distracted it.

As they fled home, they where attaked by the Sirens, bird-women that draw men to their deaths by singing. One of the argonauts, Orpheus, played his lyre and drowned out their voices. When they arrived home, Medea tricked Pelias to his death, by killing a sheep and replacing it with a lamb. Pelias agreed that Medeas men could kill him, thinking that he would wake up, and live young again. Unfortunatly, he died, and Jason reclaimed his throne.

God of War

For thousands of years wars troubled the world. What is a better way to handle war; being cruel and brutal or to be wise and thoughtful? Ares the brutal god of war kills without thinking in wars. On the other hand Athena the goddess of wisdom and war fought battles by being smart. Both Ares and Athena were powerful deities in Greek mythology. Although they have similarities they have many differences as well. Ares and Athena were both similar because they both fought many battles and were both smart and they were different because many gods despised ares and Athena was liked, also Athena was wise in battle and ares was brutal and cruel.

Throughout the Ancient Greek era many wars were fought. Ares and Athena both fought hard in the battles. Ares fought the great battle of Troy from the Greek epic Homer. “The Trojans drove the strength of their hands straight on, as violent Ares defending the Trojans mantled in dark night the battle passed everywhere. Ares was an asset in the battle of Troy he killed many enemies to win the war. Athena fought many battles as well. “As Athena attacked the giant Hercules shot the giant with a poisonous arrows”. Athena fought in a gruesome battles with giants with Hercules at her side. Both of these powerful deities fought gruesome wars throughout the ancient greek era.

Although Ares spends his time fighting wars he does not lack in cleverness as well as Athena. Ares showed he was immensely smart and clever in many of his myths. “ In the spartan war Ares was having a feud with Kratos, a powerful spartan leader. Ares lead Kratos to attack a village and without knowing Kratos killed his family who were in the village." Ares was cunning and clever and made Kratos and his army attack a village and kill his love ones. Athena is very smart also, and she often uses trickery. “ Achilles wanted to rule over Troy. Athena told deceived Achilles to kill Hector, a famous person in Troy. The gods did not like Hector so Athena wanted to deal with it.”Athena and Ares used cunning and cleverness in almost all of their myths.

Ares and Athena are not alike because Ares is despised by all of the gods and Athena is loved. Ares shows that the other gods are not a fan of him in his childhood. “This savage and sanguinary character of Ares makes him hated by the other gods”. Most of the god did not like Ares because he was cruel and brutal.

On the other hand we have Athena. Athena is loved by all of the gods in Mount Olympus. “ Athena was much enjoyed by the other gods because she helped all of the greek deities in their troubles”. Athena was loved by all the gods as she helped them when they were in need. Ares is despised by everyone including his parents and Athena is loved by the gods and the humans.

Ares and Athena are not alike at all. Ares is brutal and cruel and Athena is wise and thoughtful. Ares shows his cruel nature in mount Olympus. “In great Mount Olympus Ares’s throne is adorned with human skin”. As you can see Ares is cruel to humans and gods. Athena is wise and thoughtful to everyone including humans. “ Athena taught humans to tame horses” (Greek mythology.com) Athena was kind to humans and gave them the ability to tame horses. That ability would help them in daily life. Ares is brutal and cruel to everybody not all deities are all bad because Athena is nice to everybody.

As you can see Ares and Athena are both powerful deities even though they share some similarities, they are very different as well. Athena and Ares are similar because they both waged war with others and they are both smart, they are not alike because Ares is hated by many and Athena is loved by all also Ares is cruel and Athena is wise.