Monday 8th February

Today we went from page 18 and looked further into each of our characters with things like Rose's childish mannerisms and Milo's accent and George and Kinsey's former friendship. We particularly looked at Allan's monologue about when he lived in London. When we first did this, Ashley (Allan) walked forward and faced the front. I pointed out that he would only be performing to some of the audience due to where our audience will be sitting. I pointed out that we should move it back so everyone can see whilst the rest of the group suggested for him to lean against the wall so he looks relaxed and is ignoring the other characters. We also made him slow down so that he would come across much more relaxed.

Child detention center

https://youtu.be/xm5w7tdTmvM

Over the weekend, I looked into a documentary of John venables and Rob Thompson and the type of prisons they go to. They talk about how the prisons they went to, it's much more about rehabilitation. In our prison in the play, it's more about punishment so that they stay in there and  not get out. In the documentary, they talk about how some of the prisoners actually get let out on days out. The people in our play never would because they wouldn't be trusted to. This could show that this play is an exaggeration of real life. The Rose character could be an exaggerated version of Mary-Anne Belle as she strangles a kid and his them with a hammer. I think specs crimes aren't touched upon as it makes the audience wounder what he actually did as we know he's been on there the longest.

Thursday 4th February

Today we went to the hall but we had to wait for a while because of a meeting. We then went onto the stage as saw that there was a table in the middle of the stage. We all thought that this would be a good idea to use as another bit of our limited set. We came up with the idea that the edges of the table would have to be covered with some sort of material to soften it so it wouldn't look dangerous and it couldn't be used as a weapon. I like the idea of the table being used if it's used right. I don't think we should sit on it too often because it's still a table in which you're meant to place objects onto. I think the only time someone else should use it is when Rose (Ellie) lays on the table.

We then thought about the power shift and control between the two characters of Kinsey and George. We decided that it would be a good idea to keep them as far away as possible because they don't get along anymore. This would then build up for when they are together on their own when they have their argument and they get closer and closer. It would also start with George being in control with it then slowly shifting over to Kinsey. We would show this by who advances to the other person whilst the other person is stationary. I like this idea because I think it will show the audience who is control at each part of the conversation and they can see George become more and more defensive against Kinsey.

Thursday 4th February

Today we worked on subtext. When we did a certain scene, we had to clap when we think that the character is thinking something different to what he really is saying. I couldn't take art in this due to there not being a long enough scene which all of us are in. We did a scene with everyone else in. I looked at subtext on my own whilst the group did this.

I decided that I would look for what Spec thinks in his first scene. Something that happens with specs is that he gets spoken to when someone needs information. This is normally George to back him up on an argument even though George doesn't actually care about him. The fact that he actually gets to speak to someone when he gets called upon actually gets him to be excited and makes him happy until get told to shut up again. This has are him the quietest person there even though he has been there xor the longest

Tuesday 2nd February

Today we looked at the actual space for our performence and started to set how we would perform it. We decided that Spec's prompting chair would be behind the audience so it would be like the audience seating would be set out like they are about to perform the play. We then looked at levels with today's run-through. We looked how we could not all be in one place and make sure we are on a variety of levels to make sure that the audience would keep their attention for longer. We also decided that we would have our own chair aswell that would stay stationary as they wouldn't be able to as it would be too dangerous as it could be used as a weapon.

Monday 1st February

Today we looked through the script and started to develop each of our characters past. This is will help us to create a character if we actually know what they have done to end up in this prison. I feel like that what we said about Specs could be correct but I'm not sure that he is faking everything. I feel like the fact he has always been bullied for his stammer, this would then cause him to have psycopathic thoughts. Even if he is faking they way he acts, it would be hard to actually potray this as he is always around eveyone else and always acts shy and gets bullied. I feel like that he is genuilly like this and isn't faking this and the fact that other people like George bully him makes the situation that he is in even worse. Spec's will have to be sympathised with the audience and will be hard for the audience to understand him with little stage time but it is possible if I do act it right so the audience can fully understand him as he is a confusing character especially as he doesn't have much of a backstory and doesn't have any hints to what he did unlike the other characters.

Character profile

Specs

Real name: Unknown
Age: 16-20
Specs could be one of two things, he could generally have a stammer and be quiet, not looked after and in some cases bullied by others or he could be actually putting things on pretending to be. I personally think that he is very clever but I think he is being honest. My group discussed the possibility of him not being actually being bullied and alone but I think that he is actually like this and isn't hiding behind this and is planning to break out. I think he does actually have a stammer and I think he probably the worse offender of the group and has done the most horrific crime but you don't get any hints of this because he is the worst offender. It also may be the case that because he is the first one in this prison out of everyone in the play, he could be the only one who knows what he did and hasn't actually told anyone what he has done because he doesn't really speak much and maybe doesn't get a chance to.