Reflections

So today i went in to visit the 12’s cause some of them asked for some help and feedback… it was good, and I was pleased that they responded well to some suggestions.  I would hope that they now go away and polish it a little more - and LEARN THE SCRIPT - so that when they perform it will look spectacular… it’s all about creating anticipation in your audience, especially when it is followed up so beautifully by the next scene that had both Ms C and I in tears at different times today.

 My 11’s are stressing because people are beginning to get sick and not come to class.  One group is now down a member because she had to have a knee operation and it looks like she won’t be back at school for another 2 weeks, which pretty much writes her out of the show… which will be disappointing for her, but we’ll negotiate something.

 there is lots of stress around at the moment.  I am trying to make sure everyone stays calm and keeps things in perspective… i am sure that the performances will be spectacular…

love and dramas on this afternoon of delight!

Msa

so this week has been pretty horrid, but not for any discernable reason that  I can fathom.

 my 11’s hae 3 weeks until their show, the 12’s only two.  guess which group are stressing more?

the subject of group combustion interests me… i suppose having to work on something as intense as this can be horrible, especially given that your horrible teacher has put you with people you don’t like on purpose….

i suppose i just need to hold my breath and prey (*s*) that it will all come good.

went and saw the haileybury production of ‘Inheritance’ last night with Belly - it was good, except for the continual rotation of the sets - it got really annoying… and they’re doing ‘FAME’ in August… so i think that cragiy and I will have to go… that was our first big show together… woohoo!

more later…. although, i doubt anyone reads this stuff.

Oh dear..

I’d forgotten about you, my little drama blog.

More will be comming soon, including a rant about the new year 11 course and why it is that we have to be careful of the comming plague…

j. 

Hi All….

Just me inviting you to the Year 11 Ensemble performances by the MWSC students.

We’ve been working on the stimulus of ‘FREAKS’ and all of our groups have found this very exciting.

When: Wednesday 24th May   7.30 pm

Where: Unicorn Theatre - MWSC Senior Campus

Come along and support this new breed of performers……

Ms A.

So i’ll be the first to admit that this week hasn’t been to good for me.  I’ve been stressed and tired and grumpy and fed up with time wasters.

Which means that when I came into the 12’s I was probably a little abrupt and rude.  I just struggle (and it is an ongoing personal struggle) with people who don’t work in teams and who seem oblivious to the struggles of those around them.  How do you find a positive and happy attitude in yourself when everything hurts, people are giggling about something childish and you’re there to do a job. It is at these points we are constantly reminded as teachers that we too are only human.

My 11’s are going on the same journey at the moment.  There just seems to be so much conflict and growling going on.  I am glad for the conference as it will give them all a break from school, because rehearsing and doing all the other subjects at the time must be horrid.. I know trying to plan interesting and dynamic lessons at the same time as doing every thing else is sending me around the bend.

I suppose my mission now is to come up with a more productive way of dealing with other people that i have to work with.  i must learn patience and find some other way of directing my energy - good or bad - somewhere else. 

so here is more stuff.

feeling tired and uninspired…

 played with the 12’s again…. it feels like we all need a bit of a party or something to cheer us up and reinvigorate us with energy and vitality… to get excited once more about things.

any ideas?

so you know how everyone will tell you that they’re at some point you’re going to hate this performance, and that at some point, you’re going to hate each other… much as I hate to say it, that will happen.

You will dislike your performance intensly.  You will loath the sight of that space that you rehearse in.  The very idea of doing that scene again will make you feel chilled and uneasy and screaming for release.  It is all true.  And if you don’t feel that… are you truely invested in your performance?  Have you committed yourself enough?

The other voice will talk about perspective, about how you have 4 other subjects that need just as much love and attention.

I chose to ignore that voice.  I chose to shut it down and focus on what I know that I am good at.

All of you are good at this. Remember that above all else.

j. 

 

Ok.

So last week I got Al to come in and play with my 11’s, which was fantastic.  It is so nice to have other people for my kids to bounce their ideas off.

Most groups had a chance to chat with her and get some new inspiration and all of them now seem to be a little crazy with new ideas and things to do.  One group have lots of new circus things to play with and I am so greatful to her for all the research and preparation she did over the weekend for me to pass on.

Still taping “Medical Incredible” for them so that they can continue playing with the freaks and really excited about some students taking the thinking and research they are doing in Drama outside into other classes.

woot!

 

*edit*

Oh yeah…. i think you 12’s should all make yourselves available for a saturday…. Ms Craig and I have heaps of stuff we would love to do…. fun fun fun!

So it occured to me that if everyone else is doing it, I think I might have to climb on board so to speak.

I’ve been teaching Drama for a while and have also been a bit of a techno nerd, so this marriage of Drama and blogging seems satisfying and interesting.

Yesterday I snuck in (almost unnoticed) the the Year 12 class at MWSC and worked with both groups in refining aspects of their ensemble pieces.  I also managed to sneak a peak at where they’re going with their work - which is comforting in a way, because my year 11’s seem to be in much the same position.

The hardest thing I think, about generating and creating a performance is trusting yourself to play.  To remember what it was that drew you here in the first place.  Both groups I saw seemed stuck on the page, still caught in the organisation and planning.  I would encourage everyone to get off the page, keep playing, improvising, testing, failing, laughing.  Drama often falls from those trees in far more plentiful supply than from pages and books.

Ms Craig and I are planning things which I am looking forward to heaps. I love pushing, getting to the heart of things and drawing out some true emotion… *evil grin*….