In todays session outside of study time, I decided to make the first step in staging some of the work that had been discussed and thought. Partly, this down to the fact that when creating a performance, it is ok to conceive ideas. But, in order for the performance to become successful, the ideas must be more than things that stick on a piece of paper. As a lecturer once said, “The time for thinking is over” and it is therefore time to start getting things on its feet (Dubois, 2018).
In beginning the work, I decided to rehearse this piece in Studio 2 due to the fact that after discussion of the idea with people, they felt it would work better. When considering the seating of it, I decided to go for a simple seating arrangement being eight rows in a four by four arrangement. However, this was down to more than a simple arrangement as I wanted to give a sense of the experience of being on the rollercoaster, The Smiler. Since the seating arrangement is a four by four carriage, I wanted to recreate this to give an idea of the scope of the ride.
However, in discussion with a peer, they suggested the possibility of maybe having another set of four rows in four by four. This was to indicate the empty “test carriage” that “had been sent around the 14-loop ride, but had failed” and the actual that had occurred (Reynolds, 2016).
As you can see in the pictures, I tried to stay faithful with this layout without making it feel too obvious as I wanted to explore how performing in the space may be seen as claustrophobic. Personally, I felt this was very uncomfortable as I felt very trapped with the performance space as it felt as if in the space, you felt very exposed as the audience were invading my personal space being the stage. Therefore, I decided to make sure that their space was invaded in which the audience would be asked to be seated in the back four rows. Thus, as you may notice in the picture to the left, there was very little space between the second carriage and the first on the front and back row of them as I wanted to recreate the feeling of the crash and as if they were sitting in a recreated version of the ride.
After getting the seating arrangement sorted, I decided to work on the final section which would discuss my experience of going on The Smiler at Alton Towers three years after the incident had occurred. Through this, I decided that the use of storytelling would be a key mode and paid attention similarly to the style of Tim Miller when considering the idea of pace by making it quick dialogue. The use of this would help the audience go on the journey and would therefore allow them to go on the journey as if my experience at the theme park was a rollercoaster.
When rehearsing it, I found it difficult as I wanted to ensure I got the details in concerning the day as well as the feeling of being on the ride. But, the main thing I was keen to explore when devising it was how to focus on the idea of the past and revisiting it and by the use of the physical obstruction, it allowed me to show this idea of how the past was not as far away as to some people. When devising it, Bleeding Edge Theatre (who were rehearsing next door in the other studio) kindly offered to come in and watch what I had created. As you will see in the footage, it is a little rough but I was glad that they had offered to become an audience in order to try out some of the ideas I had been testing.
(Daniel Fotheringham, 2018).
After performing it to the peers, the group had seemed impressed with what I had done and felt that whilst the performance would be limited to sixteen people, it was an effective staging. However, they commented that I could run the risk of coming across narcissistic about the event when it was my friend who had been involved in the incident and needed a bit more clarity. When discussing the other ideas I had in mind to combat this, they felt that this could work and I felt, like them, there had to be more of a “red thread” in combining The Smiler Incident and the experience I had going on the rollercoaster. Indeed, I feel there needs to be more of an idea in revisiting the past and how this may be not helpful and I also feel that there needs to be more of a voice from my friend (Leah Washington) who was involved in the incident and how her experience affected me.
However, when considering the use of the chairs, I was a bit concerned when performing that I would struggle to get seated even without audience members and I am considering, instead of four chairs representing the empty car, the use of tape marking the other one similar to what is used in a crime scene investigation. Partly, this was down to the fact that it was quite impractical. I also feel that the audience would want to sit anywhere and would therefore lose the impact of the piece. Indeed, when Bleeding Edge entered the room, I had to tell them where they must sit. However, whilst this was not a problem, I do think that the audience I perform to may not get the mantra and will therefore make the piece lose the impact.
Overall though, I think today was a success. I have an idea on where the performance is going and whilst there are some elements that need to be refined, I feel that this has helped me in thinking what could be improved the next time when I perform the piece. I feel now that in order for it to work, I am ready to have an audience to test out ideas to ensure that the performance is a success and I hope this will enlighten me on the experience that they have and how to improve their experience.
Works Cited:
Daniel Fotheringham (2018) Solo Performance Draft 1. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LaMrCNfIqE [accessed 27 March 2018].
Dubois, D. (2018) Pitching my solo performance idea and discussion of technical requirements [workshop]. Solo Performance DRA3043M-1718, University of Lincoln, 20 March.
Reynolds, L. (2016) Alton Towers Smiler crashed with ‘force of 90mph car accident’: Shocking details emerge. Express, 26 September. Available from https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/714454/Alton-Towers-Smiler-ride-crashed-with-force-of-90mph-car-smash [accessed 27 March 2018].
