Evaluation: Class Activities 19/06/14

PHYSICAL PYRAMID: This exercise was demanding as the actor has to keep stable and balanced under large weight and pressure. You also have to keep performing throughout building the pyramid, hopefully making it seem like a fluid, swift action from the whole class. 

The pyramid also requires all those involved in constructing it to be fully aware of those around them. To not sway, to notice if another seems unstable and in need of help and to trust others to be there when they need them. 

I think this exercise will be very effective if executed correctly, peaking the ever building energy.

RHYTHM SECTION: The rhythm section was effective because it kept the energy at a rising level throughout the construction of the physical pyramid. A period of time that could potentially lose a lot of energy if not executed right.

The section is also very easy to understand for little children or for them to even join in on if they please. It is reminiscent of a pantomimed themed chant, something that is probably very welcome with young children, an opportunity for the audience to involve themselves in the production.    

Childrens Theatre

What Is Children's Theatre?

Good Children's theatre overall must be entertaining for the children. Engaging them in ways other media cannot. The performances must be silly and light hearted, the actor having full control of their body and voice making sure they are inextricably synched. Doing what the role requires, whether that includes high energy levels or exaggerating beyond whats comfortable, but the actor must always be fully committed to the performance. If not the children will not be engaged, become bored and lose interest in the production.

Good children’s theatre can also educate children through entertainment, through silly humour, basic morals and simple narratives.

What skills does an excellent children’s theatre performer need to poses?

The performer must first learn to mute their self critic, to not care of their appearance whilst playing these potentially over exaggerated characters. The actor must commit to discovery, be open to explore and experiment with energy levels and characteristics. The actor must really feel the performance, learn to not over think anything, preferably not think at all, just feel. Use the sounds you create to influence your movement and your physicality.

The performer must be in full control of their body and voice able to use them to there maximum effectiveness. Using the body and voice in the tasks they have been given, showing full commitment doing whatever is required for them to do.

How would you adapt an issue for delivery to a specific audience?

 The delivery of this issue would vary from audience to audience, it may need to be simplified and made more light hearted for younger audiences or introduced with a more subtle nature with an adult one. How the issue is introduced also needs consideration. Whether it should be low key, never being directly stated to make the delivery more life-like and less preachy. Or directly stated, to confirm that the audience understands the issue and what that entails.  

Tiger Trivia Ideas

Shopping With A Tiger

Two tigers would be traversing through a supermarket, picking out food that tigers have in there diet, talking about this food, including facts and referring to the audience every so often. 

Example:

Tiger1 pickes up a toy Deer from a basket.

Tiger1: Oooh, wouldnt mind a little bit of Deer for tea tonight.

Tiger2: But I thought we were having monkeys for dinner.

Tiger1: We had monkeys last night.

Tiger1 reaches into another box and takes out a toy frog.

Tiger1: How bout a lovely bit of frog on the side?

Tiger2: Eeuuuugh I hate eating frogs.

Tiger1: Honestly, you'll end up being a fat cat if you don't eat your greens.

I think this would be effective as it leaves a lot of room for facts and trivia whilst also having many opportunities for the performance to appeal to small children, engaging them throughout the performance.