Recount

So after leaving the previous rehearsal I had planned for two rehearsals during this week but then two absences meant I canceled the first rehearsal as I felt that my time could be better spent at home.  So over this week I took the ideas gathered in the previous rehearsal and put together the second act.  Knowing again that I would be missing one of the ensemble I wanted to talk through what we had developed and I had subsequently written, and hit the ensemble with the questions that had since been plaguing my mind about the show.  I also wanted to workshop some design ideas which we did.

It was a very sit down session but I believe it was productive because we managed to discuss the play, the concerns I was having about it and workshop some design ideas.  The ensemble were all very happy with the way that the show had formed.  There were of course suggestions, queries and comments concerning it.  These were noted and have since been addressed.

• Remove the prologue does it really fit? Is it another play? Divided opinion among the ensemble as to keeping it, removing it, or changing it.
• Missy can’t be pinned as heartless, she needs to attempt to help but fail due to lack of strength – she can’t be seen as a bitch.
• it is possible that we are demonising the anonymous cyber bullies, can this actually be avoided?
• cut scene with with victim deleting photo’s in the replay solving the problem.   This is just too easy and it also doesn’t resonate with the intended message.  That of the bystander being the one who can make a difference.
• This moved into characters engaging in two types of behavior and it was decided that this is possible but drawing the focus away from central bystander might be confusing.
• We need to highlight positive coping strategies and inject specific advice into the existing material
• Do we need a definition of bullying in there? This was debated as to if it is necessary as we are showing non-naturalistically showing the bullying highlighting the factors that make it bullying but not the actual events.   There are varied motivations hopefully indicating that bullying is a behavior and not characteristic.  It was still divided as to if we should include a specific definition or not as it could be disengaging for the audience to feel like we’re trying to cram facts down their throats.

We also briefly discussed how the show could end and some suggestions were mounted but I’m still not happy with the ending and I need to do some work to generate something that ties all the ends together.  As far as design that was also expanded and it was interesting to note that something that I had been considering for some time to build a web was suggested by another ensemble member.

Reflection

Talking about design one of the ensemble mentioned not to make things to complicated, which at first I thought I wasn’t trying to do thinking about it since I have realised that trying to create a harness with a keyboard (and possibly mouse) that each actor can wear is really just too difficult.  So at this point in time this idea has been completely scraped.  However each actor will wear a blue Ethernet (network) cable and port hung around there neck.

Engaging in these discussions about the form, content, aims, objectives and intended message of the piece started me thinking about my exegesis and what I will be writing about.  I began starting to think about what processes have been involved in creating relevant and educational theatre for young audiences which raises awareness of cyber bullying and its consequences.  This started me thinking about how we are specifically dealing with and presenting the sensitive issues that are touched upon in the play.It has become apparent that a lot of my thinking during this process has been influenced by literature which suggests that practitioners should be careful when dealing with sensitive issues in drama and theatre.  This is also offset by much literature arguing that theatre has a responsibility to brooch the taboo and ask questions of society.  Do we then when dealing with theatre for young audiences and sensitive issues play it safe or risk the potential consequences and fallout?

I think about the last three TiE/TYA I have seen and they all relate to sensitive issues:

• the apology (Zeal theatre)- bullying and violence
• hoods (Real TV) – poverty and domestic violence
• Australian marriage Act (Arena theatre)- teenage pregnancy and marriage

Are these professional companies better equipped to deal and work on sensitive issues in theatre for young audiences than I am?  Should I have started out on something less problematic in relation to the possible outcomes of devising a show on cyber bullying in which a potential suicide could occur?  I guess the answer to these questions is that I’m devising for the now in an area where I saw concern and a possible issue in need of discussing and asking questions about in society and especially in schools.  These companies may be better equipped but that doesn’t necessitate that certain subject areas should be off limits for amateur or community groups to explore.

The current literature suggests that cyber bullying is a real and growing problem among young people in Australia and world wide.  Research in the area is still very young (does research age or grow?) and the current literature in this area suggests that more research needs to be undertaken to hopefully find strategies in dealing with this issue.  The literature does identify that drama and theatre could be a possible medium for developing awareness among young people:

• what does the literature say about dealing with sensitive issues in drama and theatre?
• what does the literature say about youth theatre and sensitive issues?
• What did I do in the process to ensure that these sensitive issues were handled in a manner as not to promote negative outcomes or consequences?
• What does my process or product say about dealing with sensitive issues in youth theatre?

I think not getting it 100% right for the TIS event has been the reason for my focus on attempting to ensure that the product reflects values that are  socially viable.   Anyway so I’m thinking my exegesis will be on cyber bullying and suicide: sensitive issues in theatre for young audiences.

My supervisor has been asking me what I’m thinking about design.  I’ve put a very detailed initial design concept up on the wiki.  I thought a brief run down would be in order though.

• computer keys like Esc or letters that can be used to sit and stand on in space
• a blue network cable spiderweb
• A wall for posting on
• costume design cyber punk, school uniforms that make links to current digital media
• motherboards, keyboards, mouses, mobile phones, network cables all attached to costume
• Parody movies
• filmed web based things such as myspace, facebook, MSN, etc
• sounds and music will also be used

I just want to reflect on the idea of the web.  I think it is a good metaphor for our show because it relates to the fact that the action sometimes takes place on the wwweb, also that there is this web narrative, but most off all that the characters feel trapped and that they possible don’t have the power to escape the web.

An image also comes to mind of possibly the last moment in the performance being the character who commits suicide standing on the Esc key as if about to jump or hang and then disconnecting his network cable and black.

It was decided very early on in the process that design would be a more organic process. Once we had a look at the space it became clear that any design would have to be minimal and use of the digital projector would be essential. This was also a consideration because we knew we would have to move and transport our goods from Burwood to Geelong. Our first design idea was to use milk crates and we planned on using them for as many things as possible, this included riding them in the horse racing scene, sit and stand on them. This never eventuated as it became apparent further in the process that they weren’t necessary and even burdensome. It floated in and out of discussion from time to time and then a basic slide slow presentation was thrown together some weeks before. This presentation was edited and re-edited over the course of the following weeks and became our central design element. Eventually we added sound, animation and colour. This was organic and it grew and developed as people had ideas and tried them out. It looked poor and cheesy but that’s what we were going for. The props and items of costume that we used were generally just an agreement between the ensemble about what would be necessary to convey our message. We tried to keep these as minimal as possible but reflecting now I wonder if all were necessary?

Considering that my next project will involve touring at least two different schools the space will also be different from school to school. Therefore any design will have to be easily transportable. This therefore has me concluding that it would also be optimum for the design to be minimal with a few key and specific pieces that contribute to the performance on a design level. Questions about the capabilities of using media, sound and lighting are also present in my mind at this time. The last few touring TiE or TFY performances I have seen did not really utilise media, sound and lightening. These I would argue were all excellent and didn’t require these extra production values; not to say with them the show could have been enhanced but that they stood on their own competently without them. Depending on the show this should more than likely be the case for all theatre. I guess the point is will add to or distract from what I want to say.