Tech and Dress

Our tech and dress rehearsals were really important because I feel that they teach you a lot about working in a professional theatre with a company and putting on a production. Being in a technical rehearsal was really useful for me as it teaches you how to equip yourself in this environment, for example it makes actors realise and that they aren’t always the centre of attention and that the technical team, although rarely seen have an as important job as we do. I think it teaches you a lot about working in a collaborative effort and appreciating everyone’s involvement. It also has a massive impact performing the show on the real stage as it allows you to see how you have to project your voice and feel the stage and the space that you have to fill. I found that in our dress rehearsal it was really important for us to experience the stage with all the technical set and lighting to see how that brings the show to life and adds the final layer. Also I think that it is important because it helps and hinders in the same way, as you have the set sometimes it can make you feel more like you are in the place and time that your play is set allowing you to connect more to the piece. However I also find that with the lighting and everything it can make you feel even more that you are doing a performance and on a stage and as your character you have to work harder to give a real performance.  

 

1^st Show

I found that the performance in the dress run was really interesting to do as it had everything that it needed for the performance with the acting and the technical side all coming together and working to create a really excellent performance. However there was something that I felt was missing slightly and for me that final piece clicked to make our performance as good as it was when we performed our first show. With our piece I think that all of us actors had underestimated the strength of it, from the acting to the humour to the characters and the storyline. When we had an audience I felt that it really brought the play alive and it made us realise the power of our piece. For example there were a lot of times where the audience laughed throughout the first act and I don’t think we had fully realised the humour in it. This really drew the audience into our piece and connecting to the characters and the story that we are telling. Then I feel in the second act after being lulled into a sense of security through the humour, the audience are hit with the reality of the situation and the pain that is caused. I think that this really pulled at our audience’s heart strings and made them truly connect to the characters.

I personally found that the first show, with the adrenaline and everything, brought about small changes in my character. I found that I was pushing my characterisation further and developing small personal actions and movements that made me feel more connected and into my character. For example the pre-set brought about small actions such as rubbing my fingertips together to get rid of the dust; these actions made me get into my character and to start to explore him more. This was really helpful as I think that acting should be about constant experimentation and being present and living on stage, these small changes and developments made me present on stage and in my character.