Evaluation

'13' Mike Bartlett


We've been working on the play '13' by Mike Bartlett for about 5-6 weeks. We performed this play on the 12 and 13 of November 2014 . Our audience were our family members and friends, there were also some students in the audience.The play '13' is about 12 Londoners who have the same terrifying dream which is how they're all connected to each other and a young man name John returns home with a vision for the future. John also connects the 12 because they all listen to his speeches and become his followers in some sense.

I'm so thrilled that we decided to do the play '13' because it is so different to any other play that I have ever done and Mike Bartlett wanted it to be performed in a certain way. He said that "The play should be performed with a circle" so our opening scene was the 12 laying on the floor in the shape of a circle and they all sit up with the sound of the alarm clock to indicate them having the same dream. I think doing this made the performance every effective in a way that it was really exiting and made it more interesting. We also used some other techniques from Physical theatre, contemporary and Greek tragedy.For example we used the chair duet during the park scene in act 4 scene 3 with the four corners as well. I think the pace the play was at made it more better because it flowed into each scene but the only probably was that some people in the audience didn't understand the play or what the role of John was.

Throughout the play we did refer to the themes in order to help the audience understand. For example death, this was shown when Sarah killed her daughter Rudy and we tried to show it in a way that we didn't over do it but that it was still obvious that her mum killed her. Opinions and disagreements were shown in the scene at 10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister and her colleagues.

I think Thursdays performance was our best performance because everyone was fully focused and calm since we had already performed it twice already which made us all more relaxed and able to enjoy it. I was at my best during Thursday's performed as I was fully focused, remembered my ques and where to come on as well as my lines. I might of done bad vocally and physically because I don't think I was loud enough during every scene I was in. I'm also not sure if my character came across to the audience physically and emotionally. I'm happy that the last scene of act 3 before the interval when well because it was very important that everyone knew their lines, when to say them and that it was really snappy which it was. I'm proud of all our group because they put their full effort in throughout the play to make sure it was a hit and that the audience liked it and I think it went marvelously.

If we could do it again I think it would be fun to try and perform the play in more of a circle like Mike Bartlett wanted. It would of also been great if we did direct act 5 because I think that would of helped the audience understand it all much better. I reckon it would of been an even better ending to the play as well because it shows what John meant to the 12 and how he effected them.

Character Profile

My character Holly was one for the 12 in the play '13' by Mike Bartlett. Holly doesn't get on with her mum or dad "my dad's a shit and my mum gets anxious, about things?" but get's on with gran really well because her gran giver her money "Thirty?".  She goes to University and doesn't have any friends or money "I'm not liking University because I don't have any money or ... well friends." which is why she sleeps with Mark because he pays her for it "You mind fifties?". Holly has a very troubling life because she isn't sure what she wants to do in life but when she hear's John speak in the play she decided to make a website for him and video him so everyone can see his speeches online "I'll film it tomorrow, put it online,".These speeches start to help Holly because she finally confronts Mark about what they do and tells him she wants to stop even though she is scared of him "What we do. I don't like it".

I think that Holly and Mark maybe met through her gran Edith because Mark is her lawyer and goes round her house to speak to her and  Holly goes round there too so that's how I think they met. After that I reckon her gran might have tried to set them up because in the play she says to Mark "My granddaughter Holly, she's your age." Then they might have seen each other out clubbing because Holly likes going out and after the clubbing scene at the end of act 1, Holly is round Mark's in a dressing gown in act 2 scene four. The reason I think Holly and Mark started this was because she needed the money and she thought it was alright because she wasn't doing anything else and she was unsure. After act 2 scene 4 though we see a change in Holly feeling towards sleeping with Mark and that is that she wants to stop. Her objective throughout the play from there is to stop but her obstacle is Mark because he doesn't want to, he's be come attached to her and started to see her as his girlfriend "It's fine. Like having a girlfriend." I think that John's speech's help her to see that she is more then just someone who sleeps around for money and that she can actually make something of herself. Which helps her to stand up to Mark when he see's her and to tell him that she doesn't like it "What we do. I don't like it".

The first speech Holly hear's John say is in act 2 scene 6 when he speak about his thought on a battery hen. After talking about this battery hen he starts talking about us, how we think we'll work everything out and God and how we can't know what was before the universe. In my opinion this speech helps Holly see that there is more to her life then just sleeping with Mark, she just has to go out looking for it. This is also the scene where she first talks to John and decided to start filming his speeches "I'll film it tomorrow, put it online" and also figures out what to call the video "John in the park. That's what I'll call it." I feel as if this scene is what helps Holly make a start on something new and finally change her life around because this is where she stop going round Mark's to sleep with him. Her objective is to finally make something of her self and show off what she can do and actually help people but Mark still won't leave her alone "You haven't answered my calls. You're here every day. I see you on my lunch-break. Going round with your clipboard." But by the end of the play she doesn't sleep around with Mark anymore. John helped Holly a lot because he say her as someone who was desperate and lost in finding her passion.


When I was experimenting with my vocal, physical and emotional side for Holly it was a bit hard because I had to take her away from my self and I tried quite a few things before I knew I had brought Holly out. I found vocal quite hard because she would speak in different tones depending on the character she is speaking to. Firstly I didn't really bring her attitude out, I wasn't taking her away from me but then I began thinking on it. I thought that she would speak about her family and problems in a harsh tone because she hates her family and is annoyed that she has a "Shit life". When she speaks to her gran I thought she'd speak in a softer tone since she is one of her family members and she does like her gran "Thanks gran". With Mark I was thinking that at first she would talk in a nice tone for act 2 scene 4 until she has met John and realized she does't really like Mark so she speaks with a harsh, defensive tone when he starts saying that it's her fault "The things is, the simple thing is Holly, that you've fucked this up, this but of your life" so she needs to stand up for herself and finally say it's over.

In order to show Holly's character physically I went over stage directions which helped me come up with always having her on a phone or tablet because she records John speeches. It also worked really well because she's young and all young people these days are always on some sort of technology so it seemed to suit her really well. When it comes to how she stands I thought that standing straight wouldn't suit her at all so I decided to have her leaning to the right to give her more of an attitude within her posture.  My next movement looking at her nails to show that Holly had no interest in what was going on in that moment. I used this to show she was bored because I feel that when she is bored she would just completely zone out and maybe sigh sometimes. Another movement was hands on hips, I felt like this would show Holly's has an attitude and she wants to have all the attention. I also thought then when reacting to what people say to her she would show a big reaction and use hand gestures which helped take her away from me as well.

For emotion wise I found it every hard because I felt as if Holly wouldn't really show off much emotion, she has this guard up and doesn't really want people seeing what she's going through because deep down I feel like she is very emotional. I was able to actually relate this to myself because when something is going on with me I hide it so I used that to try and help develop Holly's emotion. When it came to Mark because of what's going on between them and the fact she wants to stop I showed anger especially when saying "Mark you're a bastard. You say it yourself." During the Alpha scene I tried to show a bit of frustration because she was actually opening up to the group and they weren't listening or understanding and just moving on to someone else. I thought she would also show anger and annoyed, especially at the end of the scene when Esther tell hers to "Fuck off". When it came to helping out John I showed that she was happy because she was doing something she enjoyed that was helping others and actually feeling apart of something instead of an outsider.

For Holly's hair our finally decision was to have it up in a high pony tail because it was taking her away from my look which is always having my hair down so it showed the character of Holly more.When picking what to wear I had in my mind a leather jacket and black skinny jeans so I decided to look up what Lara Rossi who played Holly at the National Theatre in 2011 wore. I was happy to find out that she did in fact wear a black leather jacket and black skinny jeans. I settled on that and then wore a white blouse and white converses as well to give her that young adult affect as well. For props I had my bag for the alpha scene because the stage direction at the end says 'Holly grabs her bag and goes'. I used my phone and a tablet a lot too so I could record John saying his speech and I walk past Stephen's speech in act 1 scene 6 whilst on my phone 'Holly on her phone'. I also have a tray with a plate and mug on to show I'm eating breakfast for act 2 scene 4 and I'm wearing a dressing gown 'Holly walks towards Mark's breakfast table, wearing a dressing gown with hood up'. My last prop was leaflets that I was giving out for act 4 scene 3 'In the crowd. Holly's handing out leaflets.'


When we discussed the things that influenced Mike Bartlett for the play '13' we discovered that the bible was one of them. Then I found out that my character Holly is based on the prostitute called Holly in the bible and how Jesus isn't ashamed to have her as one of his friends even though she does sleep around and everyone said he shouldn't be friends with her. In the play John actually says "she has sex for money" which connects to the bible in the way that Jesus was telling people about Holly and what she does and he didn't care that she was his friend.

Week 6

We started by finishing off blocking act 4 and then did a full run through of the whole play. Starting with acting 4, then 3 on Wednesday as well as 1 and 2 on Thursday. This week was mainly to go over all the scenes, change what needed to be changed and to make sure everything was done and sorted for the performance week which is next week.

In order to help us with the movements for our character's Karen had us do three movements that our characters would do and we walk around the room doing them. To set our minds straight so we could do this Karen had us close our eyes and imagine our character in front of us and slowly walking towards us. To enable me to pick my three movements I thought of what I had found out about Holly already. Then I thought of some of her lines and her attitude towards things to help me finally choose what movements I wanted to do to show my character of Holly. My first movement was my right knee bent so I was lent to that side and I pretended to look at a phone or tablet. I did this because throughout the play Holly is on the phone or recording John so I thought it would be the perfect movement for her. My second movement was me still lent to the side but I was looking at my nails. I picked this movement to show that Holly had no interest in what was going on in that moment. I used this to show she was bored because I feel that when she is bored she wouldn't want to make eye contact with anyone and just completely zone out. My final movement was hands on hips. This was to show off Holly's attitude because when you see someone put their hands on their hips you get the feeling that they are annoyed and heroic because she wants to have all the attention.

This week I was able to achieve my goal of learning all my lines for the whole play which was obviously very important because we're performing next week. I have also succeed in developing my character on stage and taking her away from me by not doing the things I do and giving her a bit of an attitude. I luckily know all my ques and entrances ready for next weeks performance.

I still haven't decided on my hair style for Holly and I'm hoping to look up some hair styles that I don't do normally with my hair so I'm taking it away from me again. I'm thinking of maybe putting my hair up since I never wear it up and it would be showing my development of my character. It also puts it out of my face so you can see my facial expressions more clearly and it stops me playing with it throughout the play as well.

My goals for next week is to go over anything I don't feel as confident with and to still try and develop my character even more when on stage. I also need to focus more whilst on stage and not look at audience members and focus on the scene I'm in. I need to make sure I project and make sure I don't mumble in order for the audience to hear my clearly.

Review

Love Song - Frantic Assembly

For the first part of Love Song no words are spoken, just music playing in the background as an elderly man walks around on stage. Even though nothing is said it is still very effective as the tension is built up until you hear him speak. I found the first few words very strange as he speaks about his teeth which I found very confusing for the first words of the play but it definitely allows you to want to keep watching. Throughout the play you are constantly taken in and want to keep watching to find out more.

When watching Love Song you really feel the connections between the actors as if they were actually in love with each other. Which is what you need, you need the audience to be able to feel the emotions and connections between the character's in order for them to believe it. There was also a lot of naturalism throughout the play for example when the younger couple argued about getting a loan and the fact the women wanted kids but the man didn't and then they find out they can't have kids.

I like that the play flicked between the past and present, by using the older couple for the present and their younger selves for the past. The way they flicked between the two couples was very good as well because they would cross cut so you were still able to understand everything that was going on. The use of the bed and wardrobe to help switch between the couples was very inventive in my opinion. The way that they also used the present couple to link back to their past selves was great to. For example when the present couple started cleaning everything out and then spoke about how they had done this many times before but never actually thrown anything out. Then their younger selves come on stage and start cleaning it out and your slowly see the older couple making there way off stage but it's all very good because they don't just walk off it happens it a very natural way. For example the younger women might have a conversation with the younger man but because the older man is still on stage we see her having a conversation with him which I find very clever.

I find the play itself very emotional because you find out the women can't have kids and then her older self is slowly dying. The older couple are also very lonely and talk about selling the house because the women doesn't want the man living there on his own once she has passed. I think the dance sequences make the play very moving and the music helps set the atmosphere very well. The dance sequence I like the most is the one on the bed where it starts off with the older couple but then it all moves around and the younger couple come in one at a time and join in. Then after the younger couple leave by going through the little door that's actually on the bed and leaving the older couple there and then a video plays on the screen.

My favorite part of the play I would have to say is the ending because it sums everything up and I just love how it's all set out. With the younger couple on the floor and the older couple on the bed behind them with the music playing in the background. Then they all say "And on that night" in cannon starting off with the older couple. After they've all said that line the younger man says "And on that night, they were playing our song" which is the very last line. I love that ending scene because it sums everything up and you understand why it's called Love Song, it's just brilliant. 

Week 5

We did the nightclub scene at the end of act 1 on Monday where we made up 16 counts of 4 and then performed it in fast and slow motion depending on the music. We also added in flashing lights to make the scene more effective and Karen put us in four groups so we perform them one at a time and then move around a lot. I quite like this scene, firstly because we can all let loose and just all have fun and because it takes the play away from the seriousness. I love all the flashing lights throughout the scene and I like how at the end of the scene the 12 go back to the nightmares because then it helps the audience to understand what's going on and that we're having the same dream.  

This week we blocked a lot of the big scenes for example act 3 scene 8 which involves the 12 and John. During this scene I feel as if you get to understand the 12 more as it goes into their lives and their struggles as well as showing that they are fully behind John's campaign "So. We have to act. Together. This is the moment." It also shows how much John's speech impacts on them as individuals, what it makes them think and do. I like that at the end of this scene we did it so we're all praying because it shows how we are all together as one "In. Our. Name". This scene really helps me understand the play and the 12 connection to each other because it is the dreams but then I feel as if it is John as well. In some way John has helped or in some ways guided all of the 12 individual and together with the dreams. 

Karen had us 12 direct the last scene which is act 5 as it only had the 12 of us in it. We found it very hard. The first thing we tried was we got into pairs with the person we interact with most during the play, for example I was with Mark. Then we began reading through it like that but we found it very boring as we were just standing there. After we tried all of us just walking around and then when it was your turn to speak we stopped on the spot and faced the front whilst we read our lines. We found that it was really messy so we decided against it. I thought we could use the workshop we did which was the four corners but then we realized it would just be messy like the previous idea. We then all began thinking of other ideas but we couldn't think of one that suited that scene. Once we told Karen our situation she said she would direct it before we all decided that we're going to cut the scene due to it being too difficult to do. I do think that it is better we leave it out because it might confuse the audience and it's hard to find a way to do it in order for the audience to not get confused. I think it would of been good to do it though because it shows how going to war affected the 12 so much that they were in some ways lost. For example Ruth starts to doubt herself, Edith wants to die and Stephen even agree's that he would go to war to protect the country he love's. Holly actually wants to wait for Mark and he's finally gone home after so many years to see his family. The scene shows how John looked to be the good one but in the end after they got the text it changed them all in many ways. 

We also did a run through from act one up to scene four in order for us to remember what we have previously blocked and to add lighting as well as some background sounds. We also did change a few things like the side I come on and things like that which we'll probably keep changing until it's what we want. I did go through some scenes with some of the characters without Karen's help in blocking so we'll see how good we did when she has a look. In my opinion the hardest to block are the scenes with John in the park because you need to think what everyone is going to be doing and you have to make it interesting. It can't just be just just stood on a box giving a speech so hopefully some of our ideas help it to become more interesting until Karen has a look.

My character is coming alone nicely now. At home I have been going through the scenes and experimenting on different ways Holly could react to them. I've also developed it so in all the park scenes with John and not just the one where it says she has one Holly always has a tablet or phone and throughout the play she has either one in her hand. I have now a much better understanding of Holly's character in a sense that in some ways I can relate to her. In a way that I know what's it's like to not have any money and to find it hard to set your mind straight and sort what you want to do in life. She's just a young adult who is finding it a bit hard to live in the adult world and the fact she doesn't really speak to her parent's doesn't help. Which is probably why she goes to her Gran and then the Alpha course and John to seek help and guidance. She just needs to set her mind to what she wants to do and I plan to try and show that through my performance. 

I did achieve one of my goals this week which was to contribute and I did for the act 5 scene even though we're not doing it anymore. I also know most of my lines it just the fact that I don't know when I need to say them so I have to remember my ques. I have also remembered my blocking for most of the scenes so as long as I can continue to remember them and remember the ones I haven't done yet then I'm fine.

Week 4

I have now started to develop my character on stage by reacting to things that happen on stage the way that Holly would act. For example during act 2 scene 4 she is having breakfast with Mark and he says "Thank Gob you're alive, I thought I'd actually fucked you to death." During this scene I act disgusted that Mark would use such language and it reminds Holly of why she doesn't want to sleep with him anymore and how much of a douche he actually is. When blocking this scene we decided to get Mark to come across in a playful way but for Holly to still be a bit scared of Mark and to act surprised and disgusted by all of the inappropriate things he says to her. I do need to work on doing big expressions to show that Holly doesn't like it for the audience to understand what's going on and how she feel's about it. During this scene Mark pays Holly money so I need to show clearly how Holly feels about this. I feel as Holly doesn't want to do it but she feels forced to as she needs the money. I am still yet to understand why Mark choose to do this in the first place with Holly so I will need to talk to Milo to find the reason behind it all and how they might of met.

I am still experimenting with Holly emotionally because I have to think of previous things in order to understand why Holly is sleeping with Mark to know how she is actually thinking about it. I'm also thinking of how she is beginning to feel now she is helping John. I feel as she is happy about it because it seems as she's not mucking about anymore and trying to actually make something of herself and not be someone who just sleeps with men for money. With Holly vocally I'm starting to have her voice quite raised and harsh during the first act apart from when she is with her Gran because I think she'll speak in a nice, calm tone as I feel that she get's on with her Gran really well. Then as the play carry's on I think she'll start to show her fear and anger towards Mark when she see's him. For example in Act 2 scene 11 she confesses that she doesn't like sleeping with Mark and that she is in fact scared of him "What we do, I don't like it", "I was scared". Then when is comes to Act 4 she is able to stand up to him more "Mark you're a bastard. You say it yourself". She starts to overcome everything in order to help her move past it all and move on to what she really wants to do.  

I have now settled on a white shirt, black leggings, black leather jacket and white converses for the outfit of Holly but then hopefully change into a dress and black ankle boots for when she goes out clubbing. For me to understand Holly more I started to think about what could of happened before each scene and before the play. For example I know she wants to turn her life around because the first time she's on stage speaking she on the phone talking about who she's going to try out this alpha course and see if it good for her. During the alpha course she talks about how she has trouble believing in God "I have trouble believing in any of it. Why would God let me be born into a fucked up family with no money and a shit life". I think that's why she wants to start believing in something to help her move forward in life and start to make the right life decisions.

 For next week I will contribute to at least one thing when blocking scenes, learn the rest of my lines and go over the ones I already know. Go over the blocking for all of the scenes we've done in order for me to remember. I think I should talk to the characters I interact with a lot like John and Mark to see their prospective of Holly. My goal is to have a full understanding of Holly and know all of my lines before I go back after half term.