In class today, we did exercises that are excellent for directors to do with their performers. For instance, as a company we partook in the "I am a slimy frog" exercise whilst exploring the 7 states of tension by ourselves then later on in groups.
In the slimy frog exercise, we had to say "I am a slimy frog" by exploring the seven states of tension. Firstly, we started off saying it in a monotone with no movement whatsoever. Nonetheless, as we went through the seven states of tension, we saw our bodies started to move more freely and find different and exciting ways of using our bodies and voices in any way possible. The slimy frog exercise allowed us to freely move with our body whilst collaborating our bodies with sounds from our voices. This allows us to explore different tones and movement that we could do in TTWCTT ranging from a low pitch to the highest pitch we can make. Furthermore, the exercise allowed to not care about what anyone else thought as the aim of it was to be completely free and careless of what you did. The aim of the exercise was to experiment and live in the moment. If you could not do that within the exercise,it would be extremely challenging to gain the attention of little children for TTWCTT as living in the moment is a crucial factor of how to be a performer in children's theatre.
By exploring different vocal tones, discovering various movements with our body and becoming careless with the actions you do collectively help towards creating an engaging and exciting performance of TTWCTT. This exercise involved us working with our peers. In order to make it successful, we had to possess the qualities of a good actor that responds to an exercise their given and feels how to interpret what they have to do in their own unique way whilst working with other people. It's better to not think at all about what you're doing and instead feed off others that are around you. Give each other freedom whilst experimenting by being supportive of one another. You would feel silly doing this exercise, however, that is the aim of the exercise: to be silly.
In addition to doing the slimy frog exercise and exploring the seven states of tension, we learnt the song 'Tiger Tiger' written by William Blake but performed by Pattie Smith who turned the poem into a song.
Singing in theatre wasn't unexpected for me as I know theatre in the modern world is becoming more and more developed. I enjoyed exploring the musical side of theatre whilst focusing on a poem performed in the form of a song that has historical values as it was written by poet William Blake. I believe this poem has connotations of how tigers lurk around their territory due to the slow pace and tempo of the song. The slow pace that Pattie Smith sings it in suggests how deadly and mysterious a tiger can be. The song sounds lament and dirge, which links to the deadly personalities that people assume tigers possess (stereotypes). The rhetorical questions included in the song made me think in depth of the hidden morals of the poem. What I think needs to be done now is to find the hidden morals within the poem, explore them and develop it into a piece where children with be mesmerised and engaged in it.
Learning the song has helped to create TTWCTT by incorporating other elements than acting in children's theatre. To fully engage the audience, we have to think of different ways of grabbing their attention; we have to think outside the box. Therefore, singing this song with help us involve different pitches and tones within our voice. If we think we are singing high, we will sing low. If we think we are singing low, we will sing high. This helps us to successfully reach these pitches and tones. Singing is just talking with extended vowels. Therefore, it cannot be that hard to sing.
2. How do you think it contributes/will contribute to towards making TTWCTT?
I think doing different exercises and learning the song will help us work as a group in the best way possible. It will help us create a piece so diverse and intriguing for viewers by feeling the moment. We shouldn't over think anything. In fact, not thinking at all would be easier. Baring in mind that our audience is children from ages 2-5, doing exercises where we have to be silly will help us make the audience laugh more and be entertained if we look like we do not care about how we look on stage. These exercises teach us to be in the moment and take everything as it goes. It teaches us not to criticise ourselves but instead applaud how careless and free we are being. We have to put in 100% energy, not half or anything less. The more silly you look, the better you will entertain the children.
Overall, exploring different vocal tones and freely moving with our body contributes to making TTWCTT. Not caring how you look like and being carefree will help to perform to the best of your potential! Not caring is the best thing to do in order to be completely free on stage. With the help of exercises such as "I am a slimy frog" and the seven states of tension followed by 'Tiger Tiger' collectively contribute towards making TTWCTT to successfully work as an excellent ensemble.
- Singing is just talking with extended vowels -
Think high, sing low and vice versa
Song is like a hymm
Pace of the song like a tiger walking
What tasks did we do?
'Tiger Tiger' by William Blake (sung by Pattie Smith'
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