Shout Rehearsals

Monday 5th February

After coming back from zest, we did some warm-ups that resonated around being an ensemble, since the script for Shout, the ideas Kelly has for it is a big ensemble piece to add that extra pressure onto the main character Dana. The 2nd years started off by watching what the first years had done so far regarding the therapist scene with the snake in the box and the opening scene. It was now the plan to put us 2nd years that were in shout into the opening scene. 

I went over and asked Kelly should I be in this scene since I am Tristan's message. She wanted me in the scene and she wanted me following behind Tristan as he enters typing on his phone. I read over his shoulder what he's typing then walk over to Maya, who is played by Scarlett, (who in the script is dating Tristan) and I have to improvise what I think Tristan would have said in that message. My initial ideas for what he would have been saying would fall around the lines of rugby training; his parents needing him to go to rugby training; making up a random excuse since its the one free day he can get time for himself and wants to have that opportunity. Gracie who is Maya's text message would then walk over to Tristan (played by Aiden) and reply to the message I had just said to them, it goes back and fourth until a certain point where Dana turns around so we all stop what were doing and stare at her to give the affect she thinks all eyes are on her and then when she turns back around we all go back to what were doing but less chaotically as Dana has lines to say. 
I felt as if my movement going back and fourth wasn't natural enough but also sometimes I didn't know how to reply to the message that had just been passed back. 

Thursday 29th February

Today was the first day we ran through the text message scene. I went over lines with Millie before hand and then we got ready. The scene starts off with Tristan waiting for Dana, but Dana ends up showing late just as Tristan is leaving. He gives in though and goes back to talk to her. At first he's abrupt and annoyed as he doesn't know how they're going to communicate. That's when Millie comes on and Kelly told her to gesture to Dana to use her phone. After Tristan puts his number in the phone, Kelly said that's when I come on. I positioned myself behind Aiden (whose Tristan) but also to the side so I wasn't blocked. I made sure to look over his shoulder for every message and when I would speak he would type. At first I kept the annoyance Tristan was already feeling since we are essentially the same person. I then laid off the annoying side a little but became annoyed again when Dana started saying stuff Tristan didn't like, for example "you know you have to interview at UCL" or "spelt interview wrong" and the last one, " arse - a r s e." This then prompts Tristan to not message anymore and so I stand there over his shoulder just taking in what Dana says to him on the message.  I also do a little double take when Tristan types "whatever" to then tell him to delete it fast so that she doesn't open it up and see in time.
After we did the scene Kelly said she liked how I made Tristan listen. Also when Tristan mentions them meeting up again she said I could give him a nudge to make him say text instead of talk. 

Thursday 7th March

We ran through it again but this time for Abbey and she said she loved it and loves how natural it feels even though we are text messages. She mentioned how it does show a side to the characters you don't really get to see. I wanted to run over it in my own time though as I felt that we hadn't gone over it enough for me as I feel like majority of the time I'm just stood there over Tristans shoulder. I'm still reacting to what's going on but I just wanted to add more so i'm not stood there awkwardly. 

Tuesday 12th March

We did a full run through in the dance studio and this time I added a bit more reaction from me to make it seem like I'm not just stood there. I started off by watching the run and then when it gets to the mean girls in the bathroom, thats when I stood up and got ready to come in from the side. Nothing had changed with the entrance we still came on at the same we had spoke about and the tone of my voice at the start was still the same. So I was annoyed then less annoyed and then more annoyed again. When I get annoyed the second time when Dana is lecturing Tristan about his spelling I fold my arms and roll my eyes and turn my back to them all. Tristan then gets up to leave and im happy about this till he then decides to turn back around in which I drag my feet back over to him to be like what are you doing. I then start to listen to what Dana says as she's talking about what everyone says about her and then I unfold my arms and smile at the text message to show that we understand. I then nudge Tristan to say text instead of talk and then we both walk off till his phone pings one more time for Dana to call him a meat head and so we both turn around and give a little chuff.