Brothers Grimm: Iron Hans, 12/6/2014

Today we nearly finished Iron Hans.

To start with we all set up the stage and then decided on what play we should do, although we had already set up for Iron Hans.

This afternoon we will rehearse Hansel and Gretel because we haven't really rehearsed this and I didn't have any ideas of directing it.

We went on to split into two separate games and do the 'Wizard of Oz' exercise.

We had to choose a line and action from Hansel and Gretel.

For Gretel we had: "How do we get out of this enormous forest?" with her arms raised and walking around in a small, clockwise circle.

For Hansel we had: "Don't worry Gretel, I will save us" with him raising his hand on the first line, then stepping forward with a finger pointed upwards on 'I will save us'.

For the Father we had: "No no wife, I can't do that", he was hunched over with his hands clasped and shaking his head.

For the Mother we had: "You did it before, so you'll do it again". She slowly folded her arms over her chest and glared at the person in front of her.

For the Witch we had: "Put your finger out so I can see if you're plump". The witch was lunging forward with her upper body leaned back, finger held out and shoulders up and squinted eyes since she can't see anything.

We then went onto carry on with Iron Hans but didn't have much time left for this, we didn't get very far on with this piece.

As another element to this piece we are using tall bamboo sticks which are decorated. These are being used as the soldiers are going to war with their 'swords flashing in the sunlight'

Brothers Grimm: Iron Hans and arguments, 9/6/2014

Today, we all managed to have yet another argument. But not with each other, only sometimes we would end up shouting at one another which was generally me and someone else shouting because I wanted to move myself so I wouldn't be distracted.

We started late anyway because of some exams but then set up the stage on a smaller ratio. This meant we were limited when we started to run through the piece because when Iron Hans is tackled, we under estimated the space we now had. I moved the stage back a bit but got told off because we were meant to be in a limited space, I only moved it so that people wouldn't get hurt whilst running through the piece.

Before this we were told to do 'meditation' type exercises but everyone started to shout about this and just wanted to start the piece already and not waste anymore time which we keep getting moaned about for. We then started these but someone started laughing and distracted us all. So we had to do it again and everyone still ended up distracting one another.

When we started the piece I had to stand in for the First King again to show what we had done. People were talking over the top of me so I just ignored them and carried on whilst shouting the lines.

We didn't get very far with this piece because Iron Hans nearly got hurt because the set was in the way and there wasn't enough space to tackle him to the floor. But he was fine and there was actually space. Instead people just got into trouble for messing around. Which they weren't. They were just rehearsing the piece.

Once we tried to add on more to the piece, people were still distracted and talking and annoying one another. I was focused and waiting for my part or going over the piece.

Overall, I think we only added on about two more pages of script.

Brothers Grimm: Lady and The Lion 6/6/2014

Today we worked on Lady and The Lion. Although this was a rough work out of the play from the start to the end since we didn't have our main character who plays the Lion. 

We had two directors working on this and went through it quickly. Even though sometimes we would end up off task because we would suggest an idea and lead on with that and expand then loose ourself from the original point. 

Our idea for this play is that we use shadow puppetry with a screen to show the Lady's journey following the Lion when he is a Dove or the fight between the Lion and Dragon Princess. But we weren't allowed to stay on the topic of shadow puppetry because we kept being told off about this which made everyone confused with what we were then going to act out and what would be shown by puppets. 

I feel like this lesson was successful because everyone just wanted to work and get this piece over and done with quickly without arguing. Although sometimes there will always be arguments between us all. 

This is one side of the stage where we have a gate with flowers on and nice colours which is the summer/spring side of the Lions castle

This is the other side of the Lions garden. We are using the iron gate which is black and dull, it represents the dead side of the garden where it is still in winter.
As a group we felt like this would show the difference between the gardens.

Here is Daisy behind the screen. She is playing the Lady. This is when she is in the room with the Lion and he turns into a Dove. We haven't got around to deciding what the dove will be made out of so Daisy was using a book as the Dove which I think worked well. Others within the room thought otherwise.

Brothers Grimm: Iron Hans 5/6/2014

Thursday 5th June 2014

Today we decided that we would do Iron Hans because Luke was there and people needed a good part in order to get a better grade within the course.

We went through the task brief and now have a new date for our final performance which is July 1st.    Our performance will be to a year 7 class in the school space.

No one could decide who would direct Iron Hans because the main director wasn't in school and he doesn't do his work anyway and didn't care when we originally cut the play. So as a class we did decide to have our teacher direct us.

Miss quickly set up a stage area without any ideas. Although we did try to have some input in with the play but we weren't allowed because we weren't directing.

This is where the First King will sit at the start of Iron Hans. The Huntsmen will walk up to the King and around the audience when they get lost in the forest. This can also be used as a spring or be turned around to show the blue screen which matches the screen behind the cage and then turned around when the Boy goes to the spring.

This is Iron Hans' cage in the centre of the front of the stage so the audience can see him. When we aren't acting on stage we will sit beside the cage and then step up when we are acting and have something to say.

I personally don't like us sitting on the stage when the piece is going on because it may take the atmosphere out of the play and the audience would possibly be more focused on us than the actors actually acting at the time.

We are using the two blocks for the huntsmen to stand on whilst looking into the spring. Some people did just jump on George who was playing Iron Hans to capture him. Although this ended up in George with three people on him and then falling to the floor. But this was good for the piece and shows that men will just jump on someone and not be afraid to throw themselves into something even when they don't know what it is and it is the one thing that has been making people go missing.