BLOOD BROTHERS- DIARY ENTRY

 14/03/22

Today we had our first look on some of Willy Russel's work for our next project- the end of year show/shows. We began today talking about the Scouse accent. If we could somewhat do the accent, we were to teach people the accent, well what we know of it, the best we can. I repeated multiple phrases to La Toya and Sienna to try to get them to pick up on it. For me right now, my accent is okay but it definitely has a lot of room for improvement. I really enjoy doing the Scouse accent though as its one of my favourite accents to do. 

We were then handed a copy of act 1 from "hens and stags" and we rehearsed our scenes in groups of four. Me, La Toya, Sienna and Emie. We rehearsed it in Scouse to help us improve on our accent and our group got it on its feet with blocking. We didn't have to show them back but it was a really good way for me to improve my accent and for others to listen and begin picking the accent up. I absolutely loved this script! I thought it could be an amazing play and I loved the style of it. 

At the end we got some Scouse tips given from Kelly which were really useful, especially for teaching others. 

21/03/22

Today was the first read through for Blood Brothers script. I read partially for Linda, she appeals to me the most out of all the characters but its going to be very tough competition if I want her because she is so many of the girls first choice. First read through, I had high expectations of this show and with now having read it, it does in fact live up to my expectations... I cant wait because it is so good! Excitingg.

28/03/22

Omg today was so fun, we all went back down memory lane and thought about life as a seven year old. Our workshop today included us all acting like 7 year olds, I learnt so much about acting younger today! We were all in the classroom and played games. Some things I learnt today included: lots of fidgeting- random spurges of movement like bursts of energy, speaking higher pitch, softer and monotone at times, eager behaviour to join in, lots of crying and easily distracted with objects and things around the room, lots of talking about random moments that aren't anything to do with the present moment. Just these few tips really helped me and I'm sure there's plenty more traits. We got given a monologue from the play- Sammy's monologue, and we are performing them next week as a seven year old in Scouse as a part of this assignment. I've learnt mine today and just need to work on characterisation and maintaining the accent. Today was actually weirdly really fun, we all thought that. Children are full of energy and excitement, they rarely sit still- I want to bring this across in my monologue.

29/03/22

Today we got given booklets for blood brothers including: context, character profiles, details etc and I cant wait to read it to broaden my knowledge on the full play. This will really help me as a starting point for me, since I haven't ever studied this play at school already, I was pretty much in the dark with it. After watching the show performed live it has helped so much overall to obviously but research will really take it to the next step. Digging deep into the background of the full play, character backgrounds, character profiles, era, education, class, all of this will make my performance so so so much better for when auditioning. 

25/04/22

First lesson back after the two week Easter holidays! Today we only had a short lesson but in that we talked about the first round of auditions for "Blood Brothers" that will be held this Thursday- so in three days! I am nervous and excited for these audition I can't lie, knowing its the end of year show and this is what really counts. I will be auditioning for Linda. If its preferred and we are told to audition for two characters, then I will also audition for Mrs Lyons. The only negative about auditioning for two characters for this show is that I personally would rather spend all of my time and effort rehearsing and developing Lindas character, rather than wasting half of my time on Mrs Lyons. I would love to be cast as any role in blood brothers, however, I would just like to fully give it my all for the character whom Id love to play and be able to do a better job at one rather than an okay job or not as good as job for both. I will see what happens!! Next step in what I have to do now is to learn Lindas duologue, and maybe Mrs Lyons, plan my time schedule of when and what work needs to be done in the upcoming weeks, write up my proposal for this project, research and character development, work on the Scouse accent. A lot to do and so little time; its going to be a busy term!

05/05/22

Today we found out the cast for blood brothers!!! There is a whopping three casts! I am so pleased I got the role of Linda in cast three and I'm so excited to begin the process of rehearsals building up to our end of year show. I'm excited to dive into developing my character, "Linda" and looking at objectives, inner/ outer obstacle, stakes, background, society in this era, social classes, education, Liverpool, etc etc etc.

Today we began with devising our own scenes to "kids game" to help us get into the mindset of a seven year old, and also to create those characteristics and the physicality. From this, I learned a lot about the body language of a seven year old and the movement. Also the vocals because "kids game" is essentially a song in the musical version of "Blood Brothers". It was very fun and physical activity. 

A task I am setting for myself for over the weekend before rehearsals on Monday is to learn as much of the lines in act one as possible and know this section of the script, what's happening, what stage directions etc. This will help rehearsals next week massively as I wont just be stood reading from the script, I will actually be able to understand what is going and react to my surroundings, acting to a better understanding. 

09/05/22

We made a start on the show today! Well it wasn't my cast but still! It was cast 2 and they seemed to be brilliantly making their way through the first act, putting the pieces together and figuring out staging etc. In lesson today, I went through the whole script highlighting Lindas lines and stage directions, then began memorising some of her monologues later on in the play. So far, I've memorised those few paragraphs and some duologues that we learnt for auditions, a couple other scenes form the kids scenes too. I've also began my research on Linda- character development- and the time period in Liverpool, what it was like, how society was, what the social status' were... etc etc. By doing this research, it will really develop my understanding of the play as a whole, especially helping me understand the reasons for Lindas actions and words throughout. What I need to do next is keep on learning my lines and then go through to analyse each and every word. Why it was said. Who is it addressing. What impact does it have. Objectives, intentions, obstacles, stakes, etc. All deepening my knowledge and helping me progress. I want to soon begin my research on Willy Russel as well, the writer of the show, who also lived in Liverpool and written this play original for school halls back in the 1980's. 

10/05/22

Today in rehearsals, we all brainstormed lots of ideas for the opening scenes and how it should be portrayed on stage. We came to the conclusion at this stage in the process, that the narrator begins his monologue with the two dead brothers already on stage dead, along with their parents, Linda and nearby onlookers. Then the lights become bright and The Mother begins her song. We have gone onto more detail on the sheet however. We also just got it on its feet, began blocking it and creating some movement to help with the story. I love how it looks so far and can really begin to picture what it will be like fully put together with the music and lights etc. 

11/05/22

It was a very productive day today. We began today's lesson with devising a scene about our chosen researched superstition. Our group chose to perform a scene on the superstition on "666". Today I learned about what everyone else had researched also, improving my knowledge on how these superstitions came around. This was important and links massively to Blood Brothers because Superstition is a main theme threaded throughout the whole show. Beginning with Mrs J talking about the shoes on the table, then linking to Mrs L creating that superstitious lie about if the two twins were to find out about being twins, then they both shall die. This actually does happen in the end, so it turns out this superstition is strong and determines fate in this play. I will research more about why it was so strongly believed and trusted to be true back in that time period, how its still sometimes believed now, though less common, etc etc.  

Afterwards, we ran through the final scene, making adjustments throughout to the blocking, as this final blocking will link back to the beginning of the play, due to it being a circular narrative. I made notes n my script for each movement I should do as Linda to help remind me moving forward. 

I stayed back today also. I rehearsed a couple of scenes with Jo, playing Mickey. One of them being the first teenager scene. We sat down and learnt it together, then got up and made a pretty good start to the blocking of it and where we want to go with it. After running this and getting Kelly's input, we began on the intense scene of Mickey and Linda arguing about Eddie, written further on in the play. We read through it many times, memorising the lines. Now what I will do to help myself improve is to keep continuing to learn my lines gradually so then we can put the scenes on their feet quicker and actually be able to put the script down and block it. Today I feel a weight has been lifted for me with how productive I've been. I feel I am were I should be right now in the process of this show and just need to keep ahead and carrying on so I wont fall behind in any way.  

16/05/22

Today we began working through Act 2 with all casts. I wasn't in any of the scenes that we running so I worked on analysing and learning my script. I made notes on this act and just added reasoning behind everything I say and do. Everyone was really working hard today and I enjoyed watching the diversity in all three casts performing the same scenes. I took some pictures during rehearsal. Today I learnt from some of Kelly's notes about mannerisms and how important they are, especially in the 7 year old kids scenes. Also to play these scenes for the laughs- go big and if we need to we can always bring it back. I think its a really good way of making this purposely and easily humorous; I think the audience will enjoy watching it even more with us going full out, going after the obvious laughs. I stayed back after rehearsals and rehearsed some more. I went through the scenes with Eddie, which I'm yet to properly learn so this is something I need to work on next, and we just talked bit about what we want to do. I also practiced some of the songs that will be in the Willy Russel Showcase because I don't fully know them all yet. So, lots of work done today and lots more to get on with!

18/05/22

We began today with carrying on from where we left off on Monday, running scenes, from Act 1 scene 4, Linda's first appearance. Kelly gave feedback to all casts- mainly being to show more mannerisms of a seven year old and how they would act, what habits they have picked up and the energy they give off. I will take this feedback on board and hopefully make improvements on it myself before we next perform it as a cast. We worked out all the stage blockings today for the first time, Jo and I decided to come onstage playing a game of "Cowboys and Indians" - linking to the theme of violence that is threaded throughout the play and also with it being their favourite game to play, being young. We found ways to add movement and gestures in areas that we very static. I want Linda to be full of life and energy- this will contrast more nearer the end of the play, when she comes across as defeated and lifeless. After running this scene, we moved onto the next scene, the air pistol scene. For this, it was my first time running it with the cast and then we showed it back to Kelly to get notes and see her overall thoughts. During this, we added in some simple, non-scripted actions to really add on the humour of the play. I wanted to make the simplest of lines in this scene effective and humorous so hopefully, it will be projected the way I want it to. With these two scenes we ran today, that's all of my scenes being seven. I am off script now for these so found todays rehearsal much better, in terms of not having to read off the script and I was able to actually be committed and present. After rehearsals, I came back to rehearse extra for the Willy Russel showcase. I ran "Stags and Hens" with Emily and Tamara directing, then took part in singing rehearsals with Tom. He helped us block and stage the song, "Tell me it's not true", and I must say it's looking so much better. We have also now added in harmonies, which sounds so much more precise and thought out. When I had finished all of these, I went to take photos with Daniel for Tom's end of year film. We got multiple photos in different locations. Overall, today has been a pretty productive day. I also created a mood board for Linda's costumes and learnt a couple of new scenes that I didn't know before today. All good progress...

23/05/22

In today's rehearsals, we ran act 3. Linda is fourteen in this scene and shows very flirty mannerisms. I have rehearsed this scene in my own time with Jo to plan movements and we found way we could build on the awkward humour that's already written in other ways. My opinion on this scene is that I feel we have it down and now there's just the next steps of drilling it and allowing pauses in the scene to be dragged on, without being afraid to really play on it. In the meantime of everyone else rehearsing, I went through and finished analysing the whole of Blood Brothers script; basically stating my thought process of the character, stage directions, parts I've added, intentions, emotions, stakes, objectives, obstacles etc etc. I am roughly off script for the full thing now, so just need to go over that more and more by pulling aside anybody in my scenes to go through it and have a rough idea of how it should be so when we come together and show it back to Kelly its got the basics down and saves so much more time. My next steps for this week are: get on top of my written assignment with anything else that needs finishing, rehearse more scenes with Eddie because those have been neglected compared with Mickey's scenes, learn lines for "Stags and Hens", some more research on the accent, time era and location of the play to document on my blog, listen to the songs that will be in the Willy Russel showcase. This will keep me on top of everything. So far, I've always tried to fill in my spare time with doing this work so I'm hoping everything is okay and I am currently doing enough. Each lesson, I am enjoying watching everybody's characters develop and scenes become more stronger, helping me learn myself from others' work. 

24/05/22

Today off-stead was in so everyone were on their very best behaviour, not like we aren't normally though. I began lessons with marking off on a sheet of paper which scenes of mine in my opinion need the most work. I marked scenes more towards the end of play that I haven't ran through properly yet. Then I made some more notes on my script when watching other casts rehearse Act 4. This scene begins with a carnival-like atmosphere so we blocked this to make it feel vibrant, fun and fresh. This one scene is supposed to be the happiest time of their lives, carefree and all three characters on the same page in life, having a really strong bond. After practising this scenes, a small group of us had a chat with the off-stead guests about college life. Then I got pulled out to talk more in detail about the work I'm doing, what I enjoy and what college is like for me as an individual. Afterwards I rehearsed the Willy Russell show with everyone involved and then went out to shoot the rest of Freya's and Casey's film, which went really well. Overall, today has been very busy and productive. When I wasn't doing anything, I made an effort to get some cast together to run through scenes which I've never done before. 

25/05/22

I have learnt a lot today. Tom has been in to teach us and direct rehearsals. So the day began with us blocking the Marilyn Monroe scene and cleaning it all up, so now its looking so much better than before. We also added in the ensemble to the theme park scene later on in the script. I rehearsed in my free time with Jo the duologue between Linda and Mickey later on, argument scene. Tom kindly helped us create movement in this scene and what I've learnt from Tom's notes for this scene is: move freely as long as your not facing downstage when talking (stagecraft), use more lower tones in this scene to create range and keep up the supported volume, how to stage slap realistically- in case we want to add that in the scene. After lunch, Tom had a lesson prepared for us about supporting our voice and this was really really useful for me, acting on stage as a whole. It will benefit me so much in Blood Brothers to anchor my voice and use this support to reach higher volume with no strain on the vocal chords. I have learnt some new warm up techniques to use before any performance to get me physically and mentally prepared. All of this new technique and advice will go into every rehearsal moving forwards for me. I put what Tom had taught us into use afterwards in one of the scenes between Mickey and Linda; the scene feeling so much better now being taught everything from today. 

07/06/22

We were in the theatre today and we managed to run through all of cast 1 from beginning to end. I’ve been able to watch and absorb new directions given and I can now use them in my rehearsals tomorrow. I’m at a place now where I am excited but really nervous; mainly because I’m eager to run through and perfect scenes with my cast to make sure I know blocking, entries and exits places, order of scenes etc. Mainly putting the whole thing together without starting and stopping to settle my mind with how confident I am with this show. I am so excited to have a crack at rehearsals tomorrow though and think it will be a huge weight lifted off my shoulders to have this time with everyone in the room together :) Each cast has their differences so that’s so exciting to watch how everyone plays the same parts so diversely.