Drama, Ignore It 2. In what ways was the stimulus material developed through the Drama process? THEATRE IN EDUCATION ORIGINAL TEENAGE WRITTEN POEM: When you are sad i will dry your tears when you are scared i will ease your fears when you are worried i will give you hope if you want to give up i'll help you cope when you're lost and cant see the light i'll be your beacon shining so bright this i my oath that i pledge to the end why you may ask? because you're my best friend (eventually relating to Abigail, as she is Alice and Dave's dearest friend who sticks by them throughout the piece) IMPROVISED SCENE WORKSHOPS FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS 11-14 Year Olds: Homosexuality Schoolgirl who finds her female teacher attractive, doesn’t want to speak out Seeks guidance from councillor who tells her it’s natural and that it will pass in time most likely Girl becomes more comfortable and eventually feelings for her teacher pass, educating audience on how not all attractions are sexual, especially towards the same sex - In the final performance a school relationship becomes the key part with Stacey and Matt telling the others that they first met at school and had an affair back then TARGET AUDIENCE AND WHAT STORIES THEY LIKE 11-14 Year Olds: Internet Rock/R 'n B music Opposite sex---- Matt and Stacey had a teacher/student affair before all the events in the play happened Parties---- Molly wants to go to a party, but because her Dad won't let her she spills the beans about him and Stacey in front of Alice Soaps Films Games consoles Mobile phones---- Mobiles are used in key moments of the piece. During set changes there are OHP visuals of text messages between Matt and Stacey, Sam and Molly find a text on Matt's phone from Stacey and Matt tries to ring Stacey on hers during the restaraunt scene between her and Dave, which Dave picks up and Matt reveals all to him without him knowing it's Dave. Mobiles in this piece cause a lot of conflict, showing how they can destroy families and lifes through a simple call or text being seen by someone who shouldn't see it. Make-up (for girls)---- Molly has make-up in her room, which Sam tries to steal and use because she won't let him go to the party she's going to, which leads up to the whole Matt and Stacey revelation being revealed to Alice. Fashion Fantasy Comedies Futuristic True Stories---- The affair Matt and Stacey had had back in school is a common media scandal in today's society Adventures Horrors/Thrillers Family---- The piece looks at the family of Matt's, and how there lives fall apart because of Stacey and Matt finding each other again 1. How did your role emerge and how was it communicated? DAVE ROLE-ON-THE-WALL We sat down all together as a class and created these role-on-the-walls for our own characters to create and develop their emotions and actions further. After going through many different names we stuck with Dave for my character, as it sounded like a very uncle-like name, unlike names such as Jason and Gavin. He is an important part of the plot in that he is going out with Stacey, who his brother-in-law had a fling with years ago when she was a student. We decided this because we felt this would add even more of a dramatic effect to the already shocking plotline, and would also mean that both Dave and his sister Alice would be hurt, causing even more of a scandal. Each character had a set role: Matt- Father of family, lover of Stacey- Decided because we felt that if the father figure was the cause of the break-down it would have more of a devastating effect on the family, with the provider of the family turning against the rest of them Alice- Mother of family- Her character was made as a victim of the affair, and the general hold-together of the family. Without her Matt wouldn't really be too concerned by the return of Stacey and his feelings for her, as he still loves his wife Samuel- Son/Nephew- The role of the naive son, who has no idea of this happening until he senses the suspicion showing from Mollie. Mollie- Daughter/Niece- Mollie's character is the one who first discovers the affair between Matt and Stacey and eventually is the one who lets slip about it, so becomes the most important role of the performance. Stacey- Girlfriend of Dave, lover of Matt- Her character was in place as the destroyer of the family, and the centre of all the scandal. Made Dave's girlfriend so that we had a good reason Dave- Brother of Alice, Uncle of kids, Boyfriend of Stacey- Created as Stacey's boyfriend to heighten the dramatic effect of the eventual discovery. Also made as the brother of Alice to have a link into the family and Abigail- Friend of the family From these and the role-on-the-walls we developed our character further through such devices as hot seating and monologues: DAVE'S MONOLOGUE: She's brilliant. Simply put. The first woman EVER to like me, for me! (shows that Dave's previous relationships have not gone according to plan) Stacey....just the name lights me up at the moment. Finally I have someone. Finally I have someone to bring round to family dinner with my head held high. Finally, I have someone to show to my parents and say "Ha! I'm not a loser!". (bitterness towards his parents and finally something to show them after the apparant years of failure) Because that's all they see me as. A loser. A failure. Just because I'm not as perfect and great as my sister Alice. I mean, it's not her fault, she is great. (despite being envious of Alice he still loves and respects his sister and the life she has led) And her kids! Samuel, Mollie, both cracking kids. I could never see myself as a father figure....no, I like being 'fun uncle Dave'. (May have been hurt so much by past relationships that he doesn't feel confident enough to become a father) But hey, if Stacey wants kids, I won't object. Her looks, my work ethic, top quality! Simply put, she's brilliant CHARACTER RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT Dave and Stacey: First meet at speed dating, flashback Had to think of a way that these two shy characters could meet up and get to know each other better Stacey dragged to speed dating by friends Dave coaxed into it by work colleagues Is terribly ‘to himself’ during the speed dating, unlike his workmates who don’t appeal to the other ladies, including Stacey Dave and Stacey meet and discover they have quite a bit in common with each other and hit it off Initially we were going to have Dave and Stacey as a married couple, but decided that due to the eventual time of the piece we would just make it boyfriend and girlfriend and that Dave was going to propose to her before all the tragic events Dave and Alice: Brother and sister, as mentioned in Dave's monologue Alice seen as a success to their parents, whereas Dave is seen as a disappointment because of his lack of success in his life Dave secretly bitter towards Alice, as mentioned in Dave's monologue 3. How did group skills contribute to the development of the Drama? Group Member Role How it came out Chloe Kennedy Director Scenes such as the Mollie tells Sam scene, Speed dating and Family Christmas were directed by her, which were all used in the final performance Lee Roberts Prop keeper Props such as the restaraunt menus, the mobile phone and the mugs were either made or brought by Lee, which added to the realism of the final performance Ashley Falla Comic relief As well as having the funniest part in the final performance, Ashley's humour during rehearsals kept up the group's spirits during heated discussions Jenny Scott Idea-maker Many of Jenny's ideas, such as the prologue at the start of the piece and using songs in the piece to express mood were highlighted in the final performance as key moments Rhiannon Stubbs Peace-keeper During moments of argument and shouting in rehearsals Rhiannon would calm the group down and remind us that what we were argueing about could easily be resolved Dani Morgan Debater If Dani had an idea, she would stick by it strongly, backing it up with intelligent reasons why the idea should happen/stick Mark Hanson Technical help I cut the songs that were eventually used in the final performance to certains lengths and parts which meant something to the event that had just happened in the piece, then put them onto the final CD As a group, we brainstormed various key moments and happenings to use in the final piece, which not only bought out the best ideas from the group's members, but also helped us avoid unnecessary arguement that would have otherwise wasted rehearsal time, such as: My idea of using a text message to show this scene was eventually used, because this was the most modern way of going about it from the chosen ideas, and also it was the most subtle idea. Walking in on them would have been too obvious and wouldn't have left Sam with any sort of doubt at all, the same with over-hearing them. 10. Indicate how the influences and ideas of other playwrights and/or designers helped STANISLAVSKI (1863-1938) 9. Explore the impact of social, cultural and/or historical conditions on the work. Contemporary music used within the performance: The Aliens- The Happy Song: Used at the start of the Normal family home scene with Sam dancing to it, expressing his child-like behaviour and love for all things happy and cool Joss Stone- Fell In Love With A Boy: Used during a set change just after the Family dinner scene where Matt and Stacey see each other again for the first time since their affair years ago. The song title itself relates to Stacey's feelings for Matt after all these years, and relating to what happened all those years ago. Ray LaMontagne- Trouble: Used after Dave's monologue. The line 'I've been saved by a woman' repeats, and really relates to Dave's life being 'saved' by meeting Stacey, which works well after his monologue about how his life seems to be over-shadowed by his sister Alice and how their parents think better of her than him. Natalie Imbruglia- Torn: Used after the scene where Abigail takes the kids away. In the scene Matt's life is completely taken from him- wife and kids have now all left him. 'Torn' is used to describe Matt's feelings and emotions after all of this has happened, and how he is literally 'torn' between Alice and Stacey. Current affairs show that teacher/student affairs are domination the headlines in the newspapers in today's modern society, and so this story's background information ties in with the current media focus that many of us read in the papers on a weekly basis. And not just in the newspapers. TV and film has also cashed in on this hot topic, portraying these affairs in their own different ways: NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006, Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench): A pottery teacher (Blanchett) enters into an affair with one of her students, causing upheaval in her personal and professional lives. This teacher figure can relate to the character of Matt in our performance, being involved in a scandal with one of his ex-students.
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