Shadow play: We experimented with shadow play
using tents and torches. The main things that worked were using the shadows to
enhance our storytelling experiences, using shadows to represent creatures/ scenarios
and also using them to set the mood. By using the shadows on the outside of the
tent while the story was being told on the inside was really effective because it
helped hold the audience’s attention and set the mood of the story for example
it could help the story feel warm and welcoming or dark and scary. Here is an
example of how shadow play can add atmosphere comedy and energy to a
storytelling performance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAQxNVQF_I0.
They incorporated sound and comedy within their shadow work where as we decided
to use it in a more serious way we did this by not involving comedic moments or
music but using dramatic music that suited and enhanced the storytelling. Shadow
Play is a short play by Noël Coward that uses shadow play but they use it differently
to how we have tried using it. When we performed it worked best when the audience
couldn’t see the puppeteers and it helped set a mood and kept the energy up but
in the show Shadow play they allowed the audience to see them the whole time. These
are two different ways of making the most out of shadows but through our
practice we found we got the best reaction when we used the shadows to enhance
and help the storyteller rather than overtake them as the main centre of attention.
Good Work jordan you inspire me
ReplyDeleteGood. Keep going with the analysis. How do you judge and measure something as 'working'? how do other companies do it? whose decision is it and how can we know if we are right until the audience see it? what theatre styles are at play in the personal stories and shadows? what is the style and what is the meaning of combining them?
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