I've been thinking a lot about when Vanessa asked me what would I like to do next year, in terms of shows. I didn't really have a proper answer, but as time has gone on I've been thinking about doing something completely different. I have been trying to find scripts, books and films that might give us some ideas for a show but this is what I've come up with:
1 - A fun, sexy, comedy play based around the 1920's (I was verrrryyyy inspired by The Great Gatsby last week) which could combine acting, music and dance to show off all our unique talents (we could even add in juggling/magic tricks into the mix). Even thou I see it as a comedy play you could turn it on it's head - so it could be about someone who is madly in debt because he/she is an alcoholic and gambles away everything they own and their 'lover' tries to help them get their life back on track. It could also be a combination of The Great Gatsby, Guys & Dolls (by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows) with Bugsy Malone - cheeky chappy, elegant but fun girls mixed with booze and money. (Stanislavski acting)
2 - A war story that is created and combined by several stories that come together - they all interlink (there is a play that does this - can't remember what it's called - Heroes TV show does thou). I came up with this idea from watching "Private Ryan" and reading "Private Peaceful" by Michael Morpurgo as their stories are incredibly gripping, hard hitting but heart warming at the same time. From watching 'Brave on Reflection" I thought the reading of the letter as an audio worked really well and I think it would be very powerful, emotional and effective to do the same thing - how the brother writes to the girl back home while sitting in the trenches (split stage maybe). (Stanislavski & Artuad acting styles combined).
(Beautiful book about war, memory, power and love - also be great to act this out)
http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/sea-and-land-and-sky-9781408140550/
The reason why I have come up with these ideas is that I personally have never done a 'older', historical show before - yes I've done a few but nothing like these. I totally and utterly adore comedic plays but I thought, why not push myself and to try something different - out of the blue. I wanted to put this up to see what you think. I'm sure there will be loads more ideas for shows as time goes on from all of us.
Thanks
P.S - I hope this blog post made sense…? It's alright saying it but writing it is harder.
Love these ideas Anna. I think it would be really fun to play around with some or of these ideas to make a show too. Something a little different!.
ReplyDeletei have two ideas i like your idea about combining stories together so i was thinking individual or small group performances set up around the college in a promenade style performance like have a scene in a studio or in the lift or in some of the storage containers that link into one bigger performance or we could do a play titled THE RETURN OF WIGLAFF! which would be about this awesome fella called Wiglaff...
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea Jordan - but I thought you were doing Wiglaff the musical?!?
ReplyDeleteSorry I forgot to put my ideas/inspiration behind these. I was inspired by of course The Great Gatsby and Private Peaceful, but also the Jersey Boys which I was in London with Charlotte because of the accent, simple staging, whole new different era as well as different people telling the story from their own personal experience. On Wednesday when we were practising our movement piece in Ivybrook all us girls were listing to Chicago - and watching them get their teeth stuck in to the movement, accents and acting made me think that, that type of show would fit us perfectly. I just thought it would be a good idea to share our ideas on the blog and see what everyone thinks/feels or could contribute to the show.
I hope this makes sense - its very hard to describe using words instead of actions.