# data[].attributes.body
Carol and Brenda have one moment when they are getting along , after that one moment they go back to being bitter to each other , this is shown through our space between each other and also the tone in which we are speaking to each other . I went from shouting ‘pissing young git’ to Carol to making sure she has eaten. Despite Brenda’s efforts , it is clear that Carol does not want anything to do with her . She is keeping her distance , even when Brenda does get the slightest bit close to her , they end up being in each other faces and yelling at each other. It is clear from our facial expressions and body language that we are uncomfortable around each other . One note that I consistently received was to keep the energy up. It would be very difficult to consistently be yelling , but it was vital that both characters were consistently shouting at one another in order to portray the hatred in the relationship. I am also the character starting and ending the scene so it was vital that my energy did not drop and my characters emotions were consistent through out the scene. Status was an important thing to remember and to keep my status consistent was also vital as the power of roles is reversed and it is vital to make it clear to the audience that although I am the mother and should have the highest of authority , my daughter is in fact the one who holds authority. This can be portrayed between the difference of how we both move around the space. Practicing how to walk and interact with other characters based on a specific status is also something we would explore during rehearsals to better grasp how our characters behaviours would change when different status is applied.

Whilst in my scene with Carol , my body language is quite slouched to show how belittled I feel by my daughter , on the other hand , during my scene with Scullery , I am stood up straight , even when he does try to make me feel inferior. Applying different circumstances to be able to apply a certain status to your character depending on the circumstance was a vital practice during rehearsals. With working with status in prior projects , I had a clear understanding on how I could implement the way I move around the stage space , and any other physical aspects along with vocal aspects to portray the right status of my character. I felt that I related to my character and so was able to keep her consistent , However one thing that needed improvement through out rehearsals was walking on and off stage with the same energy and also keeping the energy as well as other aspects of my acting consistent.

Another thing that I worked on a lot was using the stage space. When I had first started rehearsing the scene with 'Carol' , I was practically glued to the chair and did not know when I could implement movement into the scene nor what movement I could be implementing. Once we had gone through the scene numerous times and I began to become comfortable with the piece , I began to look at parts of the scene where it would be most appropriate for me to be sat and parts of the scene of which it would be most appropriate for me to start moving around the space. Once this was noted , I had decided that it would only be appropriate for me to stand and move in a few instances and that I would majorly be sat in the chair to emphasise how inferior I am compared to Carol and me constantly walking around the space would not make sense. It made perfect sense for me to stand when even a slight interaction was being to a member of the audience or when there would be a change in me and Carol's behaviour. For example , when there are moments we are being extremely aggressive towards each other , I would get up from my seat rapidly , or when we are behaving slightly calmer with each other , I would take a seat ; showing the audience that both characters do have laid back moments , despite all the hectic moment they have together.

# data[].attributes.body
Like a lot of the characters in the play , Brenda is also dysfunctional and often deals with her struggles by drinking or sleeping around with men. As she is one of the older characters in the play , she can be shown to be the one leading this endless cycle of alcoholism and sleeping around to shy away from the struggles of life. Brenda is a lonely woman and finds it difficult to get along with people as she is seen as a money seeking woman. When someone brings up how vulnerable she has become , she uses it to her advantage to ask for money. This is shown with both her scene with her daughter Carol and Scullery whom she was in a romantic pairing with. As much as she craves money , Brenda also craves attention , this can be due to her rough past with men or her rough homelife with her daughter. Despite her prior success, Brenda had gone down hill due to the changes Thatcher had made to the economy and the country's policies . Brenda is the perfect example as to how rapidly people's lives had been impacted due to these changes during the 80's.

Just like herself , Brenda's relationships are also dysfunctional. We are exposed to her and her daughter's relationship during the second scene. Brenda and her daughter do not get along well and it seems as though , with this specific relationship , roles have been reversed. Just like the scene prior with Louise and her brother , Brenda and Carol also tease each other , just as those two siblings do , However , with Brenda and Carol , it comes across far more cruel and intentional. Carol is clearly not proud of what her mother has become and uses this to her advantage by constantly belittling her and this way showing her authority over her mother , this links back to the role reversal of power between the characters. Carol believes her status to be much higher than her mothers and despite Brenda's efforts of trying to be a part of Carol's life , Carol is insistent to believe that her mother is only in her life to use her for money.

Another relationship that is explored with my character is her romantic relationship with Scullery. Scullery is seen to be the only guy that Brenda has had something 'real' with rather than someone she had just slept with. However , just like everything else in her life , her relationship with Scullery had also gone down hill. In the scene we are shown Scullery attempting to seduce Brenda , yet she is completely arrogant and just wants money from him. She mentions the past to attempt to manipulate him , when this attempt does not work, she attempts to guilt trip him into believing that she really does love him , before asking for a fiver , in which he responds with 'flee queen'. The audience is shown that those around Brenda have abandoned her due to her gold digging and selfish nature. She is often also blanketed as misunderstood , and holds the glue to the play as she is part of the older generation and one of those who began the cycle.

# data[].attributes.body
The play being based in Lancashire had meant that we had to repetitively work on the accent to ensure that we were using the accent consistently during our scenes. This was a challenge to overcome , as we had not worked on a piece of which we have had to put on an accent. In order to overcome this challenge , we would do vocal warm ups during each rehearsal and at first we would practice repeating words in a northern accent and once grasped , we would work on phrases and apply tone and volume to these phrases , whilst keeping the accent consistent. Making sure we were not changing accents throughout the scene was also a challenge and in this case repetition was extremely useful , to ensure the consistency. The repetition of these vocal warm ups was useful in helping me keep my accent and all other vocal aspects such as : my emotion in voice , my tone of voice and volume consistent through out my scenes.

# data[].attributes.body
Road is the first play Cartwright has written and produced in 1986. The play mainly explores the themes of poverty and unemployment during the period of Margaret Thatcher's government. Road is based in Lancashire. The play highlights the lives of those in the north of England who were highly deprived during this period.

The play was known to be extremely effective in showing how desperate people were during this time. How does Margaret Thatcher link into this play and most importantly who is she ?

Margaret Hilda Thatcher was the Prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She was the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom. As soon as Thatcher became in charge , she implemented major changes to the economy and put through policies in her own favour. These policies later became known as 'Thatcherism'.

Thatcher's political views and economic policies enforced the deregulation of the financial sector. This had meant that state - owned companies would be privatised and the power that the trade union once held was taken by the hands of Thatcher. This then led to protests being held. Miners wanted to be heard and wanted their rights back , hence the cause of 'Coal Not Dole'.

'Coal Not Dole' : The Miners' Strike
(Definition from Microsoft Bing)
There , where state industries were sold off by Baroness Thatcher, the newly unemployed were declared "redundant". The "redundancy" of union coal workers in northern England's Yorkshire spawned much protest and the slogan 'Coal Not Dole' ("the dole" meaning welfare)

How does Thatcher play a factor in Cartwright's play Road ? :
Unlike a lot of other plays performed, Road does not have a set structure (a beginning , middle and an ending) Despite the plays cyclical structure (The play beginning with Scullery introducing the audience to the road and the play also closing off with Scullery assuring the audience that they are welcome to come again) The audience only gets the chance to see a trailer of each and every characters' story. However, they get to grasp an idea of how manic each and every persons' life was , during the government of Margaret Thatcher. The narrator (Scullery) 'walks' the audience through each character's life and as he peeps through each door and the audience watches the conversations that go on in these homes , the audience gets an insight of the struggles during that time period and this is best portrayed through the explicit nature of the play. Certain messages have to be delivered in certain mannerisms for the right message to be perceived.

The overall subject matter of the play is the desire to break free from the "economic ladder" during the Margaret Thatcher government. The economic ladder is too high for any of the characters to climb and the obstacle is too much for them to over come ; therefore they continue to fool themselves with delusions , with hope that they may eventually break free from the choke hold of the government. All the characters perceive individually the obstacles they aim to overcome and show that hope is not lost ; hence the scene prior to the final scene , the whole cast come together to deliver 'somehow - somehow i might escape' numerous times ; this portrays the amount of hope each character has got , and portrays the message of hope to the audience through the aspect of group struggle.

# data[].attributes.body
This  is my own work. Any sources I have used have been appropriately acknowledged. I understand that work copied from other sources and presented as my own will not be accepted.

# data[].attributes.body
WHAT WENT WELL WITH THE PERFORMANCE ? :

-We all listened in for our cues and came on and off stage on time - ensured no scenes were missed.

-Improvisation  was used well when lines were forgotten

- Puns were delivered and expressed well

- Good articulation - ensured the audience heard and understood every word an actor delivered

-Volume and projection and the accent was consistent

IF PERFORMED AGAIN WHAT WOULD YOU IMPROVE ON ? :

- Interacting with the audience more
- Walking on and off stage in character
- Moving props on and off stage quicker
- The volume back stage (actors should be more wary of the audience , even if they are not on stage)
- Playing with the character more rather than restricting ourselves

From working on this unit , I was able to develop on my vocal skills further and work on my stage presence and develop my confidence on stage. I was also able to work on my singing , which was something that I enjoyed working on during the process of this unit , as it was the first unit that I was able to apply another talent besides acting. Overall, I was able to deliver well as my character due to becoming some what resonated with her. I was also able to perform with confidence and substance. My accent was consistent through out scenes. However , if I was to perform 'Road' again , I would improve on my interaction with the audience , my posture and also make my status clearer to the audience , as at times it was not so clear that my daughter is the one who holds authority over me.