# data[].attributes.body
Week 1

In Despina's class, we learned about motifs and how to create them. We explored different examples of movements, including physical theatre. Then, we got to create movements based on our childhood stories. It was really exciting for me because the last time I took a dance class was 15 years ago in school. This class was really helpful because it made me realize that I have the ability to dance and try different styles. It encouraged me to use my imagination and be more creative in my dancing.

For Tim’s class We selected the story of The Lion and the Mouse to create our own version.  My first college class was very exciting. I worked with Charlotte and Julie on this project l. we did a great job and got nice feedback.

I made research about devising and I found that According to the Kennedy Center, devising is “the process of collaboratively creating a new work without a pre-existing script wherein the collaborators are also the performers. In the standard theatre model, a single playwright writes the text and then a director casts actors and selects designers to interpret that text, resulting in a theatre production. With devised theatre, however, the collective artists begin without a script. A devised piece of theatre can literally start with anything: a painting, a song, a real-life event, a novel to adapt, etc.“

https://www.courttheatre.org/about/blog/what-is-devised-theatre/

After a few month of devising Cinderella I can say that it is very collaborative process. Everyone is contributing something because people have different abilities and talents it all can be used in devising. It is very important to hear others at this process and to be flexible also.

The simplest definition is given by John Walton in the article “Devised theatre: ten tips for a truly creative collaboration.” He states that devised theatre is “a process in which the whole creative team develops a show collaboratively. From actors to technicians, everyone is involved in the creative process.”

https://thetheatretimes.com/what-is-devised-theatre/

Nice and simple definition I like it

My commentary

One thing that I really enjoy about devising is that it has no limits. You can create anything any crazy ideas can have life and it is the beauty of devising that your imagination has no limits. It helps me very much with my filmmaking course. Sometimes while createing some scenes for my films I become limited because of lack of resources, actors, props but in devising there can't be limits

# data[].attributes.body
Our job was to pick a Grimm's fairy tale and create a dialogue. We could choose to make it a song, a rap, a monologue, or even a poem. I chose the story about a magic fish and worked on it with Sharlotte. It was a great experience being both the director and actor in our own play. I received positive feedback about my ability to use humor effectively.

The advice I received opened up a world of creative possibilities for me. I used to think that only directors with a lot of knowledge could create a play, but now I realize it's actually quite simple. All you need is your friends, your imagination, and the knowledge you already have. Making a play is straightforward, and you can get feedback right away.

Today I made research and discovered what skills and knowledge do I need to have to devise theatre:

2.Awareness of different theatrical styles

 Creation of a working script

 Completion of extensive research

 Group work and Collaboration

 Awareness and use of production elements

 Creation of convincing characters

 Use of physical techniques

 Use of vocal skills

 Development of a strong plot structure

 Effective use of stage space

 Blocking in, rehearsing and preparing a piece

of theatre.

 Evaluation and reflection

For me one of the most important skills in devising to have is collaboration. It is very important to work with others to listen to everyone perspective and give your own ideas being proactive.

# data[].attributes.body
In Despina's class, we made a dance for our chosen character. It helped me understand how my character moves and the different dances that we can potentially do. I found it helpful to see the movements of each character.

In Daren’s class , we were given different couples to work with for a project about Cinderella. Our task was to create potential scenes for the story. So, we made a short story about how Cinderella meets a character named Dj Wolf, who gives her tickets to the ball.

We learned how to interact with the audience better. We placed chairs on both sides to make it more engaging.

This week I made a research about what do other academics, journalists and teachers say about devising:

The simplest definition is given by John Walton in the article “Devised theatre: ten tips for a truly creative collaboration.” He states that devised theatre is “a process in which the whole creative team develops a show collaboratively. From actors to technicians, everyone is involved in the creative process.”

https://thetheatretimes.com/what-is-devised-theatre/

Nice and simple definition I like it

My commentary

One thing that I really enjoy about devising is that it has no limits. You can create anything any crazy ideas can have life and it is the beauty of devising that your imagination has no limits. It helps me very much with my filmmaking course. Sometimes while createing some scenes for my films I become limited because of lack of resources, actors, props but in devising there can't be limits

# data[].attributes.body
With Tim, we learned about our character's voice and explored the character in more depth. We did more planning to organize and schedule things. We also created a scene at the school with the stepsisters and mean girls. We also came up with a part involving the landlord. I really enjoyed playing this role because it was the opposite of my own nature. It was interesting to explore a different side of myself and be more assertive and angry, which is not something that comes naturally to me.

With Daren, our theme of the day was “power”  we played different games that helped us to understand this topic in depth. First We took turns creating characters who were more powerful than the previous ones. Then, we played a game where each player had a card that indicated their rank or power level. The cards ranged from lower to higher, and each player had to interact with other characters based on their card. The goal was to undersrandthe hierarchy of power through the actions and interactions of the characters. It was a fun and engaging way to explore different power dynamics and understand the relationships between the characters.

This week I made a research about Gecko theatre company.

Gecko Theatre company

Founded in 2001; Gecko is an award winning, internationally acclaimed physical theatre company, led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav.

With an expanding ensemble of international performers and makers, Gecko creates work through collaboration, experimentation and play. The company tours nationally and internationally, developing strong partnerships around the world.

Gemma Bodinetz, our Artistic Director, said: “Theatre, dance, magic, ambition… somewhere in the cocktail of these elements sits the splendour of a Gecko show. Relatively new to Liverpool, here as in other cities around the world this company are growing an audience for jaw-dropping theatre.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PQpxi7h_rc I really enjoyed this video. They are using so much phisicality so interesting choreography and movements

# data[].attributes.body
We talked about what the Cinderella story is about and what it means to us.

We made a list of the main scenes we discussed in previous sessions. We also started creating other scenes.

We had a fascinating session with Callie, who is a theater director. We wrote and talked about questions like how the story ends, what the message is, and what the comedy elements are. In the end, we discussed how we want the audience to feel.

I found it really fascinating to observe how an experienced director creates a play and the types of questions they ask their team. During the brainstorming process, we discussed the emotions we wanted to convey to the audience and what we wanted people to remember about our play. It was interesting to see how we collaborated and shared ideas to create something meaningful.

# data[].attributes.body
In Daren's class, we continued working on our potential dances. We split up into different groups and each group created their own dance piece. My team consisted of Sherazad, Rem, and myself. We chose a song by the Spice Girls called "I Wanna."
I wore some clothes to make it look like I had breasts, and people were laughing a lot.

I rediscovered my love for dancing and realized that I enjoy being silly and making people laugh. Although I've never choreographed a dance before, I shared some ideas this time and it felt great to see people using them. It brought me a sense of joy and satisfaction.

In Despina’s class We started working on the final performance of the play. We used the song "We Are Family" and created dance moves for it. Sherazad was doing choreography for this dance
Lastly, we talked about the idea of making some changes to the song, like cutting it a little or modifying the lyrics to make it fit better.

This week I made a research about Wooster group

2 Wooster group

he Wooster Group originated in 1975 with works composed by Spalding Gray and director Elizabeth LeCompte around Gray's personal history . Under the direction of Elizabeth LeCompte, the group has created over fifty innovative theater, film, and media pieces. These works challenge convention with their structural, technological, and visual experimentation.

For me was interesting to see their adaptations of classic work like for example in this video they make Hamlet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbHLsV5cBuI

# data[].attributes.body
We had a meeting with Tim to discuss our production. We talked about everyone's roles and responsibilities. We sat in a round table format.

I took on the role of handling sound and marketing.. I also have skills in photography and videos, which made me feel inspired and confident that I can contribute effectively in this role.

I was really intrigued to discover the variety of roles in theatre and the opportunity to try different ones. I had previous experience with sound in school plays, so I decided to take on that role again. It's exciting to explore different aspects of theatre and find my place in it.

Also Valeriia and myself were assigned the task of creating an opening scene for Cinderella

This week Inmade research about Frantic assembly

3 Frantic Assembly

One of the most studied theatre companies, Frantic have an inimitable style and have long delighted our audiences with their bold, collaborative and dynamic approach.

Their work reaches far beyond the stage, with education and community engagement playing a vital role in Frantic Assembly’s overall artistic vision, making theatre accessible to a broad range of young people and aspiring professionals.

The company run a vast network of workshops, residencies and talks both nationally and internationally and have established a reputation amongst teachers for providing education work of the highest quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux8F55Uo9y8 After watching this video I realised that we can also do some trailer for our Cinderella permormance

# data[].attributes.body
For Tim’s class we were trying to play the characters and improvise what they might say. It was very helpful for developing our characters. We were also trying to maintain a connection with the audience and be confident in our choices."

With Despina we worked on creating different dance routines. Valeriya was responsible for choreographing the opening dance scene.

Some people found it difficult to do complex dance moves, but I believe it is possible. I think  some people  can do simpler moves on the background. For example, I enjoy challenges, so I wanted to try a regular dance routine.

This week I made research about Complicite theatre company

4

Complicite

Complicité is a British theatre company founded in 1983 by Simon McBurney, Annabel Arden, Marcello Magni and Fiona Gordon. Its original name was Théâtre de Complicité. The company is based in London and uses extreme movement to represent their work, with surrealist imagery.[1] Its work has been influenced by Jacques Lecoq. The company produced their first performance in 1983. In 1985 they won the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[2][3] Their productions often involve technology such as projection and cameras, and cover serious themes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complicité

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mqTCoM3zd0

I think from all the theatre companies so far I liked this the most especially after watching their showreel. It's very very mindbending and its a lot of dance. I like it

# data[].attributes.body
This time we had  a script for our performance. We went through all the scenes and had a rough idea of what would happen in each one. Having a script made the structure of the performance much clearer.

After class, everyone was engaged in discussing the performance and sharing their ideas. We realized that it's not just the writers' responsibility to create the script, but all members can contribute because we each have a different character and we know our characters better. This way, we can add interesting moments, monologues and interactions between characters.

This week I made research about what is Cinderella story about and what its meaning.

Cinderella is a folk tale that is present in many forms with thousands of stories that feature a young person who is in tragic circumstances and living off the charity of others. Her fortune changes as she attracts the attention of a nobleman, who must search in some way to find out her identity. When found, Cinderella becomes the spouse of royalty, while her family member get their reward for cruelty. Often there is a presence of magical items or beings to help Cinderella gain her fortune.

https://abilenetx.gov/1013/History-of-Cinderella#:~:text=Cinderella%20is%20a%20folk%20tale,to%20find%20out%20her%20identity.

Personally for me Cinderella is a story of hope

# data[].attributes.body
Week 10

This week, our main focus was on devising and we spent a lot of time working together with Valeria to develop the opening scene.

This week, we encountered a problem when some of our team members couldn't always be there for their assigned roles. We had to think fast and found a solution by having people take on multiple roles.

This week I made a research about different versions of Cinderella around the world

Little Saddleslut

The Greek version of Cinderella, Little Saddleslut begins with a ghastly start as Cinderella’s sisters kill her mother to dine on her flesh. Cinderella refuses to join in on the macabre meal and buries her mother’s bones. She smokes the bones with incense for 40 days, after which she finds a treasure of garments and coins in the bones’ place. She visits the church, flinging money about, and on one visit, she sees the prince. The prince wants to make her his wife, and uses her forgotten shoe to find her.

The Brothers Grimm also have a popular, yet more gruesome, version of Cinderella. The Grimms’ Cinderella, Aschenputtel, features the motherless heroine go from beloved daughter to hated servant when her father takes a new bride. Her father asks what he can bring one day back from the fair, and the two stepdaughters ask for riches, but Aschenputtel only asks for the first branch that knocks her father’s hat. She plants the branch near her mother’s grave, where she weeps so much that a tree grows in the spot. From the tree comes a little white bird who throws down whatever she wishes. The little bird and his friends help her do her chores, and even give her a magnificent dress for the ball. The rest of the Grimms’ Cinderella follows the same pattern as most Cinderella stories, with the prince looking for the maiden who left her slipper – in this story, the slipper is golden, and the stepsisters result to drastic measures to get the slipper to fit.

Katie Woodencloak is sometimes referred to as Katie Woodengown. It’s a Norwegian Cinderella tale gathered by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in Norske Folkeeventyr, also known as Popular Tales from the Norse. Here the Cinderella character, Katie, befriends a dun bull who helps Katie find food and survive her stepmother’s maltreatment. The stepmother plans to kill the dun bull once she realizes the animal helps the girl, but the duo get away. She goes to work in a palace, wearing a wooden cloak the bull gives her, and eventually meets the prince. She teases him and refuses to tell him where she comes from, but he eventually gets her golden shoe. A quest in the kingdom lets him find the maiden whose foot will fit the shoe.

I was surprised to see that many stories of Cinderella around the world is really dark. But darksness is a big part of our life, how can we deny its existence and it;s place in the universe

https://fairytalez.com/blog/cinderella-international-versions/

# data[].attributes.body
Week 11

This week, we practiced our Cinderella project over and over again without using scripts. It was a bit challenging, but also very exciting because we finally got the whole picture of the performance. I spent a lot of time this week focusing on learning my lines and remembering when it was my turn to speak or perform.

The week I made a research about what is the main plot and characters in Cinderella story:

Cinderella is a folk tale that is present in many forms with thousands of stories that feature a young person who is in tragic circumstances and living off the charity of others. Her fortune changes as she attracts the attention of a nobleman, who must search in some way to find out her identity. When found, Cinderella becomes the spouse of royalty, while her family member get their reward for cruelty. Often there is a presence of magical items or beings to help Cinderella gain her fortune.

https://abilenetx.gov/1013/History-of-Cinderella#:~:text=Cinderella%20is%20a%20folk%20tale,to%20find%20out%20her%20identity.

Personally for me Cinderella is a story of hope and karma.

# data[].attributes.body
Week 12

We had our first performances at school, which was a new experience for me. It was exciting to perform on stage in front of a large audience. After the first show, we received feedback from Tim and made improvements for the second show. It was great to see how we could interact with the audience and they responded positively. I tried to use all the skills I've learned so far to make the performance better.

# data[].attributes.body
Week 13

We attended multiple rehearsals one after another. We were working on making the show more dynamic and engaging by using more energy. I also received personal feedback from Lily, who advised me to use more projection. This feedback helped me understand my characters and motivation better.

Something really interesting happened the day before our show. One of our team members got very sick, so we had to make some adjustments. Some member from our group had to quickly change their roles and play different characters. It was an amazing experience to see how we could solve problems and make changes in a short amount of time. Additionally, one of our crew members got injured just night before the performance , which made things even more challenging. However, with the help of our tutors and good teamwork, we managed to overcome these obstacles and continue with the show.