Workshop 2

We began this session by doing a few warm up exercises. There were more new people and some people had not returned so we re introduced ourselves as well. We started off with a game called atoms. This is where everyone walks around the space and the leader calls out a number and you get into groups of that size. Once in those groups you are instructed to make a certain shape or object using your bodies for example, a washing machine. This game forces the groups to mix, possibly with people they may no know or feel comfortable with. It then  makes you work with them. I think this exercise worked well for this group because its very fast moving. You quickly pick people, make an object and move on. It didn't allow for people to build up a wall of who they didn't or did want to work with or of the kind of work they wanted to do, everyone just  got on with it. It seemed to me like everyone was working well as a team and enjoying this game. 

We then played a game called Shark. This is where everyone puts a piece of A3 paper down on the floor and at the beginning stands on it. One person is selected to be the shark. Everyone begins moving around the space and when the Shark shouts 'Shark' you have to run to your nearest piece of paper before the shark catches you. As the game progresses the shark removes pieces of paper and makes them smaller so you have to try and balance with more than one person on a piece of paper. We chose one of the boys from the turn around centre  to be the Shark. I think this helped as a way of making it feel like we were all on the same level, not just us running games for them to do. This is helpful because at the end of the project we want to have created work together not made them create something they didn't feel was theirs. This game was fun and built the energy in the group. I could feel people getting more comfortable again and allowing themselves to join in and enjoy themselves. 

We then played a Caterpillar game. We got into groups and got chairs and the aim was to get from one side of the room to other standing on the chairs the whole time. This game required team work and focus. Seeing as there was one less chair to people you would have to balance on a chair with another group member at some points. This was another way of building trust between group members and allowing yourself to be comfortable being physically close to other people, which is often difficult. The game was difficult at times and people lost balance and fell off chairs and towards the end we even had some cheating. However, it was all light hearted and good fun, and nobody was too upset with anyone. All the games we have been doing are about enjoying ourselves, getting comfortable with each other and getting to know one another not about winning. 

We wanted to begin some drama work with the group. We thought a good way to get them comfortable with this element of performance would be to do some improvisation games. We started by getting everyone to write down a location and an opening line on two separate pieces of paper. We then got into pairs and someone chose a location and an opening line at random and we would take two minutes in pairs to improvise a scene using those as a stimulus. We then quickly went around every group and shared a snippet of what we came up with. Some members of our client group were more enthusiastic and seemed more confident in improvising. It felt as though a lot of the partners were powered more by the brit students and some of the turn around members seems uncomfortable with it. However, many of them seemed to have a natural ability in performing and improvising and that was really great to see. As well as that some of them who weren't naturally comfortable with it did try their best and I felt were starting to realize performing it front of each other isn't as scary as it seems. 

After this we began work on scripts. We had chosen a few sections from plays we thought they might be interested in working in. We were asked whether we would like to perform or to direct. Many of the client group opted to direct. After we began working with them I felt like this came from a lack of confidence or interest in performing as opposed to wanting to direct. We worked on a script from Mad About The Boy. In the end our director performed with us. This felt like we were making progress as before he did not want to perform but in the end he tried it and did really well. It was also interesting to see brit students from non-acting based strands having a go at performing as well. I think that helped to bridge the gap between the turn around group and us by showing that we aren't all confident and skilled at all aspects of performing but you can still try. I think this could also encourage them to think about things they are good at or passionate about and maybe exploring and developing that in our sessions.