Sound skate and alphabetical box

These two exercises were very useful in creating different stories from just both the sounds and movements we as actors were creating, however not vocally (speech). As an actor within these exercises you are tested on your imagination and creativity throughout the exercises.  These exercises are quite demanding as a theatre practitioner as you are involving both your physical presence and also your psychological presence within both of these exercises. However, on a personal note I thought that through these exercises I believe that I developed more on my imagination rather than my creativity. Therefore, I have become a lot more aware that I need to improve and become more creative in order to become a better actor and undertake more successful performances and exercises. From an audiences perspective you see how both of these exercises are very important when creating/devising a piece of theatre. As, I find it quite fascinating to see something so simple being developed into many different kinds of stories just from simple movements and sounds.

The sound skate exercise involves the whole group contributing any sound into the circle in order to help develop what that sounds supposed to represent. We as a group were given two places we had to represent through the sounds we created. Those two locations were the country side and a very scary/sinister place (woods/grave yard etc.). Once we had the location (country side) we had to make the sound that would represent that location and each individual person would then include their own sound one at a time. I found this exercise very useful in helping me as an actor to develop my imagination. As, once we had the sounds to represent that location I was able to start creating a visual image of that place just through the sounds I was receiving.

Within the alphabetical box exercise you had to visualize a class box that is 3d and the whole alphabet surrounding the box which is at each corner of the box. Then you would have to spell out your name with different parts of your body, however you have to make sure that the body parts you are using are very direct towards that certain letter. Then once you have spelt out your name through the different body parts directing you to a certain letter and memorized the positions each different letters are in you would then have to include effort into the movements you have created. There are various types of efforts such as, struggle, weak, strong, aggressive, etc. Then once you repeat your movements which have included the efforts you start to see a story develop just through the movements and efforts. Then as an actor you start to think about your transitions within the movements and making show that they fluid and flow. As, the more the movements flow when changing the easier it is to create a story from an audience’s perspective. I believe this exercise was very useful within special awareness as well. As, I was focusing a lot on the areas around me and the restricted/limited space I was given to perform in. The thing i really liked about this exercise was that it was very simple however, very beneficial within my imagination and creativity.