Mini IP reflection

16th March:

today I had my first quick 15 minute rehearsal with my actors. We didn't really have a rehearsal, but I expressed my thoughts and my idea for the project to them. Antòn was not present (but I didn't relly need him), so Ameilia who was not anymore able to take part of the play (now I have to find somebody to replace her). 

I'm really excited!

18th March:

I would say that today was our first official rehearsal, with all my ladies =)

We had an hour rehearsal and work more on the piece itself (learning and reding the parts) than on the staging and acting. To be honest I did not really like the atmosphere because I felt like not everybody was there to coolaborate! It is true that I had different theatre students and not who would have done things differently, but instead of comunicating it to me, they were just weirdg and with low energy!

19th March:

Today I talked with Libby about the progress of my work and expressed my feelings about specific actors. She gave me useful advices and even asked me whether I wanted her to do something about it or not (I appreciate that).  

I planned my next rehearsal since I realized that the time is going, fast fast..and my IP is on friday!

26th March:

In this rehearsal my main goal is to send the message I have in my brain, to my actors. 

Until my idea was to realize the play in the common room, but rehearsing in the common room is really challenging and people are easily distracted. In my specific case, I feel that my actors are more concentrated and productive (acting) when they are on the stage. So we moved to the Max Bell. 

I now have the set ready! Light, music, props,...is all figured out!

27th March:

Quick and god rehearsal. Everybody were productive (no Emily, but I trust her. She knows what and how to do, so this does not worries me)

28th March:

Last rehearsal! Everybody + Antòn! Mostly, people do not know their lines! OMG! It will be ok..ok =)

29th March:

I ha a really good and useful class section that gave me the opportunity to express my self and be listened. I am know ready for the night! 

The stage is amazing, the actors as weel! We started 15 minutes later because of internal problem!

• REFLECTION ABOUT MY IP! 

In term of my theatrical experience, this is absolutely the experience in which I learnt the most. Being a director is not easy. I had my project in my mind and I really want to challenge my self also by realizing everything by myself. Even if I am really glad of what I did, I wish I could have cooperate with somebody else, whose opinion might have help in developing the project and achieving a better job. Of course, I am happy about my result, but I know realize how important was it to work on the piece (the play itself and the words). Thinking again about it, I remeber that by the end of the preparation of the project, I did not like the script and the dramitic structure (so the plot) was not clear and immediate (there was, but more precise direction would have bring it out, which is what I lacked in somehow). The actors of course did what I told them to do, so this tell how I was not esigent at all. Always be specific about what you want. A big feeling that followed me all along the project was the fact that these guys were doing a favour to me, so I shouldn't have been too harsh with them. What I later learnt is: start harsh and get less harsh! 

I am proud of my project but I am trying to see all the weak point and "errors", in order to avoid them a next time and obtain better results. Technically, the light design was really good but people could not see the actors face (which is important to see their facial expression) and so the position of the actors (since some of the audience could not see all the actors). I absolutely should have pay more attention to the Tech and the RHYTHM and TIMING and emphasize the key moments! since it is fundamental for so many aspects, such as the creation of the atmosphere!

The aspect in which I had more fun in realizing in this project was the set! This is what I love! I dedicated so much time (but I loved it) on representing the exact atmospher I wanted (earthly paradise - absurd theatre/setting). I obtained exactly what I wanted and this was a great achievment. I wanted to dedicate the same attention to the make-up, but on the night of the show we had a problem (someone tought that a make up crew of 3 people for 8 people was not necessary and decided to do this part by his/her own - fail - started late). But still, we were able to do a descrete job. This also told a lot how difficult it is to have the controll of everything even if you think you have the control of everything. 

In term of the night, I would say I was a little but dissapointed by the low voice of the actors, which made the audience to lose a lot of key points (therefore this was not the only reason). THE AUDIENCE! The audience if fundamental. It is true, as Libby always said and I never really gave importance. The A world. I set on a play and it was directed to the audience, so as a director, it is my job to make sure they understand the message I want to send. In order to do is, I have to think as if I am one of them, sit on the audience and have a good overall sightlines; make sure there is communication between the audience and the actors (they can hear, see and understand). Use space more carefully. Simple, detailed, specific and entertraining: key words for a good show. 

I was happy with the schedule of my rehearsal time. What I lacked is to have a specific aim at every rehearsal! In the first rehearsl Antòn could not come (or I told him not to) because he had a really smal role on the play, but I should have thought of it differently and make him come (since there was a lack of timing in the final - since he did not have a lot of practices). 

Even if my dress rehearsal was really good, I learned from this Mini IP that it is really important. It is also important to have an audience for it, so the perfomance is taken more seroiusly and you can have the sensation of how it is going to be for the final (with an audience). and you can have feedbacks!! I did not rehears on the transition and the day of the final there was lack of communication, so the transition between a show and another was really long. COMMUNICATION! 

Overall I really love and enjoy this experience and I am glad I was able to learn so much from it! =) Still, most anoying thing = no photos (especially of the setting)


Additionally, I had the opportunity to act in Mauricio’s Mini IP, Seven Deadly Sins, where I was representing sloth. It was a really interesting experience not only to see his different approach as a director, but also his approach to the stimulus, which was also my stimulus. What I noticed of him, differently from my attempt to be precise in terms of interpretation and context of the seven deadly sins, he made a lot of research in finding a way of representing it which combined partly Commedia dell’arte and other genre such as Noh theatre (just for makeup). I really appreciate Mauricio’s attempt to always experiment and combine different form of art and genre together.


Overall this was as well an experience to see other people approach and method. What helped a lot in developing ideas for our IP and learning from this experience, were the class discussions we had after every mini IP. Other than Mauricio, I learnt a lot from Derek’s approach as a director. He loves what he does and he tries his best to reach perfectionism, always. Initially, to be honest, I criticize his use of a huge production team and over rehearsing, but today, that I acknowledge the importance of these elements in making the difference in a production, I respect him a lot. Several of my classmates have already had theatre experiences and this is a great opportunity to share and learn from them.