Category: Morgan W

The 9/11 image of the falling man, is so iconic and is such a famous image in the 21^st century. Tom choreographed a movement piece to the soundtrack of the film Gravity. Mark and I have a duet where we represent that actual falling of those 2 people, we anticipated conveying the strength and power of those two humans who are holding hands and falling out of the building together. We can not confirm their relationship, but Mark and I wanted to do depict the emotion and energy that radiated off those two bodies as they fell hundreds of metres to the ground.

I wanted to convey the emotions that go through ones head as they are plummeting in those last few moments. The dance is so energetic and we use every single fibre in our body to try reliving this moment.

An element that we found hard to achieve initially was using each others weight to hold ourselves up. Annie Loui conveys precisely the skill involved in partner work: ‘your ‘share in the endeavour will exchange roles with you as ‘base’ and ‘flier’ providing a secure foundation and alternatively and elegant manoeuvrable body’ (Loui, 2009, 92). Tom had advised that although the dance was choreographed it needed to look so natural and we needed to throw each other and trust each other to support one another.

 

Loui, A. (2009  The Physical Actor, Exercise for action and awareness. Oxon: Routledge.

In an initial workshop led by Laura and Anthony, we explored different interpretations of existing iconic photographs and pieces of artwork. This workshop was a significant moment for me and I think the entire group as it was a where everything clicked and we understood what we wanted to create.

In the workshop we were split into 2 groups and each given a photograph and had to create a new story. I was given the haunting photo of the two people falling out of the twin towers. Once we had created and developed these new characters we then created a performance that incorporated the new character and used the picture as a stimulus.

This workshop was a crucial point in the process so far as it conveyed how a photo has a pre-conceived story but new meanings can be created that are just as powerful than the original. ‘Devised theatre is concerned with collective creation of art’ (Oddey, 1996, 4). This left us wondering if the original interpretation is necessarily the truth, this is what we anticipate to explore further.

 

Oddey, A. 1996 Devising Theatre: A Practical and Theoretical Handbook. Routledge: London.

I have been incredibly excited to be working with everyone in Refract Theatre Company. Having only worked with a few members of Refract before, I was slightly nervous to be collaborating with such a large ensemble. After assigning roles and becoming an official theatre company it all became very real and very exciting. I am lighting designer and although this is something relatively new to me, I am eager to start.

The devising process is starting and the whole group is wary of this journey we are going to start. Laura is director of the show, however, as it is a devised piece of theatre we are creating, the work will be collaborative. ‘Devising is a process of making theatre that enables a group of performers to be physically and practically creating in the sharing and shaping of an original product’ (Oddey, 1996, 1). The initial weeks of workshops will be very creative and we will learn the cast strengths which is incredibly exciting.

Oddey, A. 1996 Devising Theatre: A Practical and Theoretical Handbook. Routledge: London.