Devising for children - Dreams / final essay

I shall start this essay with the words 'mystical mindsets' something myself and my group have, to have created such a amazing yet creepy production for secondary school children. 

Ideas popped up in the class whilst sitting in a circle discussing what each of us would like to pick as a topic to use as our stimulus. It ranged from drugs, sex, peer pressure to even hair styles! But my idea was out of the ordinary; I wanted to do something completely different 'outside of the box' something a little more challenging. From my own experiences every production brought to a secondary school has to do with peer pressure or sexuality/sexual activities and it's BORING! I wanted to torment the audience mentally and bring 'Dreams' to the table.. 

I thought the topic dreams was such a wide ranging topic and so magical but sorrel because everyone can relate to dreams; everyone gets them.

And the group was formed.. Conor, Elliott, Keylhlar, Sharney, Abigal, Hangela and Justyna, we was now the 'Art Wonderers' they all agreed with me and the topic I was so interested to do ideas exploded on the page 

'efil' which is life spelt backwards was the characters name. We had a male version and a female Conor and Keylhlar was to play this orginally, the first ideas were that it would be a Alice in wonderland back drop (inspired from) when the character was in dream world and efil would always come into her dreams and remind her of 'life' outside of her dreams to destroy her hope and faith we decided we could link this to the other groups such as Francis's as Kurtis was playing a homeless person so efil would come and reminds the dreamer that in reality they are homeless and there's no escape ( linking to Francisis group) eventually the dreams get darker and scarier ending in a dramatic crisis. We presented our ideas to the class were we got 100% support. 

Now, this is were the fun and games began after Christmas we was told that we had just about two weeks to devise, light, 'musicate' and direct a professional performance.The pressure was on. 

Unfortunately when the roles were assigned to my group I was unable to attend and wrote a short summary of ideas of what could happen in the play

Director was given to Conor, I was slightly disappointed with this, as I felt that most of the ideas and topic was me and I directed the group from start, however I got over this hurdle and agreed that Conor would make a excellent director as he's full of creativeness himself and is cool, calm and collective. I was assigned the role assistant director which still played a big part as eventually In some scenes I took main control and we was able to work as a team and not all stress was taken by one person. 

To start the process of gathering firm scenes, we decided to sit in a circle and discuss what we would like in the beginning, middle and end. Myself and Hangela decided we would like a dance/movement scene in our performance to reflect on previous work we've done with josh and put it to practice. I really enjoyed devising a short dance piece with Hangela for our performance we didn't revive 100% confidence when we told the group however every individual gave it their all and still participated. I think it gave it a very dark edge to the performance and allowed the audience into the mind of my character 'Jade' who is suffering from the disorder schizophrenia and is confused between a dream and reality and is 'pupitized' 

(Myself running through the maze of mystical dancers before 'pupitized' into dance). 

Here also are some of myself and groups ideas I had noted for scenes we are going to do

Here is a final script Elliott had wrote.. 

Conor: Have you ever had a dream? Not yourstandard waking up in school naked or reliving an old memory you didn't even know you remembered. No. This is not that kind of dream. This is more: you're in a dark forest... You're walking around, your only companion: a small torch. It's batteries are obviously running low. A flicker and you see something or someone move through the branches... It's just a small animal you think to yourself... not fully believing it... A loud growl from behind... Much closer... Okay maybe it's a big animal... With hot breath... You feel it on the back of your neck... You don't bother to look you just run but your legs won't move as fast as you command. You try to move your hands to help with moving forwards but it's in vain... You wake before it gets you. You don't know what it was that chased you but, dream or not, you're scared. Why are you scared?... Because dreams aren't random. They happen for a reason and everything in it in some way, shape or form is real. Do you know what nightmares are? They're the realist kind of dreams. Because real life... Life is the real nightmare.

 

 

[Scene 1]

[Nights]

 

{noise}

[minions dance around Jade]

 

Jade: {scream} Ah!

 

[offstage]

{knocking}

 

Abigail: /Jade!? Hey Jade!?

Justyna: /Jade!? What's wrong!?

[enters]

 

Abigail: Hey what's wrong?

 

Jade:... {mumbling}

 

Justyna: What?

 

Jade: I said!... It was just the dream again.

 

Justyna: [exasperated] oh my god! Again? Really!?That's like the third time this week!

 

Abigail: Will you please tell us what this dream is about?

 

Jade: ...It's not important

 

Abigail: It most certainly is if it's waking me up at...[checks time] 6:00AM.

 

Jade: ...I'm fine.

 

Abigail: You're really not-

 

Justyna: Just drop it. Oh god I'm never gonna get back to sleep. Would the Café be open now?

 

Abigail: By the time we get ready and go down it might.

 

Justyna: Great. [to Jade] Come on. Get up.

 

Jade: I don't wanna go-

 

Justyna: [drags her up] Nope. No arguments. You're coming.

 

Jade: ...fine.

 

 

[Scene 2]

[Days]

 

{Abigail and Justyna mindless chatter}

[Jade obviously not listening]

[minions do scary stuff]

 

Justyna: Hey! Are you listening? Jade? Jade? JADE!?

 

Jade: What?

 

Abigail: Jade will you please tell us what's wrong?

 

Jade: No.

 

Abigail: Please tell us. We can help you.

 

Justyna: Yeah

Jade: No you can't! You can't help me! [to Abigail] You can't help me! [to Justyna] No one can help me! You don't know anything!

 

[Jade leaves]

 

[Bus Stop Sequence]

(Should Justyna and Abigail say things and make noise. Kinda ruins the atmosphere ?)

 

 

Scene 3

[Life]

 

 

TV presenter: Operations are underway to refloat a stricken -Jade- which ran aground in rough seas off the coast of north -Jade- The ship hit rocks near -Jade- on Tuesday evening after it was battered by gale force nine winds and five -Jade-

 

[changes channel]

 

Cooking show host:...and today we will be making a delicious tray full of cookies for -you Jade- with aadded ingredient of -Jade-

 

[changes channel]

 

Minion: Jade. Jaaaaade. [Jade frantically trying to change the channel] What are you doing Jade?...Trying to get rid of me? Hahahaha (possibly a cackle with lighting fluctuations ?) I think we both know that's not going to work.

 

Jade:...please go away...

 

Minion: Hmmm. I'm gonna go with: No. Come on Jade, without us/ who would you have? No one.

Other Minions: /usssss

 

Jade: Thats not true.

 

Minion: Now you're just being ridiculous. Come on Jade/ Join us//+ (repeat)

Other Minion: /Jaaaaade //Join us+ (repeat)

 

[minions melt out of tv repeating "join us"]

 

Jade: I said go away! [breaks tv]

 

(Will have to sort out way of showing a melting tvbreaking ?)

(Also way of flowing into next scene ?)

 

 

Scene 4

[Dreams]

 

[dark forest]

[minions play with wings attracting her attention every so often](sound effect would help ?)

(Some minions could be being trees doing things behind Jades back ?)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Keep it small though if we do that!)

 

[Jade eventually sits on ground]

 

[Conor enters](through minions maybe ?)

 

Conor: Little lost?

 

Jade: Yeah... A little...

 

Conor: Not a good place to be lost in. Well... Not all the time. Sometimes it's really nice here. But most times it's not.

 

Beat

 

Jade: ...I don't know how I got here.

 

Conor: Me neither. Maybe you've always been here but have only just opened your eyes to it. Or maybe a bump in the road set you off course your original path and now, here you our. But in all honestly; I don't know.

 

Jade: oh...

 

Conor: How do you think you got here?

 

Jade: [stares into distance] Gradually.

 

Conor: Are we still talking about the forest?

 

Jade: Where we ever?

 

Conor: [amused] Hmm.

 

Jade: So... Who are you?

 

Conor: Who do you think I am?

 

Jade: I don't know... Some kind of guardian angel?

 

Conor: Not... Exactly.

 

Jade: So what then?

[Conor thinks intently then nonchalantly shrugs]

 

Jade: You're not very helpful. I haven't gotten a single solid answer out of you. Just speculations and more questions.

 

Conor: Thats because I don't know anything... Well anything more than you.

 

Jade: What's that's supposed to mean?

 

Conor: I have no outside information to provide. I know only what you know. No more. No less. See I'm just a figment of your imagination. An apparition to represent your mind created by your mind.

 

Jade: ...I'm still confused.

 

Conor: Don't worry. I understand it. So on some level you do to.

Jade: Ok. So do you- sorry, I mean: do we know how to get out of here?

 

Conor: I don't think you'll like the answer... You have to wake up. Assuming you do want to wake up?

 

Jade: I don't know.

 

Conor: Well you can't dream forever.

 

Jade: Why not?

 

Conor: Because ignoring your problems isn't the answer.

 

Jade: It's easier than facing them.

 

Conor: "easy" doesn't equal correct. There's no point arguing with your own mind.

 

Jade: I've decided I don't like my mind. It's annoying [in Conor's face]

 

Conor: You'll get the chance to choose... In due time.

[Conor exits]

 

Jade: Hey! Where are you going!? HEY! 

{twig snap}

[Scares Jade. Runs away]

 

[minion dance sequence]

 

Jade: ...are you like that guy from before?

 

Hangela: Yes... And no.

 

Jade: Can I ever just get a straight answer?

 

Hangela: I am here in, your mind, but I am also in the minds of many. I am the darkness that hides in the deepest corners of the subconscious. I exist only to wreak havoc and chaos to others. In some ways, I'm like a ghost. I haunt until my host until pain is brought upon them and there loved ones. The more you give in the more powerful I become. I. Am. Your. Fear.

 

Jade: [backing away slowly] no... No!

 

Hangela: Yes!

 

Jade: No! I don't want this. I want you gone! I want live a normal life. I'm going to get help. I'm going to-

 

Hangela: You'll do no such thing. Do you want people calling you a freak!? Calling you a mental case!? Looking down on you for having a disorder you can't help!? Your friends turning their backs on you and no one caring about you?

Jade: I just want it to end.

 

Hangela: [takes out knife and offers] ...here you go then. End it.

 

[Jade is hesitant about taking the knife]

 

Hangela: What are you waiting for?

 

Jade:[tears?] ...I don't know...

 

Hangela: Don't worry. You will see reason... In time.

[Hangela leaves]

 

 

Scene 6

[Help]

 

 

Jade: It happens every night. The fascinations have become stronger. I'm scared all the time. Etc. {ramble a bit} and I-I-I-I-

 

Sharney: -Okay... Okay. Calm down, it's okay. This is good. Getting it all out of your system is healthy. How often do you see these "creatures"?

 

[minion stands behind doctor]

 

Jade: [looking at minion] All the time.

 

Sharney: Ok. Sorry, I'm afraid we're out of time but this has been a good first session. I'll just bring in my secretary to book another appointment.

 

Jade: Ok.

 

[enter Conor]

 

Conor: Hello again, Jade.

 

Jade: ...what are you doing here?

 

Conor: I don't know. You tell me.

 

Jade: I don't- I-... [inspects room] how did I get here? Unless... No. No! No don't tell me I'm still dreaming no! I'm not dreaming. I'm not dreaming! No! No no no no no!

 

Conor: Jade you need to wake up.

 

Jade: How can you expect me to wake up when I don't know what's real anymore!?

 

Conor: it's ok. You just need help. But first you need to wake up.

[blackout]

 

 

 

Scene 7

[Awakening]

 

[Jade is asleep on floor]

 

Abigail: ...do you think she's dead?

 

Justyna: She's not dead, she's breathing.

 

Abigail: What do you think happened to the TV?

 

(V.O.) Hangela: [hushed] They're mad at you.

 

Justyna: Maybe someone broke in- That's not really what we should be worrying about right now!

 

Abigail: [attempting to wake up Jade] Hey. Jade. You still in there?

 

(V.O.) Hangela: They think you're crazy.

 

Justyna: Hey, you okay?

 

Abigail: What happened?

 

Jade: Um... I'm not sure...

 

Justyna: [looks around room] ...Did you do this?

 

(V.O.) Hangela: They hate you.

 

Jade: ...I think I did...

 

Justyna: Will you please get some professional help now?

 

(V.O.) Hangela: See. They want to send to the looney bin.

 

Jade: No! I don't need it!

 

Abigail: Yes you do!

 

Jade: No I don't!

 

Justyna: [moving towards Jade] Jade-

 

Jade: Don't get any closer. I've been trying to hide them. I've been trying to hide the truth. But there'sno more places where we can hide. Look in to my eyes! Can you see them? Can you see the darkness in me? I want them out of me. I want to rip them out of my soul. But they cling to me. Holding on so tight... so tight that I can't breathe. Can you show me how to get rid of them? Can you help me? No! You can't! -You're getting too close. I just wannabe left alone. I'm lost. I'm so weak. Please... I can't take this much longer. I can't do this anymore. How can I live with this pain inside me? There's no place I can hide. They always find me. They are a part of me. They can never be taken from me!

 

Beat

 

[Justyna and Abigail share a look or worry then exit]

 

 

Scene 8

[Descent]

 

[Jade sits alone on stage]

 

Beat

 

[Conor enters one side]

[Hangela enters another]

 

Jade: [to Conor] is this that time you spoke of?...When I would get to choose?

 

[Conor nods]

[Jade stands]

[Conor offers Jade his hand]

[Hangela offers Jade a knife]

 

Beat

 

[slowly]

[Jade takes knife] 

[turns back to audience]

[holds knife up in air with both hands ready to come down into her stomach]

[she strikes once]

[lies on ground crying until she dies]

[blackout and then immediately lights up with everyone stepping forward]

 

 

Conor: Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Mental illnesses often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

 

Elliott: Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. They cannot be overcome through "will power" alone.

 

Abigail: 1 in 10 children and young people aged only 5 - 16 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder - that is around three children in every class.

 

Sharney: There has been a big increase in the number of young people being admitted to hospital because of self harm. Over the last ten years this figure has increased by 68%. And has shown no sign of decreasing anytime soon.

 

Justyna: The number of young people aged 15-16 with depression nearly doubled between the 1980s and the 2000s. 

 Hangela: More than half of all adults with mental health problems were diagnosed in childhood. Less than half were treated appropriately at the time.

 

Keylehr: The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan. But you as people can help as well. If you have or know someone close to you with any kind of mental illness, you can help by supporting them in any way you can.

 

[Jade stands up and joins center]

Jade: Thank you, for listening.

 

[blackout]

[lights up]

[bows]

[blackout]

 

 

END

 

 After receiving scripts we had 3 days to put it to action before performance day, the group was under extreme pressure. Sharney was creating posters and leaflets for the show whilst Hangela was creating the music and lighting to match, Myself and Conor directing with the others imputing ideas as we both decided we'd like our group to all have their own say. And finally Abigal finding schools to perform and do a workshop on a later date..

 

On performance day at college to students from all classes and some outsiders, we was all very nervous and I don't believe anyone felt they were ready.. But we were. 

We opened the show with a scene we had previously done with Naomi from the Donmar, 'kingscross' was a busy abstract/contemporary scene with us wondering in and out of each other as average people; on the phone, eating, bumping into each other and people on a train. This was to show that the performance was about everyday people who we don't recognise or acknowledge their problems but only ours. 

The performance went fantastically well considering we only properly started rehearsing three days before, I really loved how there was a contrast in each performance comedic, heartfelt and creepy; with the art Wonderers ending the show. The audiences reaction to the piece was jumpy and quite freaked out by the performance especially when the music would play as it had a mystical but weird feeling to it something that would give you goosebumps.. However on my final monologue which was quite a intense piece and overly dramatic I had a few laughs, this was unexpected but I think the audience may have laughed because they felt slightly uncomfortable or awkward at the characters emotion. 

After the performance we done a workshop with level 3's year 1 drama students to put it to practice before the school. 

We started off with a short introduction of ourselves and each other and then our classic well loved game 'fe fi fo' to break the ice and get us vocally warmed up and energised. Elliott then took over and demonstrated the game ninja, this game is to gain focus. The aim of the game is to attack your two components who are standing each side of you with one 'ninja' move touching their arms until they loose both and are out but still watching yourself as you can be attacked back and your move can be used against you. 

Our group then decided it would be great if we separated the class into groups of 5 and for them to create a short scene about a nightmare or good dream inspired by our play.. All of the groups were amazing and different my two favourite groups was one about two guys playing a video game (mario & luwege) when the two boys are sucked into the television and now have to become characters themselves fighting the overgrown mushroom hurdles and turtles whilst being chased.. They acted this out so well that I could visualise the game itself with their awesome sound effects. 

Unfortunately a week before performance at the secondary school we had a disappointing email from the teacher explaining that the school is busy and would not be able to fit us in as its a difficult time. I think this affected the group slightly as we all lost a little bit of hope into going to a secondary school and putting all our hard work into nothing.

But fortunately! I contacted my secondary school 'Eastlea Community School' and was able to fit us in with 50 year 10/11 GCSE drama students. 

This was fantastic news but very nerve wrecking for myself as I hadn't been back since I left and know that the school had high expectations for me and my performances. 

We performed the show straight away not giving a introduction first as we didn't want to loose our theme of 'mysticalness' after the performance we recieved a big round of a clause and recieved the same reactions through the show as performed at college besides my ending monologue on which they took slightly more dramatic as there was silence so I felt that we achieved the right outcome this time round.

Here's a few pictures of the performance at Eastlea.. 

(Cafe scene, mystical's in mask tormenting jade.. Abigal and Justyna oblivious to their existence as its jades illness) 

(Forest scene dream one, jades first meeting with conscious male efil played by Conor) 

( schizophrenic office, jade talking to Sharney playing doctor about her dreams and mystical's.. Keylehr playing mystical in background) 

(Final scene Jades ending monologue of death approaching mystical's who hand her a knife with a blackout to leave audience with a cliff hanger) 

Workshop time! My group decided we wasn't going to split the 50 students and was going to do the workshop altogether as one as we felt we would be able to handle it and achieve a better more effective workshop. We started the workshop with 'fe fi fo' I decided to do the workshop with full energy and shall we say loudness to show the younger students how confident I was and to hopefully bring them out of their shells. The group decided we wasn't going to play ninja as we wasn't expecting such a big group so we decided to play the number game, this game is to show them how to work as a team, feel tension, and go from gut instincts. After this we went onto the devising of dream scenes we separated them into big groups of up to 10 to see how challenging it would be for them and how they would create a scene involving everyone. Some groups decided to make a chorus and some made each other objects. It was interesting to see that every group had chosen to do a nightmare. It made me think that it's easier to do this as its easy to think of a crisis and make it look interesting rather than a happy dream which can be boring and not very energetic if played in the wrong way. I also found it interesting that every group adapted my scream into their scenes. 

After watching each performance we asked the groups how they felt about the play, if they knew what mental illnesses are how to spot the signs and how common it is, also how to seek help. We then asked them if they had any questions about college life and what they would study in college also giving advice for future college life.

We had a lot of positive feedback from the group and plenty of questions. 

Overall I enjoyed devising and creating a workshop for secondary schools, it really showed me how long it takes to develop a well structured performance and the efforts and patience practiced. It's all about team work and dedication. If you give up on yourself you've ruined it for your team. I loved directing this performance with Conor as I saw my ideas come to life and was following my own thoughts and opinions rather than my teachers. However for next time I think my group could improve more on discussing things less, most of our time was taken by discussing our ideas rather than doing them. I also think the performance could have been improved more if we had more time to perfect it, I felt very rushed in creating this piece and felt with more time we could have pulled something even more out of the ordinary from the bag. 

In conclusion I loved devising this performance and loved seeing my own ideas come to life following my own opinions and experience and am looking forward to creating more performances in the future. 

(Myself giving final words to students on the studying life of acting)