Brighton Performance

Today was our last time performing 'As You Like It'. We were very fortunate to be able to have our last performance in the Pavilion Gardens in Brighton as part of the Fringe Festival that takes place every year. I was very excited to perform in the Fringe, as I remember seeing the previous year twelves Shakespeare production there and I loved it. 

We all knew that this show would be very different to our show last week in the New Theatre for many reasons. Firstly, there were quite a few changes to the set/tech due to location and the space we had to perform in; we couldn't have the large tree because it wouldn't travel down, so we have to use the trees provided. The main issue that we had to consider was the natural noise. Due to it being an outside performance and the weather fortunately being very warm, it was extremely busy and there was a lot of background noise. This meant that our projection had to double so we could be heard over the background noise of the park. Our teachers told us that if we didn't project to our loudest than only the people in the front row would be able to hear. Due to this we all did an extra long vocal warm up to make sure we were at our loudest. Another issue with performing in an outside space is that there is no back stage and therefore the audience will be able to see us. In the New Theatre there was a black certain covering the gaps in the set, but outside there is nothing, so the audience could see us walking to get to either stage right or left. This issue wasn't solvable, but every time I had to walk past, I remained in character and acted like I was walking through the Forest. I think this was a good instinct to make because then I won't break character and hopefully the audience wouldn't be brought out of the world the other characters on stage were creating. 

We did a voice test on stage to see if we were loud enough and ran over some new blocking, Jack reminding us that 'if when in doubt, face out' meaning to face the audience more so our voices were heard. We had to make some cuts to the first scene Rosalind and I are in due to timing issues, so we ran over those quickly before changing into our costumes and doing a vocal and physical warm up. We were performing to an audience of around thirty, as well as any passer by that fancied watching us for a while, at 1 pm. Our overall main objectives were to convey the story to a new, fresh audience who didn't know the plot line or the characters and to make sure everyone was focused and could hear what was happening on stage. It was also very important that we were loud enough for the other cast and crew members to hear their cues for scene changes/exists/entrances and any music or set changes. Above everything I really wanted to enjoy this performance and have fun playing this character for the last time. It was also a new experience for me as I  have never performed a play outside before in a public space. 

I personally felt as if the show went well, I think everyone was audible and the show ran on time. We knew from our first entrances that this was going to be a difficult show and require a lot of energy and vocal projection  which I think we all had. The show ran quickly and smoothly in my eyes and I think we conveyed the story to the audience which was one of our major goals. As far as projection and physicality, I think a few people did struggle to get themselves heard all the way to back as they were battering with buskers, other performers and general chatter from the public. I think Poppy is a fantastic job vocally and physically, even though I was standing next to her, I could feel her voice reaching the back and beyond and she was constantly living in the moment which enabled her to cover up a few line drops which I hardly noticed. I personally felt that I was loud enough and that my projection was the best it has ever been which I was very glad about. I think my physicality was bold and I made new character choices. I was ecstatic when after the performance we had the audience come up to us and compliment us on how well we had all done learning lines and acting well. I think this is a reflection of all the hard work we have all put in and I am very happy with our production.

Overall I think today's performance in Brighton was a great new experience for everyone; cast, crew and the audience. We all felt that even though we got more laughs and felt more exciting and new when we performed it in the theatre, I feel as if I learned more from performing in the Fringe about what an actor has to do, changing for each performance. I have learned so much this term about how a professional rehearsal runs, putting together a Shakespeare play, performing a comedy, performing to a large audience in a theatre and outside and having to adapt to each new performance. Most importantly I think I have discovered a new passion for Shakespeare, I have loved playing Celia and learning more about this iconic playwright who write 'As You Like It' nearly 400 years ago.