Double in R21A - Mr Hodgson
Today was a huge practical lesson as we looked at and explored Lecoq's use of masks for physical theatre.
We undertook a number of different workshops involving 2 different types of masks.
First we sat down and discussed what we thought a neutral state was and how we should respond during such a state and how the mask would benefit us.
Then we got up and started playing a few simple games to focus ourselves int o the neutral position.
the first game we played was the Samurai sword game where we stood still but had to move in a certain direction based on where the sword was pointing bu always had to come back to the same position - the neutral (ready) position.
Next we played 'Red light, Green light' where we had to try to approach someone up the front and stop moving as soon as they turned around. This game requires so much focus!!! I really felt what the neutral position involved - not a vacant mind or body but a placement that was ready to do/perform any task.
Next we moved onto Lecoq's theories not he elements - EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER.
We tried to physicals each through solo or partner work trying to represent each element through our bodies. For air we were partnered up and the other person blew air onto us in different places and we reacted as though we were a piece of paper in the wind - very interesting to explore the physicality. For Earth we as a class explored the feeling of being weighted to the ground and very heave like we had clay over our bodies weighing us down. Fire was an explosive reaction and water trickled around.
We then pieced together a generic departure sequence - walk up, wave and lower our hand and walk back. we then had to individually add each of the 4 elements in there somehow through a movement. I chose to Fly(air) up to the front, wave with fire, lower y hand with water and walk away with earth.
We then performed these mini scenes using actual neutral masks that Mr Hodgson provided.
We then were lucky enough to have have a 'Play' (Lecoq's main principal) with the Larval masks!
Lochie was fantastic at characterising them so quickly!! We all had a go at trying to presume the physical nature of this character. Mine was okay - not the best but its all about having a go and it was fantastic to see it in film afterwards and see what worked and what didn't.
We undertook a number of different workshops involving 2 different types of masks.
First we sat down and discussed what we thought a neutral state was and how we should respond during such a state and how the mask would benefit us.
Then we got up and started playing a few simple games to focus ourselves int o the neutral position.
the first game we played was the Samurai sword game where we stood still but had to move in a certain direction based on where the sword was pointing bu always had to come back to the same position - the neutral (ready) position.
Next we played 'Red light, Green light' where we had to try to approach someone up the front and stop moving as soon as they turned around. This game requires so much focus!!! I really felt what the neutral position involved - not a vacant mind or body but a placement that was ready to do/perform any task.
Next we moved onto Lecoq's theories not he elements - EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER.
We tried to physicals each through solo or partner work trying to represent each element through our bodies. For air we were partnered up and the other person blew air onto us in different places and we reacted as though we were a piece of paper in the wind - very interesting to explore the physicality. For Earth we as a class explored the feeling of being weighted to the ground and very heave like we had clay over our bodies weighing us down. Fire was an explosive reaction and water trickled around.
We then pieced together a generic departure sequence - walk up, wave and lower our hand and walk back. we then had to individually add each of the 4 elements in there somehow through a movement. I chose to Fly(air) up to the front, wave with fire, lower y hand with water and walk away with earth.
We then performed these mini scenes using actual neutral masks that Mr Hodgson provided.
We then were lucky enough to have have a 'Play' (Lecoq's main principal) with the Larval masks!
Lochie was fantastic at characterising them so quickly!! We all had a go at trying to presume the physical nature of this character. Mine was okay - not the best but its all about having a go and it was fantastic to see it in film afterwards and see what worked and what didn't.