Thursday 9th Jan

Rehearsal Diary (9/1/14)

We started the lesson by doing some class warm up games. The first one was good for making you think and remember and notice things. We was split into 4 groups and had 4 chairs. We was given a theme to create a freeze frame to and had to then choose a group to go and recreate their pose.

Explain the purpose of the two short practical exercises and how effective they were? (Boal)

We played Cat and Mouse. This is a game that can be played in many ways but we played it as a class. We were in groups of 4's all linked arms and there was 1 cat and 1 mouse.

Research at least four ways of staging Bad Girls - Analyse how well each one worked (include pictures) (Youtube/Google images/theatre co websites)

The first way I am looking at it being staged is like this.

 

They have 2 levels. The top back bit is mainly where the prison guards stand. The main bit of the stage is where everything happens. It is used as a cell room, canteen and office. The back of the stage is lined with cell doors. I think the set is clever and effective but the lighting isnt as strong. They have a random square of light that is like the shadow created through the prison bars. This is clever but the place it is positioned dosnt make sense.

I think overall this idea and look is very clever but the weakness we would have trying to create this is they exit both stage left and right but we dont have an easy exit stage right that is easy to use.

 

The second way im looking at it being staged is like this.

 

This is a very simple set design. Its cheap but can be effective. The only set they have is a bed and silver cell door. This is good for a budget show but dosnt give a very interesting look for the audience. The emptiness of the stage is effective for scenes based in the cells but scenes supposed to be in the canteen which is a very busy place dosnt suit the empty stage feell.

 

The third way I am looking at it being staged is like this.

This is very different from the other staging as this is set on a rounded stage. This dosnt give a very prison like feel as prisons are normally all very square and sharp edges. The lighting used dosnt have the dark and unfriendly feel of a prison. It is very bright and happy. The back staging isnt very clear what it is but it does have the busy feel it needs for a canteen. The way they use tables and chairs is very clever and feel this is something we may steal to use in ours.

 

This is a rough set design we created as a class.

The prison cells are all lined up diagonally on the back of the 2 levels of staging. We will use the black stage blocks to show different cells. The top level is where the gaurds will stand when looking down on the prisoners. Having the height will give them a more powerful look. The centre of the stage will be used as an office, cell and the canteen. As a class we are really happy with this design.  

What works/presents challenges when it comes to the set we designed in class? (lesson on Bad Girls set)

What worked well about the set was the overall look of it. The diagonal the 2 levels of staging are on give the audience a good view of it. The size of the staging works very well for not taking up the whole stage area. A problem we have at the moment is for the top level staging there needs to be a bar along the front of it and the back for safety. But at the moment we only have bars along the front. Another problem we have is where to have the exits. There needs to be a way to get up to the top stage blocks from the back. There also needs to be a way of getting onto the bottom blocks.

Research Women's prisons and find out what a typical day might be like? (Bad Girls TV series website)

There are only 18 prisons which hold females in England and Wales. There are some prisons which hold both males and females but they dont have any contact with eachother while in prison. Some of the female prisons are Victorian style prison wings. Others are old country houses that have been converted with some added wings and buildings. Some prisons have a mother and baby unit. This is a seperate area of accommodation which allows mothers to have their children with them whilst in custody. To be able to get a place on the mother and baby unit they have to be able to prove that this is whats best for the child. Also its important that the Mother dosnt use this as a free child service, she still has to do all the day to day caring of her child. At the moment there are only 7 prisons which have Mother and baby units.
A typical day in a prison starts quite early, 6/7am, this is when they are given breakfast. There isnt much choice in food, you eat what your given. The meals are eaten all together in one big hall. In the day they are sometimes given the opportunity to go to the exercise yard which enables them to do some physical things and also get some air. Not all prisons are the same but some have