Different runs of the show

On the performance day, we carried out 5 different runs of the play. I found this so so helpful, not only to really etch in my entrances and exits but also find so many different meanings and ways to play Thea.

1: blocking run; going through the play in your own speed and pace, blocking your actions, entrances and exits, where you interact, speak and sit. - This was a big help, to really make it crystal clear, where to move.

2: Funny run; this run, really revealed the subtext of the play. We ran the play, saying what the characters really wanted to say in the scene, for example "go away Thea", instead of the actual line being "what's happened Thea?". This was not only exceptional comical and amusing, but really did help let us all get a raw feeling of the text and characters.

3: One line run; In this run, we had to enter our scene, say one line and walk out. This was to see how one line could carry so much energy in a scene. If you're only focused on one line, then you will put all your energy, commitment and thought into it. Once you had done that line, we all realised we need all that energy, commitment and thought for every scene!

4: Objective scene; we walked into the scene and announced our objective for the scene whilst acting it physically. For example, my objective for one scene was to "love eilert" and i ran up to him and hugged him. Eilert's objective for that scene was to "resist Thea" and so Sheyi pushed me off. I found this exercise so helpful as it revealed all the character's true intentions.

5: Real run through; putting all the above into practice.