DIRECTOR'S COMMENT ON DRAMA ASPECTS
How have theatre conventions been used to tell the story of I'll be Fine? (including use of asides, entrances and exits, flashback and flash-forward, narration, slow motion, soundscape, split focus, split stage, spoken thoughts, stage directions, still image, telephone conversations.)
There are several main conventions we chose to use in order to highlight the story. Narration is a key technique. With a small budget and a touring show, it pays to be light weight and not have such a heavy cumbersome set. At the top of scenes the characters comment and paint their geographic location. They are speaking directly to the audience so it is a form of narration, but it is stylised to reflect the age of the characters.
Soundscape is also huge in this play. Every scene has its own individual soundscape in order to help paint the world of the piece as well as show when we have transitioned out of reality into the fantastical. Monologues are a large part of the show, where the characters are speaking allowed their thoughts to the audience to try work out what is going on in their own lives. We also have a convention of never hiding anything from our audience. All the costume changes and scene changes happen on stage right in front of the audience. We are not trying to be completely realistic, but rather play with our audience and treat them as intelligent.
How has your direction aimed to highlight the time and place the play is set?
Well, this is a tricky one. The play happens in whatever year it is put on. The important thing is the age of the characters and the fact they have just finished school. As for the actual time, the lights and sound give a clear indication of if it is night or day, inside or outside but it should feel like the play could be happening anywhere at any time. It should feel relatable to the audience. This is part of the reason such vague narration is used. It is in order to engage the audiences imagination so they can relate to the location.
How would describe the mood of the play, and how has this been achieved throughout the performance?
The best way to describe the mood of the play for me is liminality, or the feeling of being lost between two states. The mood is also funny, angry, cynical, sweet, kind, dramatic. Basically all the emotions you feel as a teenager. Very black and white and wildly swinging between each. This has been achieved by the acting, which offers the audience a chance to side with the characters in the play and feel the same emotions that they do.
There are several main conventions we chose to use in order to highlight the story. Narration is a key technique. With a small budget and a touring show, it pays to be light weight and not have such a heavy cumbersome set. At the top of scenes the characters comment and paint their geographic location. They are speaking directly to the audience so it is a form of narration, but it is stylised to reflect the age of the characters.
Soundscape is also huge in this play. Every scene has its own individual soundscape in order to help paint the world of the piece as well as show when we have transitioned out of reality into the fantastical. Monologues are a large part of the show, where the characters are speaking allowed their thoughts to the audience to try work out what is going on in their own lives. We also have a convention of never hiding anything from our audience. All the costume changes and scene changes happen on stage right in front of the audience. We are not trying to be completely realistic, but rather play with our audience and treat them as intelligent.
How has your direction aimed to highlight the time and place the play is set?
Well, this is a tricky one. The play happens in whatever year it is put on. The important thing is the age of the characters and the fact they have just finished school. As for the actual time, the lights and sound give a clear indication of if it is night or day, inside or outside but it should feel like the play could be happening anywhere at any time. It should feel relatable to the audience. This is part of the reason such vague narration is used. It is in order to engage the audiences imagination so they can relate to the location.
How would describe the mood of the play, and how has this been achieved throughout the performance?
The best way to describe the mood of the play for me is liminality, or the feeling of being lost between two states. The mood is also funny, angry, cynical, sweet, kind, dramatic. Basically all the emotions you feel as a teenager. Very black and white and wildly swinging between each. This has been achieved by the acting, which offers the audience a chance to side with the characters in the play and feel the same emotions that they do.