24th April

Today we started be getting into groups and roughly blocking scene 1 and 2. My group was given scene 2, we decided to shorten down scene 2 and perform it in Modern English so that the class can understand what the scene is about. I think our scene could have used a lot more enthusiasm and movement, because the characters weren't very strong, however the audience could clearly see the intention of the scene.

We then as a class looked into how to block scenes in the round. Because we will be performing in the round we need to think about how we perform so that people can clearly see at least half of the faces of the performs who are on stage. We used an exercise that the Royal Shakespeare Company use called balancing the plate. When blocking scenes we need to think about standing in triangles so that the audience can see the majority of the actors on stage.

After that we looked at some themes that run through a Midsummer Night's Dream.

Then we split off into groups and talked more in-depth about the most common themes in the play. My group was given Order and Chaos. I think the main part in the story were there is order is at the end, when Puck gives his monologue telling the audience that he has restored order to Athens. I think this because he is clearing up all the chaos that he has coursed during the play.

We then blocked scene 1. When Egeus, Lysander, Demetrius and Hermia walk in, we decided because Theseus is a Duke that when we enter we should bow, this intimately shows the audience that we are a lower statues than him. Then when Egeus introduces us we stand up, this clearly shows the audience who we are.