Anoushka

I was asked via a website if I would consider taking part in a Dirctors workshop. The idea was that six Directors  would try a new method of direction on me and I would act it out with a script. Well, it sounded exciting so why not? Off I went to Swiss Cottage for 2.30 call time. It was being organised inside somebodys 'bejou' house. It was delightful but it was very small. There were a couple of people just finishing off their session in front of me so I holed up in the kitchen with a very welcoming cup of coffee and pretended not to listen through the hatch that was in the wall...well it was open, what did they expect?! It turned out not to matter too much as their script was entirely different to the one I was going to act out. My partner for the scenario turned up and was a strapping muscle bound , tall, gorgeous black young man. I only mention what he was like because he was about to become my son... Not only was he about to become my son, he was going to play my infant son. 

Warm up exercises first which were a series of mirrored movement using both facial and body movements.  The script was briefly explained and we could ask questions whenever we needed. 

 So, the first scenario was to talk and play with 'my son' as if he were a baby. Now, I am 5'3" so having this huge man on my lap - head in my lap as it were - was a little unusual. Anyway, we played the game and he happily chortled away whilst I sang lullabies and stroked his hair. At this stage, I think we were both glad that we weren't looking at each other.....

Next came improvisation. I had to get my now grown up son to the phone. He had earlier gone to a job interview that he didn't want and my job was to get him to the phone. His job was to remain sullen and refuse to go to the phone preferring instead, to stay inside his bedroom. This went on for a while but eventually he looked as if he was going to answered the phone when nope! he scuttled back inside his room. 

Next scenario was that my character had cancer and had recently come out of hospital and was returning home. My son hadn't been to visit and clearly didn't welcome her home, or that's what it looked like. In truth, it was because he was scared he was going to lose her and if he didn't interact with her then that would never happen. This part  was scripted and had to be very quickly learnt.

It was a really interesting role to have played and fun to see how Directors were learning from a Mentoring Director that was looking after them. Whether any more comes from it - I will just have to wait and see!