Update 5

In rehearsals, we looked at an Artaudian way of opening our piece, by creating a circus type scene, involving the audience by leading them into the room. I think that this beginning works well because it engages the audience straight away, not giving away too much information about Donald. However, I do feel that Gemma could be more welcoming and weary of Donald, towards the audience as she leads them to her seats. Therefore, the audience will be drawn in as soon as they enter the room. In the second scene, we kept the idea of a family setting, watching TV, but then created a thought tracking arond Lewis, getting louder and louder. Asking him questions about the Golden Globe race, to the point where he begins a small monologue out, to the audience. I feel that this scene is too basic and we need to look at more interesting ways of showing Donald's thoughts, although, the rest of the group like this scene. In the third scene, we began to explore a scene where Donald goes to a meal, the night before he sets off, with the rest of the competetors. Me, Gemma and Jess are sat in the audience. Lewis is centre stage. We have chosen to use the Berkoff technique of over exaggeration when we are eating to make the scene look unrealistic. Following Berkoff's idea of over reating, we are using loud, over the top, posh voices to show that we are new characters. We ask Lewis questions whilst eating. I think this scene works well because it is completely different to the usual 'eating' scene, sat at a table. It is also involving the audience by having members of our group sat with them, performing.

Update 4.

In this lesson, we used a hot seating technique in the form of an interview with Claire, Donald's wife (played by Jess) and Donald's eldest son (played by me) after Donald's boat was found, without him. Lewis asked questions like "Do you believe he committed suicide?" and "Do you think he was unprepared?" I answered similar to "I saw him as a hero." and "I would tell all my friends at school" From doing this, it made me understand that Donald was hiding the fact he was unprepared for the race. It also helped us understand how the family's opinions on Donald may of changed throughout the race, after they lied about his logs and cheated in the race.

Update 3.

In this weeks rehearsal, We did some more research into our story and found the last page of Donald's log, including news reports, with interviews with his family after the event, also some information on the Golden Globe race. As i suggested to begin with, however, no one agreed with me to begin with, the rest of the group finally discovered that the idea of narration gave the audience the full story, allowing everything there, without thought.We then experimented by having me, Jess and Gemma and top of the wall, setting the opening scene, then Lewis, playing Donald said a monologue, including the last words written in his log, then committing suicide. We found that this way works out a lot better than the first idea, as it creates enigma on why Donald has jumped off the side of the boat.
When looking at the second scene, we experimented with thought tracking after Donald hears about the Golden Globe Race, i found that the thought tracking was effective, by talking about how he feels about his financial problems, therefore the audience can see why Donald would be considering the competition.

Update 2.

Today, we have looked at the narration of scene one and where the narrator would be placed onstage. We then looked at the way Lewis would be acting on board, as we are showing the last day he was recorded alive.

Early Ideas For Scenes.

For scene one, we attempted to create a boat using physical theatre, with Lewis, who plays Donald, centre stage.

This was our other interpretation of the boat in scene one.. 

In scene two, we wanted to show the Crowhurst family. By watching television, Donald would be able to discover the Golden Globe race. We did this by using a news reporter. 

We have also been experimenting on different places to place Gemma on and off stage for this scene. We discovered that having the news reporter behind the audience would mean that the  family would be facing straight on, enabling their facial expressions and characters to come across easier. 

Update 1.

After doing some research for one lesson, Arren has now left the group, telling us after not showing up to the rehearsal.. So it is only Me, Gemma, Lewis and Jess. We have continued research and are starting to look at the first scene of our piece.

A2 Theatre Studies Blog.

For this project, you are required to keep an electronic diary, blog or record of the progress you make in rehearsals in developing your Devised project.

This should be sent once a week. You must also make sure you save this as it will form the basis of your SWED in September.

Each weekly update should focus on 3 areas:

1) How you are researching a developing this material.
2) How you are exploring your role(s).
3) How you are exploring form, structure and performance style.

Make sure this is a personal log and that you analyse critically your own group's progress, considering at all times what you are trying to communicate within moments, scenes, characters etc. and how successfully you are achieving this.