This was our first session for Performance Studio A.
Our Lecturer Myf Powell gave us a concise run down of what exactly this project of 'Triumphs and Tragedies' was going to entail, and what exactly was expected of us. Myf explained that our classes would split between VU and a community centre in South Melbourne, and she then informed us that the performance project was a collaborative piece involving the City of Voices theatre company, which is a group inwhich any one can join. She elaborated that this meant that not just non-proffessional or non-trained performers, but people with intellectual difficulties and people in their 80's would be collaborating with us during this project. I initially found this quite intreiguing because I had never worked in that kind of environment, and I was also excited to be a part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
After this introduction, Myf taught us three songs ('Canoe Song', 'By The Waters Of Babylon' and 'Shall We Gather By The River?') which she thought might be of some inclusion during our final performance. Myf split our class in two where one half sang 'high' and and my half sang 'low'. I was very impressed with how good we sounded, and how strong our harmonics were especially duing the song 'Shall We Gather By The River?'.
After a few days and after a few days of reflecting about my first week back at University, I began to feel slightly apprehensive about this project. I was concerned about working with people who suffer from intellectual disfunctions because I wasn't sure how they would behave and how I would collaborate with them creavitely. I was also concerned because Myf had told our class an anicdote about the difficulties the theatre group had in previous projects with bickering and members abaondoning the project.
At this point, I convinced myself that uncertainty is exciting and challenges can only strengthen the work and in temrs; strengthen you as a person. Working in the same environments can be extremely tedious for me, so I'm enthused about heading into unknown waters.
"Get carried away by the river/ by the river of life."
1 comment:
Hi Joshua, I admire your honesty regarding your apprehension about this project and working with the different people involved in 'inclusive' theatre. It is not easy going into unchartered waters (pardon the pun) so I am glad you are overcoming any anxiety and going for it. I hope Wednesday's session helped to alleviate some of your concerns? I look forward to keeping up with your thoughts via this blog! Myf
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