Drama OT Supply Diary

First Day:

My first day of drama teaching was definitely overwhelming. I was asked to lead an Echo activity. This game involves students standing in a circle, where one person starts by saying their names or doing something (a sound or movement), and the others "echo" it. It's a fun way to warm up the class, get everyone engaged, and build group cohesion. I was also supposed to go over classroom norms and lead a discussion on constructive criticism in theatre—a concept that’s so vital for actors. Theatre is all about feedback, but it has to be done in a way that helps actors improve, not break them down. Ms. Goldman, the department head, ended up taking the lead on this, and I was so relieved to learn from her how to guide discussions that build confidence while offering helpful, honest feedback.

Second Day:

This day was all about stepping up and running the Mirror, Mirror activity on my own... This game pairs students up, with one person acting as the leader and the other as the "mirror," imitating every movement and expression in sync. It helps develop students' focus, coordination, and connection with their scene partners—key skills in acting.

I also introduced Love/Hate Rants to the Grade 10 class. In this activity, students pick a random object or idea and deliver a passionate rant, either loving or hating it. It’s great for helping them explore extremes in emotion and tone, plus it encourages creativity and improvisation.

For the Grade 12 class, I was introduced to Verbatim Theatre, a style of theatre where actors perform real-life testimonies or interviews word-for-word. It’s an intense way to teach students about real-world stories, but it also challenges their ability to stay truthful to the source material while interpreting it for the stage. The class explored the power of acting real experiences authentically, learning how to handle sensitive material with respect and responsibility.

For Verbatim Theatre, students can pair up and interview each other, focusing on personal stories that help them explore authentic human experiences. Some questions that can be used in the interviews to get rich, emotional responses that will translate well into performance...:

1. What are your dreams or fantasies?
   (This helps explore deeper desires or goals, whether realistic or imaginative.)

2. What is a memory that has shaped who you are today?
   (This invites reflection on personal experiences that have impacted their lives.)

3. What’s something you’re most proud of?
   (Encourages them to reflect on their achievements or qualities they value in themselves.)

4. What’s a fear or insecurity you’ve had to overcome?
   (A question that brings out vulnerability and personal growth.)

5. Who has been your biggest influence, and how have they impacted you?
   (This can help explore personal connections and the influence of relationships.)

6. What’s a moment in your life where you felt completely out of your comfort zone?
   (A great way to uncover challenging or uncomfortable moments and how they shaped the person.)

Acting Techniques I’ve Explored So Far:

1. Stanislavsky’s System:
   The foundation for most modern acting techniques, this system focuses on emotional truth and realism in acting. Actors use techniques like emotional memory to recall past feelings and experiences to bring authenticity to their performances.

2. The Method (popularized by Lee Strasberg):
   An evolution of Stanislavsky’s work, Method acting encourages actors to fully immerse themselves in their characters, often staying in character even off-stage. It emphasizes emotional memory and using personal experiences to create a deep emotional connection to the role.

3. Stella Adler Technique:
   Adler believed that actors shouldn’t rely solely on personal experiences. Instead, she emphasized imagination and understanding the script’s social, cultural, and political context. The actor’s job is to study the world of the play and create truthful performances based on the script and character.

4. Meisner Technique:
   Sanford Meisner’s technique focuses on living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. It uses repetitive exercises to help actors get out of their heads and react instinctively to what their scene partner is doing, emphasizing listening and responding in the moment.

5. Uta Hagen’s Technique:
   Uta Hagen focused on making performances natural and believable. She introduced exercises like "substitution," where actors replace fictional circumstances with real-life experiences, helping them connect deeply to their characters.

6. Spolin Technique:
   Viola Spolin's method revolves around improvisation, encouraging actors to be spontaneous, playful, and flexible. Her exercises help actors break out of rigid patterns and discover new ways to approach their performances, making them more adaptable.

7. Practical Aesthetics:
   Developed by David Mamet and William H. Macy, this technique encourages actors to break down scenes based on what the character wants and what they are doing to achieve it. It focuses on analyzing the script’s objective realities rather than relying on emotional recall.

8. Viewpoints:
   Originally created by choreographer Mary Overlie, Viewpoints focuses on time and space in performance. It trains actors to be aware of their physical presence on stage and how they move through space and interact with others, creating dynamic performances.

9. Chekhov Technique:
   Mikhail Chekhov’s technique centers on using the actor's imagination and physical movement to explore a character’s inner life. It incorporates psychological gestures—specific physical movements that represent a character's desires and emotions.

10. Linklater Voice Method:
    Developed by Kristin Linklater, this method focuses on freeing the natural voice. It helps actors connect their breath and voice with their emotions and intentions, allowing for more powerful and authentic vocal performances.

11. Grotowski Technique:
    Jerzy Grotowski focused on the physicality of performance, pushing actors to use their bodies in extreme ways to express emotions and tell stories. His approach emphasized stripping away the excess and relying on raw, physical expression to connect with the audience.

    
    

    Reflecting on these first few days, I’ve realized how much I’m learning.... My mind is blown away..