FIRST REHEARSAL

In the first practical rehearsal of Common Ground, we explored emotional riffing, what rituals are, and the five rules of understanding a scene.

When the emotional riffing began I didn’t know what was happening, we were told to get in a circle and hold hands, and that we couldn’t let go but push and pull within the large ‘daisy chain’. Then Will began to laugh, and a few others joined in, and so I did as well, thinking I’d missed an instruction – which I don’t believe I did. Gradually the laughing became maniacal, and then escalated to crying and screaming, then George was in the middle being bombarded with crazy shouts and hoots, then Ethan was dragged in and we all stroked him – it all went so fast I can hardly remember!

As I understand, emotional riffing is supposed to be completely free and organic, there aren’t any leaders, and it’s all led by impulses and accepting the offers others make. But I think it should’ve been explained before we did the exercise, as although I usually survive and adapt when thrown in the deep end, I didn’t know anyone could change the way things were going, and that it was about doing what you felt in that moment; throughout the whole thing I copied Will. And so I feel as though I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the exercise as I was always looking at someone else to do something else.

However, I think that exercise would be helpful when trying to get into the emotion and feelings of a character, especially if they are going through something that you have never experienced, and feel as though you cannot connect with them emotionally.

We then discussed rituals, and why they are important in theatre. Rituals are a way of dispelling worries and fears, it’s often done to give people a piece of mind - like a routine - as they feel there is some order to their lives, and by doing those same movements daily, or weekly – even yearly – is beneficial in some way. Some rituals are traditional, passed down through generations of a culture, to celebrate ancestors and spirits they believe to be watching them. Some rituals, have been labelled ‘superstitions’, such as; burning sage in a new house to rid any evil spirits, wishing on shooting stars, eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away, making a wish before blowing out birthday candles.