End Of Term One

So term one has come to an end. And what an incredible nine weeks it has been! Right now I am feeling so blessed to be here doing this thing that I love, with really wonderful people. I have some truly great friends here now, and back home. I'm very lucky.

In class today we spent the first hour prepping for the Greek Tragedy showing - Philippe reworked a few scenes (I thought he might work with me again, cause yesterday I thought he said he would, although I wasn't sure, but he didn't at that was fine) and we organised the running order to be presented by the thick deep accented Charles of Bristol. And two runners to change furniture around. I wasn't keen on volunteering for these roles out of pride. I really wanted to be in the showing, and being a runner...not today.

Quite gruelling to sit and watch the showing when really I wanted to be in it - a deliberate tactic of Philippe's I'm sure - but I was actually so proud and quite moved by the work of my peers. Andre and Daniele really presented something that took me somewhere else. It was beautiful. So neat to watch a show in English, Italian, Chinese and German too. What a treat!

Philippe spoke about how at the school they try to be as honest as possible, because it is best for us. i.e. They won't pat us on the back to make us feel better. It's a professional relationship.

"You need a crisis to discover something else."

"We try to be honest. If you are bad we will tell you. But it's friendly. Did you notice that? We are not nasty."

Things I learnt from Neutral Mask & Greek Tragedy:

• Be tall. Be beautiful.
• Head and eyes to the horizon line, above the audience
• Don't talk too much
• Follow impulses, don't stifle them
• Speak text through the elements - it's not you - it's you through the elements
• Give A LOT - but don't push
• Tension in the body - be engaged
• Have a good aura - fast unspecific movement doesn't help...stillness and slow specific movement does...(although you can move obviously)
• In the kingdom of the Gods! Destiny! Blood! Death! Honour!
• Pleasure
• Show something special of yourself every time you step on stage.

~

Watched the 2nd year Clown showing this evening too (before going to a never ending party).

Loved it! I always surprise myself when I laugh out loud. Because I hardly ever do it. But I did it a lot during tonight's show. Just people being idiots. Fantastic. I loved the opening gag in which one clown was trying to get Philippe to do the usual three drum beats. And then Philippe would just do one. Or then three, but a big gap before the third. And we see the frustration and awful attempt of this clown to explain exactly what he needs. Lots of fun. Then a little soiree at school afterwards to celebrate the end of term.

I now have three weeks off - in which "Got to have pleasure! Got to show something special! Got to risk! Got to say 'Watch out! I am coming! I will be amazing! So fuck you!' Got to present something worth presenting...every time!" - will be churning inside me. I'll also spend those three weeks in India, with my girlfriend. Christmas in Mumbai. New Years in Goa. Thinking of my friends and family. xxx

Joyeux Noël & Bonne Année!