Page 3- Audition.
Page 4- Monologue.
Page 5- Monday 13th December 2021- Our County’s Good task list.
Page 6- Wednesday 15th December 2021- Performance Review- Our County’s Good.
Page 7- My Reflection.
Page 8- Reference Sources.
Page 9- Continued research I have found.
Page 10- Tutor observation from Steph.
Page 11- Tutor Observation from Sara.
Page 12- Peer observation.
Page 13- Facts about John Arscott.
Page 14- Rehearsal pictures.
Page 15- Rehearsal pictures Part 2.
Page 16- Script.
Page 17- Costume/props.
Page 18- Set.
Page 19- Sound.
Page 20- Lighting.
Page 21- Health and Safety.
Page 22- Budgeting.
Page 23- Production planning chat with Olivia.
Page 24- Ticket design.
Page 25- Track audience numbers..
Page 26- Viva/ Overall Evaluation.
Page 27- Before and After pictures of me and my character.
Page 28- Bibliography- Website links.
Page 29- Bibliography- Website links Part 2.
Before Monday 6th December we had to perform a full scripted play, the play chosen is Our County’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, we got to choose a monologue to memories, I chose Liz Mordent’s script and started to process it ready for the audition. I was interested in the character because she develops self worth and starts to deny the allegations against her. I also researched what costume she wears: “stays”: brown cotton satin w/ whale bones, laces in black, chemise: cream colored linen, overskirt: cotton, neutral color and she wears no shoes. All her garments are extremely dirty, chemise and overskirt same “dirt” color, torn, ripped and frayed almost beyond recognition.
On the day of the audition I felt nervous that I might mess up on the lines but when it was my turn I walked into the classroom and went on stage confidently, Sara and Steph was the judges, I started to say the lines and remembered most of it and still carried on, once I finished Sara gave me feedback which was amazing because she said I moved on stage a lot in confidence and spoke like my character would speak.
Monday 13th December 2021: Our Country’s Good Task List-
Wednesday 15th December 2021: Performance Review- Our Country’s good
Professionalism- They stayed into character and used facial expression to express it.
Set Design- The set looks well presented as they use a ship, a stage and for prop they use a bright lamp.
Cast- They were all very good with no one particularly standing out and they all worked together and remembered their lines.
Artistic Qualities- They wore costumes that their characters would wear, and they made the audience laugh.
Directing Decisions- There performance is strong and has emotions to it.
I would really recommend this play to everyone of all ages, the plot was very interesting and didn’t get really boring also I enjoyed watching it.
When I first found out I got casted John Arscott, I started to find all his lines and higher lighted them straight away to help me, then I started to read through his lines so then I can process it and be more familiar with it. I then started to do some depth research into my character and the whole play which helped me to know bits about the play, I then started to memorize my lines repeatedly till I can get off scrip, it didn’t work so I downloaded an app called ’Line Learner lite’ and recorded myself saying my lines and it stuck in my head because I kept replaying it constantly and it worked because I wasn’t looking at the script and I was saying my lines with the recording and it helped me and when I first performed with my peers I remembered my lines and felt so proud with myself because I used characterization and I felt confident with myself because I was off script and tried to not constantly look at it, I also focused on the words that I couldn’t pronounce and looked it up on google and it really helped me, I also asked my dad to test me me on my lines and he looked proud because I made no mistakes and I was stood up to bring more characterization and moved around in my living room so I could feel more like my character. When I came into college, we had rehearsals and I had already known my lines and I felt confident when I went on the stage as I knew what was expected and acted professionally, when I was backstage, I started to recall my lines quietly and focus on when my scene is, and I also helped my peers out by telling them the app I downloaded to help them if they struggled. Overall, I think my progress has improved and I have focused more on developing my character by not being myself and to be more like my character and what he would do and speak.
I used google to help me find information out about my Arscott and found a lot of background information about him which was very useful and helped me a lot. The research I have done has helped me to develop my character and look deeper into Arscott and what he is in the play ‘ he’s a convict’, so I researched what convicts would were in the 18th century. I also used a website called ‘litcharts.com’ which had a lot information about my character, it also has John Arscott’s quotes from the play and his character timeline which helped me to find key information. I also used an ‘Australian dictionary of Biography’ and it had a lot of important information about John Arscott. Another website I used is called ‘gradesaver.com’, it has the summary of the whole play. Overall, all the research I am doing has improved my knowledge and is helping me to develop my character more.
Tutor Observation:
Steph gave me feedback and targets on what I need to develop on. I will now make sure I take this feedback into consideration for the next time I perform.
Tutor Observation:
Sara gave me my feedback from rehearsals which is very useful because I now know what I have improved on and what I need to develop on and what I need to focus more on which is to develop a naturalistic delivery by doing this I need to be more confident in myself and believing in myself more, this is something I can work on and ask my tutors for advice and help.
Peer observation:
I received my peer observation which has really helped me because I know what I have improved on and what I need to focus more on.
Facts about John Arscott:
The character I got casted after the audition was John Arscott.
•Arscott is a convict.
•He is hopeless and opposed to optimism.
•This approach is heightened when he discovers that the compass, he bought from a sailor in a north arrow drawn on a piece of paper.
•He becomes the most invested in the play and feels that when he acts his role, he feels nothing and forgets his life as a convict.
•He flourished (1783-1794), carpenter, a native or Truro, Cornwall, England.
•He was sentenced at Bodmin on 18th August 1783 to be transported for seven years.
•He sailed with the First Fleet in the Charlotte and was transferred to the Scarborough of Portsmouth.
•In his spare time, he made furniture and built a hut in which he established himself comfortably.
•On 1st May 1794 they reached Banda in a trading proa, and on 10thOctober arrived at Batavia where Arscott found out that his wife had died the previous year, two days before the Shah Harmunzear had arrived there.
•His behavior throughout his recorded career strongly suggests that his resourceful and bravery were impressive.
•He was born on (1613-1675), of Tetcott, Devon Sheriff of Devon in 1675.
•John Arscott was the eldest son and heir of Edmund Arscott (1588-1656), of Tetcott, by his wife Mary Walrond( died 1652), daughter of William Walrond( died 1627) of Bradford, Uffculme.
•He burgled two houses.
•He stole watches and tobacco.
•He was 20 years old when he started these crimes.
•He was a carpenter by trade.
Rehearsal pictures:
Rehearsal picture’s part 2:
Script:
These are my lines for the play as John Arscott. I higher lighted them to make it easier for me to learn my lines.
Costume/props:
Set:
Sound:
Lighting:
Health and Safety:
We must make sure we stay focused and listen to everyone in the group to reduce a risk and make sure we look where we are going so, we don’t bump into any props and look where the characters are going so you know where to go, also don’t mess about because you won’t know what you are doing and that is a big risk because you could trip over and injure yourself. Also help each other by putting the props on set so no one gets injured and know where the fire exits are in case of an emergency, make sure that no props are left on stage.
Budgeting:
Me and Olivia decided to sell the tickets for £25, but due to Covid-19 we were not allowed to sell them. So, instead we will be performing in front of students and parents.
Production planning chat:
Me and Olivia helped each other out by giving ideas about the ticket price and design and more and we discussed it with each other by messaging on snapchat.
Ticket design:
Track audience numbers:
Due to Covid-19, we will be performing our play to a small number of students and parents instead of a massive audience.
Viva/ Overall Evaluation:
Overall, the play went brilliantly because everyone knew their lines and stayed professional throughout the performance. For me personally I feel like I’ve developed my confidence skills by not looking at the audience and I gave it my all. I also stayed in character all way through which made the performance come to life as I knew all my lines and I was hardworking and dedicated to the performance by attending all the rehearsals and taking on feedback from my tutors well. The thing that didn’t go well was some people wasn’t off script during rehearsals which slowed the process, and it was frustrating. If I was to perform this play again, I will not let my peers distract me backstage by doing this if people try talking to me then don’t give them attention and don’t listen, this will help me, so I don’t forget when I need to go on stage. For the rehearsal process I kind off enjoyed it because some people didn’t know their lines and it ruined it for everyone because the tutors was going to pull scene 2 out which was upsetting but apart from that it went fantastic at the end because everyone was in costume and had their makeup and hair done and did a quick rehearsal before performing it to the special effects students and then the parents and students.
Before and After pictures of me and my character:
Bibliography: Websites
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/18th-century-leg-irons-for-prisoners-or-slaves
Chains- for convicts.
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/our-country-s-good/characters/john-arscott
Facts about John Arscott.
https://www.gradesaver.com/our-countrys-good/study-guide/character-list
Our County’s Good character list.
https://www.bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=1785&type=pdf
Summery of Our county’s Good.
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/arscott-john-1719
Biography.
Interesting facts about John Arscott.
Bibliography: Websites Part 2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainstick
Rain Shaker.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/3803015/Our-Countrys-Good-Lighting-Design
Lighting.
Ticket Design.
