Last lecture me and Rachel performed our story. We included costume and audience participation which consisted of them saying a line which was repeated throughout the story with which they had to do a action to. We thought audience participation worked well, especially if the audience was of a younger age, although me and rachel discussed ther idea of changing it so that the two characters we brought up on stage had more of a role. We felt that we had just placed them on stage, without them doing anything which is an idea we could develop so that they're more active. Another group used audience participation, which again worked well, as it kept our attention and we felt more involved. I would like to work on the story and perhaps use it at the Christmas fair, although I'm not sure if we would have to adapt the story as it was nothing to do with Christmas. It could work well if there was more than one action was used within the piece.

This week gave me a whole new insight to the way we could tell the stories for the christmas fair. I feel like I have been so concerned about getting the era of the house correct, that it never occured to me the amount of fun we can actually have with this project. I was getting frusterated with myself for directing all my attention and thoughts to how we can keep the fair historically correct. However, after this weeks performance by Zoe and Jenny, I would like to thank them both for giving me the realisation that there is so much we can do with this project. I loved the use of set, which was quick to put up and put away agin, and also gave the story a fun element, as they had made it themselves, using glass bottles, stones, carboard and hawaiin grass skirts. The use of a washing horse to hold up a carboard cut out of a tree, made the story lighthearted and comical. I think the piece, which was the story of 'the owl and the pussycat' should definately be an option for the fair. It could work really well, if they acted like proffesional actors putting on a very important play. It could make the piece more comical. They could also develop the piece so that members of the audience could play the other characters such as the pig or the moon. After watching the piece, the option of using set, which I previously thought would be inappropriate for such short stories, is now a definite possibility. Watching that one performance, has to be my favourite part of the module so far. I feel like I learnt alot about the project from that performance. I am really excited about the stories that will be told next week, although a high standard has been set which we must all live up to.

I previously mentioned that I would like to do a project with a prison. After watching a performance by cardboard citizens, I spoke to one if the performers and was discussing our drama in the community project. She mentioned a company named cleanbreak, who work closely with both convicts and ex-convicts, I think it would be a good idea to research this company further to see how their work functions. It may give me an insight as to how I could go about working with a prison.

I was slightly disappointed at the space we have been given to perform our stories. Perhaps I was expecting the rooms to be furnished and set out with props and mannequins that would make it look exactly like it would have during the time the house was built. I felt like I wanted to know more about what each room was used for and how it would have been set out, resulting in several rooms lacking in character and atmosphere. However, I was particulary interested in the maids corridors and bedrooms, which were tiny compared to the rest of the rooms. Several of the rooms had an eerie feel, which would be great to tell some sort of ghost stories (although not to scary because of the children, or perhaps there could be certain stories just for adults!??). Perhaps my initial disappointment was because I was more focused on telling stories that was not neccessarily factual but that were true of the era in which the house was made, however someone cleverly pointed out the fact that 'this project is about family fun' and is not a historical event.

After performing a short story inspired by the gardens at Ham House, which consisted of four fairies one from each season of the year, who came out from their hiding places for visitors to see, my group thought it'd be a magical story to be told during the christmas fairs. However, as we had performed it outside, we debated whether it would lose its magical element if we were to move it inside. Despite being a short piece that was created within around twenty minutes, I enjoyed it and felt it would work well for a family fun day, particulary taking the interest of young children. Perhaps spending a few minutes to find an appropriate place inside, (if we can find one that we think will make it work) will give us the oppurtunity to perform it for the fair. Excited at the thought of costume and make up for this piece too, although there should be more focus on the winter fairy as it will be for Christmas.

Looking forward to doing this project, however I'm confused about what I want to base my performance on, or who to do it with. I would like to work with a group of people in prison as I later want to become a dramatherapist and I feel this would give me a good insight into what it may be like. I feel it could take me on a journey with those people both psychologically and physically, which are the two major elements of dramatherapy. I also think it could be a good idea to work with a group that I could perhaps continue working with after this project. There's so much to think about!!!