Student 4: High Achieved
Extracts of student evidence. Research and analysis of the text for performance:
Identifying the intention of the playwright A 30 minute Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Abridged by Bill Tordoff
Identifying the ideas, themes and messages within the chosen text
The two houses of Montague and Capulet are seriously feuding, so the period of time in which the play takes place is at the height of tension between the
two houses, as stated by the Prince in scene one, “Thrice have brawls bred by thee, old Capulet…”
Establishing the social background of the text
Capulet – Lord Capulet is very concerned with his social status. He cares more about finding Juliet a suitable husband than he is with making Juliet happy.
He is treating Juliet’s marriage as a business proposal.
Considering the development of the characters and action throughout the text
I think it’s important to remember that Juliet was 14 when this happened to her, she was little more than a child, hence her imagination would have been
much more vivid than an adult put in this situation. This is why, I think, she and Romeo went to such extremes to be together, despite them barely knowing
each other. I think Juliet is not normally a rule breaker, so the thrill of doing something her parents didn’t approve of would really give her a rush, which is a
contributing factor in the play. Romeo would have been very similar to Juliet. I would also say that Romeo had been coddled as a child, living in such a rich
family and being the sole heir of the Montague fortune. He would have been less naïve than Juliet, however, being a man and seeing fighting and bloodshed
in the streets. Again, the drama of coming from two feuding families would have encouraged the romance between the two lovers, as a form of rebellion.
Formulating an explanation of the director’s production concept.
The concept I have for this is modernising it slightly, yet making Romeo and Juliet transcend into the past, more as timeless characters.
I see Romeo and Juliet as a bit ridiculous, killing yourself after a few days of knowing someone seems a bit drastic. So I want the audience to see both sides
of the coin, the ridiculousness of the intense emotion, but I also want them to see this through their eyes. Romeo and Juliet really think the love they feel is
true, and they think death is the only way out in the end. This play is really a study of teenagers and teenage love, the extremes it can go to.
Translating the scripted text to facilitate the enactment of the script from ‘page to stage’:
Communicating a concept to convey the intention of the play
Juliet - long white dress with plain ballet flats. For the banquet scene, angel wings and sparkly face paint make-up. Same as Romeo, transcends time with
simplicity of costume.
There are futuristic robot suits, and long period dresses, and Cleopatra outfits etc. This gives the audience a chance to try and figure out when this
interpretation is set, thus forcing them to think about the story as being timeless.
Prince: This student was very over the top in his audition, and physically he is very short and cute. Then I began to rethink the idea of the prince. Since
there are so many tall male’s in this play, I though it would make a humorous contrast to have the person with the most power being the smallest, most
innocent looking one.
Orchard with the balcony. For this, I need the tabs to open and the ladder to be already onstage, twinned with fairy lights to symbolise the spark of light in
Romeo and Juliet’s lives in meeting each other. I am also using the cyclorama to project an image on the screen of the moon rising, to convey that this is
happening at night with a blue wash also to help convey that Romeo is outside.
Ties – the people of the Capulet house wear blue ties/blue clothes, whereas the Monatgue’s wear red. I wanted the audience to draw the comparison to
the Crips and Bloods, feuding gangs in America. This would help the audience draw a comparison to modern times without the actors wearing chains and
jeans round their knees as the gangs do, while still keeping the idea timeless.
Casting of actors
Romeo - I am looking for a male who can carry emotion in his face, and who is physically quite manly. I need the audience to believe that a girl could fall in
love with him just by looking at him. I also need an actor who can deal with the stress of having lots of lines and dealing with the iambic pentameter. I also
need an actor who is comfortable with the relationship with Juliet. Capulet: I want an actor who can do slick and smooth with Paris, and be charming, but
also have the anger of Capulet behind closed doors.
Developing and implementing a rehearsal schedule
A rehearsal schedule has been developed.
Supporting the development of roles and dramatic action
There were some scenes which were way too fast, I really need the cast to stop thinking about lines and start thinking about the emotion behind the lines,
and the reactions and facial expressions that their character would have. I felt like there was something wrong in the small bit when Romeo and Juliet are
alone, so I just told the actor to slow right down, 10 times slower than he was doing. Shakespeare – my cast are having issues in moving past the
Shakespearean language and feeling the emotion behind it. I am going through some hot-seating exercises and some modernising the language exercises to
try and get them to feel the emotion and not worry about the iambic pentameter or anything.
Guiding the production team
This has taught me to ensure that the crew know what they are doing at least a week before the final rehearsals, and to make sure that I as the director stay
on their backs and ensure they do what I need them to do.
Fostering a positive and co-operative working environment to enable the production to be realised.
Enforcing a position of authority – despite needing to have a relationship with the cast which is positive and creating a fun environment, the director also
needs to realise that the cast need to be told what to do, and occasionally told off when misbehaving, especially with a young cast. I think the director
needs to find a good balance between being a friend and being a teacher.