Performing Arts: Grade 8 + Grade 10 Theatre Showcase

Grade 8 Theatre
Tableau vivant Part.1

The trimester rotation one group for Grade 8 Theatre classes are completing their first unit, exploring the genre of ‘tableau vivant.’ Last week saw them on campus doing a site-specific extension – flash mob AND take to the stage to present their ‘living pictures’ to a formal audience viewing.

UISG Grade 8

Students started with various physical exercise to gain control of their bodies and faces. Next, they did a Juilliard Creative Classroom workshop analyzing a photograph of Mulberry street (NYC) from 1910 and how they would stage it. Once in groups, the students researched this historic theatre ‘tableau vivant’ genre, and selected paintings or photographs portraying different amounts of people, analyzed the possible costumes needed from one selected painting, and then matched appropriate background music. After forming a performance group, the group collaborated to select one image and brought it to life on stage, by freezing in place for up to two minutes!

Performances took place in the Admin Hall, Mr. Grist’s office, Dr. Mullens’ office, and the crosswalk in the staff parking lot! Thank you to the various UISG staff who brought their classes as an appreciative audience, admiring the fact that our Grade 8 actors could showcase their strategies to overcome distractionsthrough their performance.

Grade 10 Theatre
Tadashi Suzuki Physical Theatre
Part.2

Last Monday the Grade 10 Senior Performing Arts Theatre students had their public demonstration for their Tadashi Suzuki Modern Japanese Physical Theatre experience in the Admin Hall, also known as a “STOMPING SHAKU HACHI.” This performance consisted of the “10 Ways of Walking” and the “Four Basic Positions.”

In Grade 10 Theatre, the focus is on “Theatre Throughout the Ages: Research, Reflections, and Performance.”

Thinking about how “modern theatre is an amalgam (combination) of aesthetically different forms, expressive styles, and interpretations of theatre communicated from the cultures of the past – then changed for its current audience” as their Statement of Inquiry. This means that we have started with a very modern theatre style and will then combine it with a very ancient play, and see how the forms will combine, change, enhance-illustrate the script, and bring this old story into a modern age – audience.

The Grade 10s focused on transforming themselves by use of physical theatre to push themselves into a new form of movement, while driving themselves to a higher level of body awareness and control. The Tadashi Suzuki method required the students to have strong bodies, strong voices and/or breathing, a strong centre (or core strength for stamina). To be able to cope with physical stress and maintain a high level of energy and commitment when performing.

Students were to: rehearse, learn, and perform, maintain good participation, focus, active listening, mime, and accepting of offers from their director. Participate in an in-class and public performance using the above skills.

In addition to the “onstage” duties, the Grade 10s also had to do their reflective writing on their Arts Process Journal. This had to include a chronological narration of their experience doing this theatre form from beginning until their performance, with various guiding questions about their self-performance (abilities), their group cooperation – ensemble skills, and various IB MYP Approaches to Learning Skills throughout the process.

Congratulations to our Grade 10 Theatre students for their excellent first show of the school year!

These newly honed skills will be integrated directly into their upcoming production of Aeschylus’s ancient Greek tragedy, Prometheus Bound, which begins rehearsals next week. We are confident the Grade 10 Theatre Troupe will leave the audience captivated and eager for more!