My Performance ideas and inspiration

Trial by Ordeal: Music Choices

Jessica Sanders / April 29, 2014May 26, 2014 / My Performance ideas and inspiration, Trial By Ordeal : The story behind the title

After searching for what felt like very long hours for the right music for my piece I feel I have final found suitable pieces that will fit perfectly with my performance storyboard. the music is as follows:

1. Gregorian Chant : Choir of The Monks Of The Benedictine Abbey Of St Martin

2. Witches Brew: Ancient Legends

3. Witches Chant: Wicca Celta

4. Epic Proportions: City of Blood Epic Action Film Trailer Music

I have also recordered two speeches in piece which state:

I hereby declare that Jessica Sanders is to be tried for the use of witchcraft. We do not suffer a witch to live, Jessica Sanders shall be tried by ordeal. If the accused is a witch she shall float, proof that she renounced baptism when she entered the devils service. If she is innocent then she shall not float and stay at the bottom of the lake, forever proving her innocence.

We, the church court of Lincoln, have found Jessica Sanders innocent of witchcraft. It will be noted she never rose, thus confirming her innocence to the mighty lord himself.

Annette Kellerman: Water Performance

Jessica Sanders / March 10, 2014May 26, 2014 / My Performance ideas and inspiration

Annette Kellerman performing in an on-stage tank.

The first representation of elements of synchronised swimming were the works of Annette Kellerman in the early 20^th century, who started her career by swimming long distances of open water around America and the United Kingdom. After receiving much attention from the media, Kellerman soon saw huge potential for profit to be made from her swimming skills, “If she had to swim, she could turn it into a spectacular performance” (Gibson 2005, p18). This would later develop in many different shows and venues across Europe and America including: London Hippodrome, White City Amusement park and Wonderland Boston. With her reputation as the “Australian Mermaid”, Kellerman later pursued her career as an actress and started performing in silent films where the majority contained aquatic themes, such as Venus of the South Seas:

“Feature numerous underwater sequences: firstly Kellerman is seen swimming underwater and battling pearl thieves as Shona Royale, the daughter of a South-Sea pearler; and later, she starts in an extended ‘fantasy’ underwater sequence…” (Cooke 2012, p149)

What started off as purely swimming demonstrations was developed with underwater movements, dives and costume that produced a completely different type of performance. “She had created something entirely new and throughout her career she was to perfect this and raise it to an art form” (Gibson 2005, p18). Annette used her skills as a trained dancer and successful athlete to create a new way of moving though the water and entertaining an audience.

In my performance I hope to expand these underwater movements, along with physical theatre, to create a story for the audience.

Works Cited

Yorkshire Life Aquatic: Water Performance

Jessica Sanders / March 5, 2014May 26, 2014 / My Performance ideas and inspiration

Yorkshire Life Aquatic: Dry land synchronised swimming team focus mainly on the artistic side of synchronised swimming. They perform a number of devised site specific performances, workshops and community projects around Yorkshire and use “…movement inspired by real synchronised swimming techniques and celebrating the beauty of real women and feminine role models” (Yorkshire Life Aquatic 2014).

Lucy Meredith, one of the founders of Yorkshire Life Aquatics, was previously a competitive synchronised swimmer, ranking top in her county in 1993-1994. After retiring at the age of 18, she wanted to use her passion and love for synchronised swimming and turn it into an art form suitable for performance and drama workshops.

“… have always missed being involved in synchro but there are not actual opportunities to train unless it’s for competitive reasons. You can’t just do it for fun…

Zoe, a Leeds based choreographer, had rather similar ideas so we decided to work together on it. That’s how Yorkshire Life Aquatic started.” (Meredith 2014)

She described in her interview the ways in which they have adapted synchronised swimming as a sport into a performance. Many of the rules and regulations of the sport have been abandoned in order for their aims and objectives as a theatre company to flourish as well as allowing them to perform with limited restrictions. Similar to Aquabatix they too allow themselves, during the performance, to touch the sides/ floor, produce long amounts of deck work and use props, all of which are strictly prohibited in the sport of synchronised swimming.

Although I am unable to find video of their performances, I love the use of costume and props they use in performances and hope to incorporate this in my solo performance.

Works Cited

Aquabatique: Water Performance

Jessica Sanders / March 4, 2014May 26, 2014 / My Performance ideas and inspiration

Performing at an advertising campaign for NIVEA: "Dare to Dip" — Performing at an advertising campaign for NIVEA: “Dare to Dip”

One group of synchronised swimmers who decided to turn their love for the sport into a performance is Aquabatique who made a splash during the popular television programme Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, where they managed to secure a place in the final. Aquabatique is only one of the acts performed by Aquabatix which was founded in 2004 by two retired international synchronised swimmers. Since then they have continued to progress in popularity and now host many events as well as being evolved in a variety of national television programmes including Sport Relief and Splash. Aquabatique describe themselves as “…a completely unique act created by our aquatic family at Aquabatix so that the joy or water based entertainment can reach anyone” (Aquabatique, 2012)

Not only have Aquabatix developed performances in tanks but they also explored different places to preform including in lakes, waterfalls and outdoor pools. This got me to start thinking about where I would like to stage my performance and thought the idea of doing a witch performance would be very suited to the lake outside the University however, I was advised against this due to health and safety restrictions.

Works Cited

Physical theatre: Research for solo performance

Jessica Sanders / February 18, 2014May 26, 2014 / My Performance ideas and inspiration

“… provoke the imagination of the spectators, rather than furnishing the stage with literal replications of life”(Callery 2001, p5).

Before becoming arguably one of the most influential directors and teachers of physical theatre, Jacques Lecoq began taking an interest in sport from a young age. He “…retained an interest in the way athletes effectively organise and use their bodies” (Murray 2007, p7). By incorporating the sportsman’s agility and physical awareness to the performer’s movement, Lecoq encouraged athleticism within his actors. He believed that gymnastic movements on an athlete had “…a profound effect on him, an effect that was emotional as well as intellectual or physical (Evans 2012, p164). I also aim to, in my performance, to give the spectators a chance to use their imagination as well as connect with the piece.

Works cited