Understanding Grotowski

March 30th
Description:
These two weeks, knowing what we did about Grotowski, we started teaching it to the kids in the play. Also we separated them according to scenes and character so we could make them explore and see if they would work or not for the character. We directed so they  could create their scenes according to the titles given. The next week, we started working with specific groups of people and getting them to understand 'poor theatre'. As well, we went to the watch two plays: "Antigona" and "Incendios".

Analysis:
One of the most challenging things I faced during directing the scenes was explaining Grotowski's "poor theatre" to smaller people. In the witches scene, which was the first I directed the idea of making them understand that their main instruments were their body and voice was difficult to explain. The simple idea of eliminating effects, light, scenery to make theatre's only essence the actor's connection with the audience was difficult for us to understand too.

As well, making the witches act trying to convey Grotowski's conventions out of some things we told them and making it out of the blue was challenging. This was only to see if the actors we chose would work fine for their characters.

Then we went to see, Antigona. As for the this play, we could actually see what 'poor theatre' looked like. The way there weren't many lights, sound effects, makeup, etc. helped me get an idea of what this theatre meant. It created a connection with the audience. It transcended. The way it was only one person on stage portraying several characters helped emphasise the fact that the actor's only instrument is their body and voice uniquely.

Connections:
The connections I found these two weeks were:
Rehearsing with the child actors and "Antigona"- I believe that it helped me realise there were few things they could use except from their body. The understanding of their body being their only tool was specifically portrayed in the play.
Rehearsing with the kids and our own rehearsal - Even though our rehearsal required more physical ability and we asked the kids only to do certain things. What differed between these two processes is that there way a different level of concentration and focus.

Reflection:
Working this week with child actors helped me realise that they need to work on a higher concentration level. I need to be able to explain how Grotowski's theatre works in an easy and understandable ways they will be able to understand this theatre and break their barrier?
Is it possible to make children reach a high level of concentration? What do known child actors do in order to cent rate and be able to transcend?