How did I use space?
In our performance, we used some blocks to show where the interview space was and also so that Natasha and Gareth could stand on them to show the different parts of Mr Nixon’s conscience. I think that this was effective because it showed who they were and I was not conscious of them, as they were clearly two separate parts of his brain. I couldn’t see them but I was aware of the voices in my head. I reacted to them by moving slightly towards them when they were speaking. I think this worked well because they were on totally different levels to me, which also emphasised the whole idea of Mr Nixon being aware of them, but not being able to see them.
How did I create an atmosphere/tension?
We tried to make the interviewers (Natasha & Gareth) seem as posh and uptight as possible in attempt to show satire about the fact that they were working for a very posh school. I think that this made the interview quite tense, as most interviews are, but this one was even more so because of the blatant stereotypical characters.
I think this worked well because we showed clearly that Mr Nixon was slightly out of place with these two incredibly posh women interviewing him and with him just talking normally and he stuck out which was the effect that we tried to create.
What drama strategies were used and why?
The drama strategy that we used the most was probably cross cutting. We used this so much because it showed something that was happening in the present then we suddenly shifted to a moment that had already happened in the past. This worked well because it showed what was going on inside Mr Nixon’s head and showed us one of his past experiences in dealing with delinquent children.
I also think that we used it at good times in our performance so that it wasn’t just totally focused on the interview but split into several parts.
We also used multi role. We used this to show the interviewers, the good and bad angel and Oggy Moxon and Sammy. Each time Gareth & Natasha switched characters, the differences between them were very clear. They changed their accents, body language, facial expressions and gestures so it would be easy for the audience to tell between all of them. Is stayed as Mr Nixon because he was involved in the whole performance in all of the scenes.
Would there be anything I would change?
I would probably change some of my facial expressions. I don’t think that I put as much emphasis and I would have wanted into them and that I could have definitely improved them to show more that Mr Nixon was thinking and feeling. I would also change some of the actual interview and made it a bit longer, adding more ideas such as having a tour round the school to check out some of the facilities that are at St Georges. Apart from that, I don’t think I would change anything.
How did we show the characters?
With the interviewers as I early stated, we tried to make them as posh and stereotypical as possible by using accents and making their facial expressions slightly pinched and overly smiling to the point where it looks like they are in some discomfort. They sat down with their backs straight as possible and with their hands on their knees to show that they were sitting with a good posture and looking all neat and collected.
When Gareth went into the character of Oggy Moxon, he wanted to sound as common as possible, which was a large contrast to the posh character he was also playing. He put on a very deep and common accent and made a gesture with his fist, which said, “Do what I say, or there’ll be trouble!” He also noticeably towered over me to try and make himself look a lot bigger than me, and therefore more intimidating
Natasha’s character as Gail was very different to Gareth’s. She was down on the floor grabbing my leg. She was on a totally different level to Gareth and I to show that she was begging for me to stay at Whitewall because the children there need Mr Nixon. She spoke in a much more common voice then as the posh interviewer but not overly common. She did this to show the contrast between the people that go to Whitewall and that of St Georges.
