unit 8 - monologue

Unit 8 - Monologue

Through in class activities, we will build a skills list which will analyse the needs of the profession as well as research into specific progression routes.

What Monologue I Have Chosen?

I've had to research published plays and pick one for my performance. After doing my research I came over a monologue called Typical Teen which was written by Joseph Arnone, I was instantly intrigued by the tittle as it mentioned 'teen', I thought if I'm a teen I would be able to relate to it somehow, I read what it was about and saw it was about a young girl named Shadira confronting her mum about the pressure she has in her life and how she needs more support and to be understood more. 

During my time learning this I really enjoyed it as I was really getting into it and the different kinds of emotion I had to show, although it was slightly tough I managed to do it within a few days and felt content with the way I did.

How I practise For My Monologue :

• Learning your script - learning your script is one of the most important things, as without knowing your lines you wont be able to practise as best as you can or perform as best as you can when it comes to performing, I learnt my lines by separating my monologue into sections and learning it bit by bit until eventually I knew it all. It took me some time however now that I've learnt it when it comes to practising in my class I find it easy as I don't need to keep looking down at my paper. When learning my lines I did have to keep repeating myself a lot but that's how I actually learnt it, I was repeating my lines over and over again and in the morning when I wake up I would go over it again as after I sleep I tend to know more than the night before.

• Annotating my script - One of the first things I do is print out my monologue and start to annotate it, I would write things such as what emotions are being created, when I have to pause, about my character, in which parts of my monologue do I need to add more emphases on my words. when to raise my voice , when not to raise my voice and everything that would link to how I would perform it.

• Hot seating - In class we worked on hot seating with Jose, we all had to write about out characters and sit in the hot seat for our class members to ask us questions about who we are (as the character), we would have to perform our monologues then answer all the questions we were asked, this technique is very effective as you have to put yourself in your characters shoes and try to be exactly them, you start to gain a better understanding of who you are meant to be and how to act, this is important as when it comes to performing you will find it easier as you know your characters background and all about who they are as if you are them.