Boat improv

This was fun. I finished the exercise with carpet burn and missing hair but that was so fun and beneficial.

Sarah created a small box on the carpet which represented the cramp conditions of the boat and placed students inside as the convicts and others surrounding as the guards.

We were told to imagine the smell and how uncomfortable we'd feel and how much we wanted to talk, but 5 minutes into the exercise I did genuinely FEEL these feelings. I had Sophie sitting basically on top of me and I felt so cramped and my legs were hanging out of the box which I appreciated but the guards decided this wasn't allowed and made me squash up even more.

Inside the box - on the boat - I wasn't allowed to look up, look left, look right, cough, sneeze, even move my body just a FRACTION, if I did the guards would hit me or taunt me with nasty words, the same with everybody. This put into perspective for me how I and the other students had to do this for 30 minutes, yet realistically the real convicts had to experience this for 8 months. 

About 15 minutes into the exercise I was taken out by one of the guards, I can't remember exactly why, probably for something stupid, but I found I appreciated the simple movement! Although I knew i was on my way out to get 'beaten' the feeling of stretching my back and moving my legs was beautiful. I love the commitment we all had to our characters and our improvisation. The guard Layla literally dragged me outside and at one point I lost my balance and fell to the floor which was actually quite funny, but no one even cracked a smile - not even myself - because we were so into the exercise.

This improv was very beneficial for each character. Although in the improv I played a convict and I've been cast as a guard, I feel I got a good understanding of how the convicts would feel and also got a good further understanding of the play. 

I've been very judgemental and skeptical with the play but I think this is all due to a lack of understanding of it. The more independent research I do and the more exercises and tasks we're given allows me to grasp the idea of it further, and I'm getting a more appreciative and positive vibe towards the play and I'm beginning to enjoy it.