The Girl and the Fox: Week Two- 'Remember your audience (also puppets).'

"Remember your audience" was probably the most used phrase in this morning's rehearsal, as the Chameleons continued to explore the different elements that will make up The Girl and the Fox. It was week two of our project today and what a busy morning we had. Within the play we have a variety of colourful animals which accompany or assist The Girl on her journey, and a number of scenes where we use puppetry and scale to create various effects. This morning we wanted to explore both of these things ahead of beginning work on the show itself next week (a shorter term means a much faster turn around time).

We began the session with a recap of the story and characters. As mentioned last week, the show uses several Inuit names- which are tricky for to remember for those unfamiliar with them- and it was great to see everyone have a go at remembering them. We were joined by some new faces to the group this week too, so it was a good opportunity to get everyone up to speed.

The Chameleons were next asked to walk around the room and follow instructions which had been reversed. A game they were all familiar with. In this version, however, they would be given an animal and then had to move around like that animal. These ranged from smaller creatures, like a cat, to giraffes and bears. The group had to think about how they were moving and how they could give the animals character. We explored the idea that they weren't allowed to use their hands and knees to represent animals, as this didn't portray what animal they necessarily were. We then paired the group up with each other and asked them to create larger animals.

The lesson here was not only about making the animals look interesting, but also about teamwork. The group had to make animals that could move and so had to work together in order for this to happen. They ended up in groups of five to create a whale. There were some wonderful creations from everyone. Some of the nicest were those which combined the traits of animals with aspects of people, such as we had an old eagle who used a walking stick.

After the break we got to work with the puppets. The group were very excited about this part of the session (the puppets always go down a storm), and were split into groups again. In their groups they had to bring the puppets to life, making them move around the room. Here we spoke a lot about remembering where the audience were, and making sure they could see the puppet, not the performers. We also talked about how to make the puppet breath, and using slow movements to make them seem alive.

Some groups created scenes with their puppet, touching on the idea of perspective in a show. We had explored this idea after the break, saying that one way to make something look big on stage was to place it beside something small, and vice versa. The Chameleons all created some nice moments with their puppets and it will be fantastic to continue exploring this as the weeks progress.

A busy, busy week. The lesson to take away seemed to be 'remember where the audience are sat'. As I passed around the room I heard several members of the group reminding themselves and others this lesson. It is good to know some of our lessons sink in. Next week we are beginning work on the show and that means we will be giving out characters. Exciting times ahead indeed.

The Girl and the Fox- Week One: 'A long time ago, in the frozen North...'

We're back! A brand new term with the Chameleons launched this morning; that means another term with the blog as we delve into our ninth exciting production with the Saturday morning group. This term is particularly exciting, as we are entering new territory. Inuit culture is one few people know lots about, but one which is rich in colourful stories and folklore containing adventure and magic: a good fit for these Chameleons. In our opening session we did some introductions for newcomers and delved into the world of our original story, looking at the meanings behind character names and the finer details of the show.

It's always tricky to start a new term. We are lucky enough to have many returning members in the group, but there are always new faces and so we like to spend some time at the start of a term with some easy group games. This gives everyone the chance to get to know one another, and for us to introduce newcomers to the Anthos Arts approach to making theatre. Bean bags was the name of the game this morning, as we challenged the group to toss bean bags to each other while remembering the names of their cast members. A fun way to start.

Next was shapes, our all time favourite. The shape game is useful for many reasons that we regularly write about here on the blog, but it gets the group thinking about physical theatre. How to use their bodies to create different shapes and creatures. It also teaches them to listen to one another and, importantly, to work together. At first we started asking the whole group to make large but simple shapes, then broke them down into groups for some more complex ones. The game also helps newcomers get used to working with previous members, as everyone has one goal to work towards.

Once everyone was warmed up we sat down to discuss the world surrounding the play. It was fantastic to hear that most of the group had read the story (we had sent it out prior to the session), and to discover that some Chameleons already know about Inuit culture. Alongside the theatre we create, the aim is always to teach the group new things. While previously this has been largely skills based, this term there is a wonderful amount of context for them to absorb as well. We also discussed folklore and different examples of stories which might fit this description.

In learning about the story of 'The Gil and the Fox,' we had to discussed the beliefs of Inuit culture and what some of their stories used to be like. We discussed the world in which the people would have lived in a long time ago, and about the importance of stories within the culture and community. Stories used to be told around fires as the primary source of entertainment. Our story is framed in this way and so we wanted to teach the Chameleons the significance of this choice.

The group were given a list of characters who appear in the show, many of whom have traditional Inuit names that carry additional meaning. The names of characters in these stories were important, as they often told lots about the character themselves. Sometimes these names would represent the purpose of the character, or describe their traits. For example, Ataninnuaq, a name meaning 'one who counsels' is given to a character who provides The Girl insight and advice on her journey, while Alasie is the name for someone with an honest and kind nature. As part of teaching the Chameleons about the culture we chose not to shy away from using these names, hard as they might be to initially pronounce. Embracing the culture in a show like this is half the fun!

To round off the session, we did a narrative walk-through of the story. What that means for us is that we had the group act out the story as it was narrated. Usually, we would do a speed run of the story in a similar fashion on the first week, however as this was a new story we wanted to take our time with it, so that the Chameleons had a chance to understand the plot. Several mishaps, an evil sorcerer and one stolen totem later and the group had completed their first attempt at performing the show. Activities like this are valuable, as it gives the group the chance to explore the story and have fun playing loads of characters.

Christmas is wonderful, but it is good to be back with the Chameleons this term; and working on a brand new story no less. After a year of adaptation, the return to an original show seemed daunting, and picking a setting that few people know about was mildly nerve-wracking. The stories and culture are so rich, however, that it felt right and this morning the group took well to it all. They made some fantastic work and are excited to get started on the show. We at team Anthos are thrilled to be back and cannot wait to continue work on this next week.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe- The Final Chapter

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been one of our favorite stories for many years. When we first started to create shows with the Chameleon group we laughed about the idea of running a project inspired by it. The story was so grand and the characters so many that it just never really seemed feasible. However, given the successful reception of The Three Musketeers and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz this year, we began to wonder if maybe it would be possible after all. It seemed completely surreal thirteen weeks ago when we finally got started on the project and even more so yesterday when we finally saw it on stage.

This term has been, without a doubt, one of the best we have ever run. We are always lucky enough to somehow work with a lovely cast, but this term they have been truly outstanding. From the first session, the amount of passion for the story which everyone brought was clear. The group were always excited and full of new ideas for the show and how to adapt the story. Even when everyone had been assigned their characters, nobody stopped giving ideas for how things could be done or how the story could be performed. They were a wonderful cast, the biggest we had ever had, and they made it such a fantastic experience for us.

It's noteworthy that because of illness, the cast hadn't actually performed the show with all of the set, props and costumes together before yesterday. The technical rehearsal was one full of excitement and plenty of nerves; however it looked good. On the Cygnet stage for the first time it finally looked like a finished performance.

Throughout the day the cast were buzzing with excited energy, eager to perform their adaptation of C.S. Lewis' story. When the time finally came; they did not disappoint. The show made the audience laugh and cheer (and boo at points...sorry White Witch). The cast went above and beyond and delivered a wonderful show. They made us very, very proud. As written earlier, this story was one we have loved for some time. To see it done such justice by our young cast was heartwarming.

It has been such a magical term overall. Our Chameleon Group has certainly reached a milestone this winter; it is not a project that we will soon forget. On the topic of milestones, this is our ninth performance with the Chameleons since the group first started. Next term we will be looking at Inuit mythologies in 'The Girl and the Fox.' The stories from this part of the world are rich and vivid, so it is sure to be an exciting term.

All that's left to say then, as we haven't said this enough, is thank you to everyone who attended the performance and supported our Chameleons. Thanks to our incredible cast, the Cygnet theatre and the Exeter University Drama department for having us. Here's to the next adventure, and the next and the next and the next. Merry Christmas to all. See you in 2019.

Story Makers: The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat- Week 7: 'Shadow Puppets.'

Yesterday we had a very long and very busy day with our Chameleons at the Cygnet theatre: where they performed their show and we closed the book on another term. Fittingly, this morning also saw the conclusion of our first term with the Story Makers; and suddenly seven weeks seems to have flown past. It being the first term for the group, there was always the question of what would happen at the end of term.

Initially, the plan was to create a show, however after working with the group it seemed that doing so might be asking too much too fast. The group is comprised of some lovely creative minds and demanding a performance from them felt like the wrong approach. So, after much debate I decided a better approach would be to create a version of the story which, if needed, could be seen as a performance, whilst also teaching the group a new skill. The way in which I finally settled upon to achieve this was to do some shadow puppetry.

Creating shadows is easy- we used some torches, a couple of bed sheets and some string for the screen and light, but there are many other benefits for working within this age range as well. For instance; our story makers worked together (first in pairs and then as a group) to create the effect of the shadows on the screen. It was a good exercise for promoting teamwork and communication between them. Additionally, for those who would otherwise be too nervous to perform in front of others, being behind the screen alleviates the feeling of being watched.

In terms of learning the mechanics, the group paired up and took a screen each. Both had a toy chameleon which they could use to create shadows. Both pairs had to try and make the chameleons look larger and smaller by moving them towards/away from the light.

Next we set about telling the story. This involved using some small cardboard cut-outs of the characters who appeared. The group worked together, taking turns to hold the torches up and use the characters, whilst the story was narrated. All in all, it was a lovely performance, made up of elements which most could find at home. It sums up what this term has been about; teaching our story makers about drama using simple things to create something imaginative which helps to tell a story. Sure, we have focused on learning about the different elements needed and approaches taken to telling a story, but the intention has always been that the group could use the skills they learn outside of the sessions too.

  
So it was that we ended up with a performance to bring this first term to a close. While it may not be a similar one to our Chameleon group yesterday, or even as initially intended seven weeks ago; the group were all involved and got to tell the tale of the Owl and the Pussycat in their own way. It was a lovely to watch and so much fun to be involved in.

So that's it. All that is left is to say a huge thank you and well done to our wonderful Story Makers. It's been a wonderful seven weeks and there is bound to be more in store for them in the new year. More stories to tell and work to be made. These guys have completely made the early Sunday mornings worthwhile and will all be missed over the Christmas holidays. I couldn't have asked for a nicer bunch to kick off our Early Years drama journey. We will be getting back together again post-Christmas to see Hansel and Gretel at the Exeter Northcott. Can't wait.