Review of Last years online festival

I decided to watch and review some of last years performances in last years online festival. I have chosen to review 3 different performance pieces from the festivals that I believed related or hit home to me and to the work I have chosen to do. I will be analysing the strengths and weakness but hopefully I want to receive some sort of inspiration for my own work.

"Centre Stage"

Created and Performed by Daniel Dryden

Centre Stage is a name based off of a theatre school that Daniel Dryden used to attend when he was younger. Using monologues, personal adapted songs and interviews he talks about about musical theatre and the positives and negatives that comes to enjoying the genre. As well as talking about aperture dramatics and why it is important and influential in his life.

Due to to COVID and the restrictions that came with it last year, Daniel performed the full piece in his home making light of what he could do in his situation by using his home and home made props to help set the scene he was trying to convey. He used almost every room of his full house and it was exciting to see a change of scenery from time to time. Because Musical Theatre is big and bold, Daniel used what he had to create these intentions from his own house by changing camera angles, having different musical numbers and with the editing this kept my attention through out.

With the chapters throughout the piece is allowed to take the piece into sections to create a clean timeline and to understand what is expected in each part instead of throwing subjects in with now warning.

The lack of costume and props didn't matter, he used what he could at home to provide entertainment for the piece. Using whatever he had such as blanket, hold hats and theatre t shirts that could help convey his characters. They were only needed to build the foundation of the characters as the main focus was from what Daniel was saying (or singing). Costumes were only shown to identify a somewhat alter ego character or to let audiences know this is a dream like section or cut scene to represent Daniel is thinking, this is how songs are used within musicals in general.

You can tell time and preparation has been used throughout the piece as the interviews must of taken time to condense as well as writing lyrics that are completely different to the original tracks he was using.

Because I have a background in Musical Theatre in my degree in training it was interesting to see these popular show tunes re imagined and to hear them in different perspectives I also enjoyed the underlying jokes and little nods to theatre that were introduced that only someone who knew about the theatre community would understand.

"The Future is Female"

A film by James Moxom

I was attracted to watch James piece due to the name of the project thinking it would be a feminist project written by a women at first glance. But i was shocked to hear a man's voice when first watching the project. Rather it being a performance highlighting and accepting ones femininity from a mans perspective and the importance of female role models and the impact they have.

Again, restrictions due to COVID were heavy and James was isolated in his room and could only be given the space he had at the time. He transformed his piece to something similar to a day in the life, but from his perspective. From waking up, to getting ready to eventually doing his full makeup routine. This is accompanied by a monologue backing track of James explaining about the women who have influenced him and explaining his definition of a woman. His monologue is excellently executed and i was sucked in straight away to his story of firsts such as hearing Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" single that I distinctly remember myself also, so its nice to find a familiarity in Jame's Speech.

His confidence comes to life in his expressions when putting on to the make up compared to him in day to day life, as stated he says he is comfortable being a man but you can see his femininity come to life as soon as the beauty blender pounds onto his face.

The setting of the scene using different angels was affective as I got to see and understand the plan out of his room and made me feel as if I was in the room with him. This is what you are wanting from an audience member to feel as if they have escaped to somewhere else.

Like Daniel, James uses what he has in his wardrobe and its all he needs as he is creating a piece of art about him so of course it's necessary to use personal items and items he would use everyday which gives off a better feel of who he is as a person.