People, Places and Things

People, Places and Things (notes)

References:

- Seagull: Chechoff

- Romeo and Juliet

- Titus Andronicus

Practitioners:

- Stanislavski: naturalism

- Brecht: pace and timing

- Peter Brook

- Frantic Assembly

People:

- Emma: Denise Gough

- Set Design: Bunny Christie

- Director: Jeremy Herrin (Headlong Theatre)

- Playwright: Duncan Macmillian

- Could be seen to have a cyclic nature, (ending in the audition room could be interpreted as a fresh start and a new beginning or alternatively as a cycle of her ongoing addiction). This was an effective ending as it was left open to interpretation and did not try to pigeon-hole the different outcomes that rehab can have.
-Themes: reality vs fantasy, (blurring the lines between what is real and what is not real to show how it feels being an addict and being high/drunk)
-Gesture: holding of brother's hand to convey comfort and how the absence of a character can be more powerful than their actual presence.
-Clones of Emma coming out of bed enhanced the element of surprise and shock, (dynamic and unusual performance factor). Very overpowering and crowded, then suddenly she is alone again to represent loneliness and isolation even when surrounded by the clones.
-Name constantly changing: identity crisis and need to start over again and again, (need for a new life and fresh start). Also shows how she is hiding behind different personas and cannot be her true self, (links to her being an actress; always playing different characters for escapism).
-Traverse staging: made her appear 'boxed in' and trapped inside rehab. Also helped to create a more intensified atmosphere.
-Emotional Connection: breaking down barriers between addicts and non-addicts. Forming connections with the addicts and having an insight into their experiences broke down the negative stigma attached to addiction.
- Could only see inside Emma's head: made us relate directly to her story and again made an emotional connection. Surrealism made us feel disconnected to contrast this and keep the story general.
-Multi-role: "you look like my mother", (significant that the mum and the therapist were both played by the same person). Emma found nurture and comfort from the therapist, (mother figure).
- Changing perception of people with addictions, (moral and message)
- Surrendering to a higher power, (honesty)