Assessment

Yesterday we all gathered and spent 2 hours moving through our numerous and varied pieces of work for assessment. What an energy and what a great success. Not only did we all have the chance to showcase those pages that have been (for me at least) a large part of my life for the past few weeks but we received the chance to listen to new work, new writing, new words. The work was varied and courageous, Jon's especially felt as close to taking a risk (for him but also crucially implicating us, his audience) and Steve's work is ambitious but had a beauty and command (I must read the text to really get a sense of the work as a whole).

Then we all got into bed with Jamie and constructed a character for him to respond to (albeit by following clear and precise projected instructions). I then read, several pieces, which was a joy and an honour - Sara's monologue especially charging me with a desire to perform it. Then there was the work of Ophelia, who has a great ability to stage the most subtle moments and still evoke absolute truth. There is something, (as I said to her) of 'The City' by Martin Crimp to her work and this is no bad thing at all. I must read the whole play...

Then there was my own writing, a labour of love, yes. Something I hated and then fell for all over again. Duncan has been especially strict with his rigorous feedback and has prompted me to seek perfection in my writing. Something happened yesterday, I felt myself leaving the text as writer and approaching it as director...I assembled my audience in a circle, (on chairs) and spoke with Steve, (reading "O"): "Think of this as a focus group". Then, scene:

Something happened, I felt the urge to defend myself not to Steve, but to the audience to my left and to my right, I needed to address them and convince them - if they were on my side then my violence could be excused. This felt immediately like Tim Crouch, I was channeling that energy somewhat, excited by it all the while. I want to attempt a play - from this narrative within a focus group where I talk with the audience and then the character before me - as myself but scripted. I don't know - Jamie mentions a lot how much we are stealing or borrowing from those who we encounter - am I relying too heavily on Crouch's form or can I find a new way to apply his ideas to this work?! I want to reflect upon this and I want to find a way to make this piece work - to stage it, to perform it...with Steve hopefully if he is game.