This piece received a nomination for OnStage and a band 6.
As a group, our personal strengths are centred around movement, sound/song and ensemble work. This led us to the decision to incorporate all of these within our group performance in order to showcase our strengths. In the beginning, we selected the stimulus: ‘the ties that bind’, which related to ‘unity’.
Xenophobia (fear of the unknown) is the title of our current piece. The performance presents 5 main fears including, failure, insecurity, claustrophobia, death and the future, with the overarching idea being fear of the unknown. The characters are trapped in an unfamiliar place, known as ‘the waiting place’, where they become fearful and have to face their personal fears. Within our piece, there is also a sub-plot; which is how a fear develops and takes control. Furthermore, the performance presents how similar experiences (fears) unite individuals.
A few of the most significant elements of drama within our group performance include movement, proxemics, language, audience engagement and symbol. Language is key as it has the ability to convey two separate meanings: the surface level and deeper meaning. Surface level meaning is revealed through verbal language, however, the deeper meaning is conveyed through the characters’ non-verbal language and can often contradict or enhance what is being spoken. Proxemics assist in building tension and establishing the feelings and emotions that are tied to the fear. Audience engagement is a huge element within the performance, as we want all audience members to relate and take something away after viewing the piece. Additionally, we have also left it up to audience interpretation. We were fortunate to get feedback from audience members during rehearsals, who mentioned that they “felt fearful themselves when watching.” Which ultimately, is our goal.
We have followed the eclectic form of non-naturalism and stylised movement in order to create a contemporary piece that is relatable to modern audience members. This will assist us in conveying a message through audience interaction and response, appealing to emotions and experience. Our intention is to make the audience feel fearful, through allowing them to experience apprehension, engagement and confrontation, all of which will trigger self-reflection regarding the tragic consequences of fear. Furthermore, we have been inspired by Brechtian elements to make our audience critical thinkers, challenging what they let tie them in bondage.