Workshop 2 – interactions

Learning intention

In this activity, your will delve into the world of Neighbourhood Watch by focusing on 4 key scenes where Catherine and Martin interact. Your task is to stage these scenes with careful consideration of acting, directing, and design elements, all while exploring the play's ideas, concerns and connections to magical realism.

Assumed knowledge

A working knowledge of the conventions of magical realism as they relate to contemporary Australian theatre practice.

Instructions

• In a small group of 4 or 5, choose one of the 4 scenes where Catherine and Martin interact. Note: your class might want to coordinate a range of scenes, or perform the same scene to compare different approaches to the script.

• In your group, conduct a staged reading of the chosen scene. Discuss characterisation, emotions, and the cultural, social, political or personal concerns relevant to Catherine and Martin's interaction.

• Decide who will take on the roles of actors, directors, and designers.

• Collaboratively create a performance of your assigned scene, considering the elements listed below.

  • • Acting choices – discuss and experiment with how the actors will portray Catherine and Martin's interactions. Focus on expressing Catherine's grief and trauma.

    • Directing – determine the blocking, movement, and timing of the scene to convey the emotional subtext effectively.

    • Design elements – consider how a minimalist use of set, lighting, sound, and other design elements can support the conventions of magical realism in your scene.

    • Central ideas/issues – identify and highlight the central ideas or issues present in your scene. Discuss how these connect with the broader narrative and can be realised through contemporary Australian theatre conventions.

    • Connection to Ana – explore how Catherine's experiences in your scene connect with Ana's life story, considering the overarching concerns of the play.

• Dedicate time to rehearse your scene, making sure to refine the performance, blocking, and design elements.

• Each group in your class will present their staged scene to the entire class, following the chronological order of the play's scenes involving Catherine and Martin.

Reflection

After all scenes have been performed, answer the following questions as reflective writing in your study notes (around 300 words total).

• Discuss how the actors playing Catherine expressed her grief and trauma in 2 of the groups' scenes.

• Share insights into how design elements supported the style of magical realism in one group's scene.

• Explain how 2 central artistic, cultural, social, political and/or personal issues or concerns were realised theatrically by groups in their chosen scenes.

• Discuss the connections between Catherine's experiences in your chosen scene and Ana's life story.

You may also want to add this workshop evidence to you study notes (see the Study notes page).