DAY 6: THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2017 – KEANU WALES: Back to Work again!

Mr Rudolph started the day with gruelling warm-ups and stretches – I am sure I have managed to rearrange my entire body after that session. Then Mrs Markram got her revenge for the boat trip of the previous day and stretched our voices further. Yes, surely those two got vengeance with their breakfast cereal that morning.  Our only allie, was Herr Blum. The mission of the day – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – was to do scenes outside for a “site-specific” production.  Nature is there to be enjoyed, to have long picnics with lots of Mrs Van Wyk’s gastronomic gourmet delights and not used as a backdrop for poor innocent learners to do all sorts of silly acts!

Mrs Markram and Herr Blum had already selected the spots where the torture will be executed.  I could see that Mrs M had Herr Blum under her spell and that our alliance was now compromised.  No use turning to Herr Blum now… He had the same gleam in his eye… Will we survive? Where is our bus driver Mr Koopman? Anyone has his number? HELP!!!!

I honestly enjoyed the experience of doing a site-specific piece and working outside on interesting sites was very exciting. Mrs Markram said that in site-specific productions the environment becomes an extra character in the play and that improvisational skills are required from actors to deal with the site.  Both teachers selected the coolest sites for our various scenes.  Every learner enjoyed this process very much.  It was completely new to both groups and what a trustworthy group to do it for the first time. Everyone wanted to make a success of this production and I definitely gave my best shot.  The voice training came through for me because I had to project in the scene that Khaya and myself did.  This day was one of my highlights.  We just worked together, nobody complained and everything just came together.

The evening’s outing to the theatre was a perfect ending to a wonderful day.  Mrs M treated us to a theatre excursion in Camps Bay.  This was my first time at Theatre at the Bay.  We watched Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Coat.  It is a musical and I enjoyed every minute of it.  As a group of actors, we learn so much.  We were in good spirits.  Mrs van Wyk came to our rescue when we arrived late at home with a late- night snack and a cup of hot chocolate.

Another perfect day at Drama Camp.  ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE!!!