Use of Voice, Body and Group Work in Theatre Performance - Essay Example

Use of voice, body and group work in theatre performance Theater performance is an integrative discipline requiring the use of body, vocal and group work in order to deliver an outstanding performance to the audience. Collective technique to theater entails physical and vocal approach but it values success of the group of performers as a whole. Through this approach one is able to use body or voice in their respective performance and pass message or humor to the audience. Performance assignments, theatre games, group work and warm-ups are very important to a performer since it enhance his/her confidence while he/she is on stage. This essay therefore, explores the importance of use of the body, vocal and group work to communicate in a theatre performance. The fact that performer is all about trying to imitate someone else in the script is a challenging task since one need to be accurate on his/her vocal projection in order to perfect in faking himself to be that person in the script. Therefore, voice need to be accurate or trying to own the persona in the script, this is achieved by building confidence through rigorous exercise (Berry 1973). Voice is very essential in communication in theatre performance since vocal variation signifies situation or event for example in class performance one raised his/her voice in order to show anger and disappointment or lower and slow the talking in order to show humbleness, seduction or show that character is desperate, we are able to learn that voice is a key element in communicating to audience since varied intonation speaks much on the environment of the performance if it is peaceful, celebration mood or somber. Exercise is always linked to excellence in each aspect of theatre performance, thus exercise of vocals is crucial in order to perfect the art of voice to communicate. Voice exercise is always on how to control air by use of body parts such as ribs, diaphragm and stomach. For example the class exercise of breathing in and out in is very essential in developing control of the air movement during performance. Another practice exercise is the use of ‘huh!’ repetitively exercises our chest from its down and upward movement of our rips and diaphragm since they are linked to control of air in our lungs (Berry 1973). According to Berry (1973), we are able to note that voice practice is very essential, he future suggest that a thirty minutes practice every day is enough for one to perfect his/her in voice performance. Consequently, he echoes our class practice where we practice relaxation and breathing on the floor in order to avoid destruction from openness of the room while standing or sitting. A good script without proper voice master is useless since through tonal variation for example in class performance we were able to distinguish and enable audience to be part of the performance clearly showing them when to laugh, sympathize and be annoyed through tonal variation. According to Murray & David (2003), we are able to draw very useful concepts on how to practice and perfect body movement in perfecting theatre performance. This is in connection to famous principles of Lecog principles and approaches to theatre body performance as a way of communicating to audience. Acting is always aimed at captivating the emotions of the audience and it is therefore, prudent not to detach body movement in acting since body movement is directly connected to emotions of both the performer and audience (Murray & David, 2003). For example in class performance, drunkard would move his body in a certain manner in order to pass a message to audience that he/she is not sober and he or she is struggling to maintain his/her body balance by controlling push and pull movement of the body. ‘Body’ exercise in theatre performance is crucial as any other aspect of acting (Murray & David, 2003). Class performance echoed use of Lecog approach in theatre since preparation exemplified his guideline in teaching theatre performance. For example in class preparation, we were required to prepare space in which we could move freely with no destruction from each other or any harmful material on the floor, performance items were also placed in their appropriate place and students were required to remember in order to avoid being destructed by the items on stage. Another item of preparation was custom where one was required to wear costumes that enables him/her to move freely without straining. Other factors taken in consideration in class performance were planning, giving enough time provision, perfection, involving all parties in discussion and receiving recommendation from performers to a given scene (Murray & David, 2003). Body movement is key in improving audience interest in the performance by making it more real for example when two men were fighting the fist were fast and hard but it lands softly on the face of whom it is directed in which he push himself away from the force of the fist. This makes performance real and brings audience in the shoes of the one fighting or being fought or the person they are supporting in the fight. According to Oddey (1984), we were able to learn importance of group work in theatre performance all the way from the start to stage performance for the audience. For example when practicing for the voice one will not be able to perfect it alone since we require our colleagues in order to note weakness and work together to correct such mistake before going to the stage. In class performance, one would recite his or her part in the script while others listen and correction being made on how one should have recited given part in the script. Therefore, proving the essentiality of working in groups in order to deliver a good theatre performance on stage and communicate to the audience effectively. Working in group also is directly connected to performers’ movement on stage by harmonizing their body movement on stage in order to minimize collision and one getting harmed during the performance. For example in class performance we were able to relate our movements and know when the man throw a fist you need to move in a certain way to avoid being hurt and others need to intervene in a given way to avoid being hurt too. This takes group work to harmonize their moves and avoid injury during acting process. Group performance always needs one to subordinate his/her conflict of interest and work in achievement of the group goals rather than his goals. This involves working in unity with other members in group in order to smoothen the performance for example in our class performance we were required to use almost the same energy on the stage when we are performing as group since diverse energy might confuse the audience and distort the pattern in performance, thus distorting the message and interest in the performance. Group work is very tricky sometimes since one might keep to him/herself or disagreements due to conflicting ideas. For example during class performance we were able to note that it is important to be open and honest to each other. Another important personality is ability to develop diplomacy character in order to solve or avoid issues that might arise in the process. In class performance, it is evident that through good group work organization, everyone was assigned script that suits his/her character thus reducing straining of each performer in bring out exact scene on the stage. In conclusion, we are able to note that there is much that needs to be done in order to bring out a good theatre performance. The major aim of performance is to communicate with the audience by either passively or actively. Therefore, it is important to take close consideration in voice, body movement and group work harmonization in order to keep audience captive from the start to the end of performance. Exercise is also crucial to a perfect performance since practice make perfect and through perfection we are able to convey message effectively. In addition, confidence is also gained through rigorous training since one is able to master his/her voice, movement and his part in the performance. Read More