Working as a narrator you can feel set apart or isolated from the rest of the cast. I only ever spoke to Ryan K or Jack P in this play, and this can feel hard. As I wasn't a 'character' I didn't know who to be which is highly challenging!
However, in a sense the narrator holds the story together by propelling the story forward. What the narrator says is true and has/will happen (supposedly! Unless the narrator is an unreliable narrator, which in this case they are not)
At the very end of the play James himself becomes a narrator of his own story. The main character becomes the narrator and the narrators become observers. This in a sense means that, in fact, the narrators are James, are the story.
As a narrator it is very important to be clear in diction and strong in projection as we drive the story. What follows is the bullet points shown in our Assignment Description for U11:2
Strong projection
I have very tight diaphragm and have to work hard on relaxing enough to project my voice. I find watching videos and training myself at home really helps... here are a few videos I found helpful:
Clear articulation
I particularly like the "She stood upon the balcony" one and often use it before a show.
These are excellent to use!
Pace and Use of space
I know I tend to rush my words so I have developing insight into a personal tendency to be rather apologetic in my occupying of space. I am trying to become reflexive in relation to legitimately taking my place within the acting arena and realise that each memeber of the cast has a 'right' to be seen and listened to.
Texture appropriate to the story telling nature of the piece and Appropriate vocal and physical choices for characters portrayed
As I understand this to mean the bring variety and intrest to the piece I could use
Expression (Shock wide mouth, fear trembling, annoyance tapping my foot)
Vocal pace (Surprise! Worriedness. Annoyance!)
Interaction with other narrators (Grabbing someones hand in fear, kneeling down in fear, touching arm to reassure)
Posture (Openness - broad arm movement and open chest, fear - slouched shoulders, closed arms for protection)
Voice tone
Pitch
Tempo (fast for fear or excitment, slow for soothing)
Volume (Telling a story compared quietly)
Use of breath sounds (emotional expression, shouting for joy, breathy for fear)
Use of silence (telling a story, hang on my words! Its important, listen!)
Use of weight and physicalization of characters
Narrator
Me and Ryan K were advised that our posture was too intense and leaning forward like the picture left could be construed as aggressive.
We were told to pull our shoulders back, relax our arms and not lean forward (right). I think we were doing this in a sort of "secret telling" way, but it did look aggressive. Also using the gently index-finger holding hand movement is seen as less aggressive that pointing
Shark
At first us puppetiers were very stiff with the sharks, but we found out movements better if we used out knees and swam through our movements like we were swimming through the sea. I found it particularly helpful to use my knees to bring up and down weight and movement to the sharks.
Ship
Surprisingly similar technique to what i used with the shark. Slow movements were also needed, the ships heavy, its not going to move fast.
