After performing my show to my tutor, Martin Curtis, in hopes of some helpful feedback, I found that his suggestions on how to better my show were extremely beneficial. Martin suggested to me that I should make more of an entrance when I first enter the stage, as this is a solo performance it is important to engage with the audience immediately. Taking this in to consideration, I decided to acknowledge the presence of the audience immediately, as opposed to acknowledging them later in the performance which I had previously done.
Another change that Martin suggested was related to the way in which I was performing two testimonies included in my performance. Martin made a suggestion that I slow down when reading each testimony, speaking the words in a way which was more likely to leave an impression on audience members. The first time I tried speaking the testimonies in this way it felt very unnatural, however, I found that as I continued to rehearse them in this way, I understood how effective it was to just simply slow down when speaking, allowing the audience to really hear and understand every word of each testimony.
Another change that I made to my script after hearing Martin’s feed back, was the wording of lines such as:
Excuse me love have you got any change? Any change mate? Excuse me have you got any change I just need to buy a drink? No worries have a good day love!
These lines where I was asking imaginary ‘passersby’ for spare change felt very performed and unrealistic, therefore Martin suggested that I maybe change the lines and approach the question differently.
These lines of me begging for change evolved in to me talking to specific audience members, one at a time speaking lines such as:
Hi you alright? It’s quite a nice day isn’t it…a bit hot though. Look I hope you don’t mind me asking but do you have any spare change just so I could get a bottle of water. I know it’s rude to ask but it’s just that I’ve been walking for hours and I feel really dizzy being out in the sun constantly….
By asking for spare change in this way and directing the lines straight at the audience, I feel though the audience are much more engaged and involved in my piece, allowing to build connections with the character and feel truly immersed in the world of the play.
Martin’s feedback really helped me to develop my performance significantly, as I left the tutorial feeling much more confident and happy with my solo performance. The importance of getting feedback from a spectator of the performance is crucial, particularly as this is my first time ever performing a solo piece of theatre. The feedback given helped me to consider the way in which my show would be received from an audience’s perspective, allowing me to develop my show further in a way which was audience-focused.
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