Fifth day

Finns are in three different workshops: The best of Brecht and Stanislavksi, physical theatre and Masks.

Today, in the Brecht and Stanislavski workshop, we mostly worked with Brechts methods. A lot of the exercises focused on the “v-effect”: bringing a foreign element into the scene, changing the context of actions or a text for example. 

In physical theatre we started to produce the final performance and repeat the techniques we have been taught, such as stage fighting, being a puppet, energy levels and miming. We created the performance and tomorrow we just need to polish everything to look smooth and good. Also besides these, we played mini games from different countries. 

In Masks workshop on the morning we did anti-mask and improvisational practices with express masks, in which I felt really light and playful. At the afternoon we smoked more cigarette and did some slow-motion improvisational practices with neutral masks, which I found frustrating and too restricted to basic theatre conventions.

I, Petra, am turning 23 today, and I am OVERWHELMED. This day has been full of surprises! I have been sang to on several occasions, I was surprised with a gift when arriving to my workshop, and at lunchtime everyone was gathered to sing and congratulate me. I might have cried a little! Best birthday ever.