Posted on No Comments on Designing the Sound!

Designing the Sound!

As a sound designer, I want to make sure that every piece of audio which is used within the show related in some way shape or form to sleep, even if the track was instrumental. I want to make sure that all of the audio tracks correlate and provides a clear thread throughout the show itself, from the intro dance sequence to the bows.

 

For the role of technical designer I have started researching and listening to a variety of songs/sounds which relate to sleeping/dreaming. Furthermore, the show structure correlates to a sleep cycle which requires sound effects to distinguish between each stage. The stages of sleep are “characterized by a reduction in physiological activity. As sleep deepens, a person’s brain waves slow down and gain amplitude, both breathing and the heart rate slow down, and the individual’s blood pressure drops” (National Sleep Foundation, 2018). Therefore, I took audio which is supposed to help you sleep and edited that same audio for the five stages of sleep. I slowed stages two, three and four down and made stage five (REM) quick to match the ‘rapid’ eye movement of that stage. Below is the audio of the different stages of sleep, which represents the deceleration of brain waves through the sleep cycle.

 

– Transition for stage 2

– Transition stage 3

– Transition stage 4

– Transition for stage 5 (REM)

(MacLeod, 2014)

 

I also edited a song which is about night terrors for our night terrors scene. I made the audio disorientated in order to represent the ‘giant’ (which is told in the night terrors verbatim), by embodying the creature’s breathing and ‘growling’ and therefore manifesting the giant. This was used for the background audio within that scene, however, when hearing the subtle growls and groans it leaves you feeling eerie while being fed the description of the night terror. Below is the final edit of the night terrors audio:

(LilyPichu, 2012)

 

All sound effects and songs are edited through the use of iMovie. Within this, I am experimenting with effects on the audio which deepen the audio and also speed it up. The box in the screenshot below shows the different effects I am experimenting with.

Screen Shot 2018-05-24 at 11.53.00
iMovie application sound editing

(Apple, 2018)

 

C.D.

 

 

Works Cited

Apple (2018) iMovie [software]. Apple. Available from https://www.apple.com/uk/imovie/ [accessed February 12 2018].

 

LilyPichu (2012) Slendy’s Lullaby [ video]. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSLz6Vhl6Rs [accessed 12 February 2018].

 

MacLeod, K. (2014) Music to sleep in 5 MIN [ video]. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ldGvNwRiQ [accessed 15 February 2018].

 

National Sleep Foundation (2018) Stages of Human Sleep. National Sleep Foundation. Available from http://sleepdisorders.sleepfoundation.org/chapter-1-normal-sleep/stages-of-human-sleep/ [accessed 12 February 2018].

 

 

Posted on No Comments on Settling In

Settling In

Hey everyone!

I like to think I’m settling into the role of Stage Manager quite nicely. Having experience with the role in Shakespeare, one thing I was particular in requesting was weekly production meetings. I think this is an efficient way of ensuring that everyone in the company is aware of what they need to do and when. I also think it is extremely important for all company members to be aware of what is going on within the company, even if they do not have a production role e.g. director, dramaturg, choreographer. This is a beneficial way of guaranteeing that everyone is on the same page. I have been inspired by the Lincoln Drill Hall for this concept, they are a local theatre venue who ensure that all members of the venue are aware of everything at the Drill Hall. This is so that if any customer comes in and is curious about something any one of the staff will be able to give an answer! Although, this reasoning doesn’t directly link to why I would like to enforce this method, Larry Fazio states that “it is important and beneficial that all technical and artistic departments come together organising and getting everyone working in the same direction and time frame”. (Fazio, 2017, 143). This has been the basis for my reasoning of having all company members at weekly production meetings.

Sherbet Lemon Theatre's first production meeting... we're very excited by our sherbet lemons!
Sherbet Lemon Theatre’s first production meeting… we’re very excited by our sherbet lemons!

Hayley, our producer, and I have agreed that during our weekly production meetings we will split the responsibility. I am “in charge” of the tech side of the production meetings such as lighting, sound, set and costume & props whereas Hayley is “in charge” of the admin side of the company such marketing, fundraising etc. The reason I use quotation marks for “in charge” is because I don’t think that Hayley or myself dictate how everyone fulfils their role. I think we are sort of in a leadership position, we are the people that the company comes to when they have questions about their role if they are unsure, we are the people who ensure everyone’s voice gets heard, we are the people who set weekly targets for individual company members to meet in order to ensure both the company and the show develops at the speed we need it to.

I am extremely excited to be working on this project with Sherbet Lemon Theatre and look forward to creating something sweet and a little sour.

C.M.

Fazio, L. (2017) Stage Manager: The Professional Experience – refreshed. Oxford: Taylor and Francis.

Sherbet Lemon Theatre (2018) Sherbet Lemon Theatre’s first production meeting [image]. Available from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Be8eKYCgsfJ/?taken-by=sherbetlemontheatre [accessed 10 February 2018].

Posted on No Comments on Dramaturg

Dramaturg

Hello everyone!

 

I’m Ellie and I am the dramaturg here at Sherbet Lemon Theatre. I know a lot of you are probably wondering what a dramaturg is, so I will try (fingers crossed!) to answer that here. Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear answer on the dramaturg’s role as people can’t seem to agree on one.

The following is my favourite definition of Dramaturgy from Helen Jaksch:

“Mark Bly says that a dramaturg questions. My professor Catherine Sheehy says, among other things, that a dramaturg is an in-house critic that is friendly to the production. Dramaturgy is generous honesty, rigorous curiosity, and passion for thoughtful theatre and theatre-making. Most importantly, though, dramaturgy is not extraneous to a creative process. It is essential.”  (Rowen, 2013)

In a devised performance, a dramaturg can be seen as a writer of sorts, they are the person who questions the structure and flow of the piece, which scene goes where and how the scenes will link together to form a cohesive performance. But of course, this is just my definition, there a hundreds out there!

But for now, I cannot wait to work with such a talented bunch of ladies on our new show. I’ll make sure to keep you all updated on my dramaturgical process!

E.W.

 

 

Works Cited:

Rowen, B. (2013) What is a Dramaturg? Huffington Post, 20 January. Available from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bess-rowen/what-is-a-dramaturg_b_2169236.html [accessed 8 February 2018].

Posted on No Comments on Stage Manager

Stage Manager

Hi,

I am Chloe McKay and I have the absolute pleasure of taking on the role of Stage Manager for Sherbet Lemon Theatre! I have been itching to get back into the role of Stage Manager for a little over a year now and I cannot wait to get my teeth stuck into all things technical. My organisation, team playing and leadership skills will, I hope, enable me to fulfil my role as Stage Manager successfully. Although I may have to brush up on my programming skills, it has been a while!

Discussioning and researching about sleep!
Discussing and researching sleep!

The exploration of sleep and dream theory in meetings and rehearsals thus far leaves me excited for the potential of Sherbet Lemon Theatre’s first show. Although my sleeping pattern tends to be what is considered as normal, listening to other company members’ experience with a variety of abnormal sleeping patterns fascinates me. I cannot wait to delve deeper into the exploration of sleep and why it is so fundamental that we as humans need sleep to function. I hope our audience enjoys exploring along with us in the final product. I have a good feeling about Sherbet Lemon Theatre, and I look forward to keeping you up to date with both the technical and artistic side of creating Sherbet Lemon Theatre’s debut show.

C.M.

Denby, C. (2018) Discussing and researching sleep and dreams. [image]

Posted on No Comments on Director

Director

Hi,

 

My name is Emelia and I am taking on the role of director! I’m so excited to have this role as I have wanted to follow a career in directing since I was 15! Although I have experience directing scripted work, this will be my first time directing a devised piece and it’s a challenge I am very much looking forward to taking on! I’m so excited to follow our idea from inside our heads onto the stage and experimenting with all the different ideas we have and enjoying the aspect of play which is not always so prevalent in scripted work! I’m also incredibly honoured to be working alongside the rest of this wonderful company of dedicated, hardworking and imaginative young women and I can’t wait for you all to see the end result!

 

E.H.