Tech day did not go to plan for me. I knew exactly what I wanted lights wise and when for it to happen, but I was still editing my script because I was not fully happy with the way it read. This caused some problems with the programmed queues, but I would rather be happy about my script and have a less complicated tech.

Firstly, I wanted to create a natural feel. I wanted a slightly warm wash to represent the artificial lights used in a bedroom. I felt that if I used a wash, it would convey the welcoming atmosphere I am trying to create.

The only coloured light I want to use is when Craig Morrow’s voice over says “Warning! Do not feed the fatty. She may bite”. I feel this will add to the comedy of the voice over. It also makes the audience more engaged, as the lights have changed suddenly and make them hopefully listen further as I will have their attention.

Finally, for my finale dance scene, I wanted all the focus to be on me. I want a very harsh spotlight centre stage and back light to come on straight away with no fade. I felt that this would suddenly change the mood from something light hearted to something that the audience would see I am being serious about. Once I have finished my dance I want a flash of white light and to go into an instant black out to indicate the end of my performance.

Here is the video I edited with all of the filming of my rehearsals and even interviews with friends. I wanted to interview my closest friends because they know me well and they are not afraid to me the truth. I felt that interviewing them would also give audience members who do not know me a chance to see what I am like from another perspective, instead of them just judging me as a performer.

The three questions I asked all interviewed were:

1. What do you think about my idea?
2. Have you ever experienced a time in your life where you didn’t fit in to the ideal image society has created?
3. Do you think I am going to be able to complete this dance?

I asked these certain questions, especially question two as I am wanting the audience to relate to my performance. Yes they may not be big or have the desire to dance, but anyone who does not conform to this ideal image can relate, and from the responses I got from the interviewee’s were phenomenal. Every single person I asked, including those who I did not film, experienced some form of not conforming. I have started to feel that this performance is not only for me, but it is for everyone who ever felt less than they should of and I hope to convey this through my performance now.

Outside- An edited version of my videos will play outside Studio one. Free snacks for the audience to help themselves to.

Pre Set- Audience enter Studio one. I am performing in front of my mirror to Jessie J’s Who’s Laughing Now. Dr Morrow’s recording plays.

Ladies andGentlemen, welcome to Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

Please can I remind you to turn off your mobile phones and that flash photography is not permitted.

The flash is very unflattering. If you do choice to to take a photo and upload it to Instagram, then please use the Valencia filter

WARNING- Do not feed the Fatty. She may bite.

Thank you, and enjoy this evenings performance of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fatty

(Jessica speaking)

Rude…

My whole life I’ve been picked on for my size. I’ve been called Fatty, Beast. Whale. Even jokes made up about me.

Jess is so fat, that when she goes swimming in the sea, people mistake her for an island. Or…

Jess is so fat, that when we talk about pie charts in Maths, she gets excited. Because she thinks its pie.

Get it

(Forced fake laugh)

Really?

One of my personal favourite was Big Jess. I mean, what a way to state the obvious. This then got abbreviated to BJ. (Miming blow job action) B…J! well, if someone said that to me now I’d be like yeah, sure drop your trousers. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done it in public. But that is another performance for past the watershed.

The point is, I was bullied because of my size, even though I was not fat. Big, yes. But not fat. I mean I had an early growth spurt and was 5ft 8 when I was in year 7 and I had size 8 feet by the time I was 12 years old. Size 9 now. I didn’t fit in to the guidelines that society created, well, what my so called friends created. I wasn’t normal according to them. And I’m still not normal. I’m a fat drama student. But I’m okay with that and I’m hope you are too.

Good, well you’re going to have to be. If not you kinda missed the clue in the tittle. I mean I could have lied and said “the dance of the sugar plum beauty- who graces the stage with her elegance and only consumes air collected from the Welsh Mountains. But I somehow don’t think I could get away with that.

At the moment I am happy with the way my script is developing. It’s nice to see my ideas move from my head and be on paper. For me, however, I need this performance to be quite natural. The jokes will not work it they sound forced so I won’t be relying on my script heavily. It is just to see which part of my show works where and when.

The Pre Set. 

I have previously mentioned that I performed in front of my mirror in my room to various music videos and radio stations and I feel this would be a great opening for when the audience are taking their seats.

In the timetabled lessons, I looked at Kate Nash’s Mouthwash.

 Although it was very fitting in reference to my body, I never felt like I connected to the song and it’s not something I would sing to in front of my mirror.

On the other hand, I chose Jessie J’s Who’s Laughing Now.

I have always  been a fan of Jessie J and have even seen her in concert. She is a huge role model for me as this song explains about the struggles Jessie J faced when she was growing up and proving to her bullies that they never stopped her. I can related to her and that is important to me. Although the audience may laugh when they arrive into the studio, but I know that “i’m still rising”. My favourite most relatable  lyrics are:

Mummy they called me names
They wouldn’t let me play
I’d run home, sit and cry almost everyday
“Hey Jessica, you look like an alien
With green skin you don’t fit in this playpen”
Oh they pulled my hair
They took away my chair
I’d keep it in and pretend that I didn’t care
“Hey Jessica, you’re so funny
You’ve got teeth just like Bugs Bunny”

Oh, so you think you know me now
Have you forgotten how
You would make me feel
When you dragged my spirit down?
But thank you for the pain
It made me raise my game
And I’m still rising

References

J, J. (2011). Jessie J- Who’s Laughing Now. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsxSxF3JKeU [Accessed 16 Apr. 2015].

Nash, K. (2010). Kate Nash- Mouthwash. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqAGXtDCXCk [Accessed 6 Mar. 2015].

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fatty

Poster Image

I created this image a while ago when I was developing my title idea. I used a serious photo of a larger lady dancing to convey that my subject choice is serious, but the play on words of the title sells my show as a comedy which is exactly what my intentions are. I then used this image as my poster and advertised my show throughout the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

As a further marketing tool, I created a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dance-of-the-Sugarplum-Fatty/1393803240936125?ref=aymt_homepage_panel (Spencer, 2015). I made this very early in to my process for the purpose of  keeping my followers up to date with my latest rehearsals and script writing, as well as inviting them to an events page. This was very helpful as I could see how many people were interested in my ideas. After such a great response, with over seventy people liking the page, I decided to have a larger audience capacity. I felt that a larger audience was needed for my show so that I can respond to the audience, and get a feel of what joke works where and when; especially if I want to develop my idea further. As a result I have chosen to have a audience capacity of fifty.

References

Spencer, J. (2015). The Dance of the Sugarplum Fatty. [online] Facebook. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dance-of-the-Sugarplum-Fatty/1393803240936125?ref=aymt_homepage_panel [Accessed 14 Mar. 2015].