Welcome to my diary page; here I shall be writing what I’ve been up and how I’m feeling using extracts from my own personal journal. Please enjoy it; it is more than likely going to be the most humourous page of my blog as this is where you can read my potential breaks downs, tears and tribulations. Hopefully there will be some smiles, laughter and victories too.

Solo Performance – Dave’s Diary

Monday 16^th January – Class One

I love the start of a new module; I always plan to succeed by having all my notes kept together in a new folder – or at least a recycled one. In this case it was a new folder. All we did in the first class was read through the module handbook and spoke about what makes a solo performance. It was a really good first lesson that ended slightly early, which left us time to ask questions and talk about our ideas. We were then set the task of creating a biographical piece for the next class; which you can look at here.

My original idea at that time was to do something quite surreal and Brechtian. I wanted to do a story of me being left at home as a small child and the adventures I got up to. This was inspired by Slava’s Snow Show.

Monday 23^rd January – Class Two

This class was really helpful to me as we started with some instruction about using the blog. The blog you’re now reading! I personally hate technology and computers so I was dreading creating this blog but this prepared me quite well. We then moved across to the LPAC (Lincoln Performing Arts Centre) to finish the rest of our class.

We performed our stories in small groups and got feedback. Someone videoed mine for me and put it on facebook. This is really annoying as I have no idea how to take a video from facebook and embed it here. I want to find a way to put it on the blog though. We spoke more about what makes up a solo performance and then were set a task for next week. Taking the tale we had already created we had to add in some seeming non sequitar into our piece. At this point I still had no idea what I wanted to do for my performance. I did however find some research.

Monday 30^th January – Class Three – MISSED CLASS!

This really annoys me as I had edited my piece and put in my non sequitars and I was really looking forward to presenting; I knew I would get a laugh as I was going to use a picture of Maggie Thatcher and a definition about a Tsunami.

I had driven back to Lincoln at 4am in the morning; after going home for the weekend. I arrived back at 6am and wasn’t feeling tired – just excited about presenting my work. I had to wait until 12 though as that was when my class began. At about 8am I start feeling tired and decide I’ve got time to have a three hour nap…. I’m sure you’ve already guessed that I didn’t wake up until the class had finished. I was so annoyed as I’d come back especially for this class; I could of stayed home until my only other class on Friday. I spent that day so angry with myself! Click here to look at the work I didn’t present.

Monday 6^th February – Class Four

I was dreading going to this class as I thought I was more than likely the only one to have missed the previous week and that I would have to perform my piece in front of everyone. I don’t mind doing this, obviously as a drama student, but I prefer it when everyone’s in the same boat and presenting something. The nerves were needless as I didn’t have to present.

Instead four others and I were put in a corner to catch up on the work we’d missed. We called ourselves the ‘special group’, as it was like in school when the slower children were put in a corner to do separate work. We were catching up on the exercise we had missed before. The class had been set the task of writing a script that was none narrative and purely about creating an atmosphere. You can see this exercise and a better explanation if you click here.

We then moved on to work on The War in Heaven (Angel’s Monologue) by Joseph Chalkin and Sam Shepherd. In groups of four/three we were giving a section to perform so that the whole narrative had been divided up. After twenty minutes of work we then performed the whole piece as a class; one section leading into the other. It turned out quite well; it also gave us a chance to look at different tones in performance and timing. I really enjoyed working on it. I may even type up the section I performed with two other students, explain what we did and put it on the blog.

Monday 13^th February – Class five – LAST CLASS

Can’t believe our final class was with on us already; although we did have until May to finalise our piece but this meant I only had one other class until I was done with the formal teaching and near end of my time at University. It was quite terrifying!

My idea at this point was to do my performance on procrastination. Basically, a student trying to write his performance and getting distracted – first my normal things like having a cup of tea and then moving into the more surreal; such as turning a desk chair into a piano and pretending to play while audio of a piano is played. I wanted to end the piece by the student suddenly being inspired and writing something which he holds up to the audience and it reads, “What did you think of my piece?”

In this class everyone discussed their ideas and we spoke about the essays we had to complete for the following Monday. This week my blogging took a back seat as I was researching and writing my essay. I got it complete though and returned to focusing on my work.

Monday 20^th February – Reading week

I handed in my essay and went back to my parent’s house for a while as it’s cheaper to sponge off them then paying to live in Lincoln. I don’t mean getting out of rent as that’s unavoidable but buying food and basic living. I took some work home with me, mainly my dissertation and barely did any of it. Basically I did a week of nothing. I was thinking about my performance though! I’d been out with a friend the week before and we’d gone for coffee in town and for some reason I kept hearing/listening/eavesdropping on other peoples conversations. It was the strangest thing; the items being discussed seemed so irrelevant. That is to me anyway and I think I believe that because when this person and I meet to talk we speak about politics, problems in the world and our own futures and careers. Those topics to us are important but I’m sure anyone who overheard would think them irrelevant. This is what I wanted to do my performance on the world full of talk and the fact people fill their lives with emptiness.

Monday 27^th February – first meeting with Donald

I met with my tutor, Donald, this week to explain my progress and my idea. A really good but brief talk and he liked my idea; I was feeling very positive. We both agreed that I needed to make a skeleton of my script and to meet again in two weeks to discuss it.

Monday 5^th March – Own Work

I had a whole week to work on my script and I sat in my room playing around with different conversations I could remember and transcribing them. I wish I have filmed some of these so I could post them onto the blog but I only have my phone camera and need someone else to film for me. Hopefully I can get some video and images when I’m in the rehearsal working on my material. I was stuck my inspiration one night in particular and managed to write my whole script with technical requirements. You can click here to see some parts of the script as I don’t want to put the whole thing up as no one would come to see the performance.  

Monday 12^th March – Second Meeting with Donald

I think I really impressed my tutor with this meeting because I had a full script for him to read and he seemed to really enjoy the parts he read. I was very lapse and only emailed him a copy at 8am so he hadn’t had time to read it. I should have emailed it last week but I didn’t think. Oh well, I’ve now been left to my own devices until the end of April when I shall be doing a preview performance. This means the next few weeks are about me practising and work shopping what I’ve written; while doing this I’ve also got to sort out my tech stuff. There are a number of voice overs and sound effects I need to collect so I’m trying to set up a meeting with the LPAC stage manager for advice; if I can’t get hold of him though I have a friend who can help with the audio.

Wednesday 14^th March – Essay Results

Got my essay results back today; a 58 which is a 2:2 so that’s an acceptable grade but I really wanted a 2:1 so think I should of worked harder to get those extra 2 points. My reasoning behind this is that I want a 2:1 overall for my degree and at the moment I’m set for a high 2:2 so I need to get some higher grades to pull it all up. A high 2:1 or a 1^st in my dissertation and these last two modules will really help so now I’ve got to pull the stocks out. I would put my essay up but I hate people reading my academic work.

On none performance related news I booked three spinning classes this week; last one is lunchtime tomorrow and am barely sleeping so I’m knackered! Also need to work out my work dates for the Easter holiday and get that sorted. This weekend is all going to be about the dissertation though as need to meet my tutor for that again.

Monday 19^th March

DISSERTATE, DISSERTATE, DISSERTATE! That is all my brain is thinking this week.

Monday 26^th March

Everything seems to be coming together. I’m just working a lot at the moment and if I’m not working I’m planning what I should be working on. It’s all good though I think. I think I’m annoying people in my house though as I’m rehearsing in my room because I’m lazy and as it’s only me in the piece I can stay at home. All they hear though is me talking to myself and it’s not even as though it’s interesting as there’s only one side of a conversation at a time; hahaha. I need to learn my lines though and practising is the fastest way for me to do that so they can bear with it – I am going to acknowledge them in a dissertation after all.

Monday 2^nd April

I literally have nothing to write at the moment. I’m just rehearsing pieces and then sitting in front of a computer to type. Occasionally I’m eating, having a break to watch telly, or sleeping. But, this is what my piece is about – this constant movement we have so I think it’s good I’m feeling it. This is my social comment I’m trying to make but through conversations. I’m hoping that comes across to the audience. I must write the programme soon to help explain the 10minutes they’ll watch.

Monday 9^th April

It’s the Easter holidays and people in Lincoln have travelled home to see families. I’m still here though working – not uni work though I am doing some, I mean my job. I’m a youth worker; currently working for the RAF on the bases with young people of service men and women. BUT! What do you do with your free time? Obviously I had to rewrite my script. If you’ve read the script I posted in the ‘my writing section’ then you’ll have seen it was two sides of a conversation but hearing only one person at a time. I’ve simplified this so it’s an easier performance to follow – well I hope so.

Basically while I was home over the Easter weekend my Mother gave me an idea. I was helping her move from one office to another back in Stoke and the only day people had free was Easter Sunday. We were talking while driving and she was moaning how Sunday’s aren’t what they use to be as people work and so on now and it’s become an extension of the week. Any work you have left over from the week instead of catching up on the following Monday you do it Sunday – often in the evening; especially if you think about school children and homework. I decided I had to put that point in my piece so wrote a short Godly monologue. I’m going to send it to my tutor to get some feedback later in the week as don’t want to interrupt his holiday. I’m sure he’ll be fine though as it’s still the same concept.

Thursday 12^th April

Sent my script off and got a response saying “can this wait until Monday?”, to which I obviously replied of course. I wasn’t even expecting my tutor to be checking his emails to next week anyway but it made me laugh and it was good that I got such a quick response.

Monday 16^th April

I’m having a relax week as I’ve done a lot of work over Easter. I had lots of shifts at work. I finished a draft of the full dissertation. Plus, I did a lot of experimenting with my solo piece. The plan then is to chill a little bit before work gets hectic. I’m only meeting my group to do a couple of rehearsals and sent the dissertation off to be reviewed by tutor and meeting her on Thursday.

Monday 23^rd April

I’m meeting my dissertation tutor this week to get feedback. I was meant to meet her last week when everyone was back from Easter but she had to cancel. Apart from that I’m just rehearsing and working. Dull times! Friday night I am doing some recordings for this solo performance and my other piece I’m doing alongside so that’s exciting!

Saturday 28^th April

Prop Shopping! I went out today and spent roughly £100 or more on props. I know that sounds ridiculous for a 10minute show but it includes costs for another performance I’m in where I have the task of creating a girls room at university so a collapsible bed has been purchased. What have I bought for my solo performance though you ask? Well, there was some money spent on card. Card, which is suddenly ridiculously expensive but I suppose some tree has sacrificed its life. I’ve also found myself a wig and some other bits and bobs. I shall put up pictures of the props and the box I bought to keep them in soon.

Not only is this box all together but it even includes a CD with all my voiceovers and sound effects on it that I edited myself. I am amazed at what I have created and looking forward to the performance more and more.

Monday 30^th April

I was meant to meet my tutor today to do I trial run of my piece and get some advice. Unfortunately the studio space couldn’t be booked until Tuesday because of other assessments or something and I’m working then so I can’t do it which is annoying. Oh well I’ve sent him copies of the script a couple of times and he’s not raised any issues so just rehearsing it now.

On another note, my dissertation tutor met with me at the end of last week and has officially signed off on my work. I’m to send it her one more time with final edits and she will check it for mistakes before it’s bound. She says it’s very good, so exciting times!

Tuesday 1^st May

Printing today; not my dissertation but signs for my piece. It was a nightmare as first the printer printed on A4 sheets when all the signs are on A3. Never mind though, it is done and everything is stuck down to the mounting board and tech books printed to so apart from my acting the performance is nearly ready! Although that feels great I’m tired after being in the library so late doing other work as well. Plus annoyed I missed today’s opportunity to present my piece. Oh well. 

Monday 7^th May

Solo Performance is on the back burner so to say as I have another performance in two weeks and meeting most days to rehearse that. It’s a longer piece for a ‘performing the supernatural’ module and the scene my group is performing is taken from Haunting Julia. I have most things ready now though. All the stuff – props, tech books, and even programmes are all ready so just got to get through this other performance first.

Wednesday 9^th May

£43.70 spent today. Two copies of dissertation received in hardback binding ready to submit!

Thursday 10^th May

Performed my supernatural performance today; in fact it’s now actually Friday as I’ve just got in and it’s past twelve. I’m overjoyed to have it done and it went very well, lots of positive feedback. Plus 95% of the audience were all my friends and family. The other 5% were the tutors who were marking the piece. A great day!

Friday 11^th May

Suddenly realised I hadn’t rehearsed my piece for a while and have a tech tomorrow. Panic late night runs after a day of relaxing because I did a performance yesterday. However; one piece of very good news is that I submitted my dissertation this morning (may put a picture up) after showing it to my family last night. Least all my props and that are ready for tomorrow so that’s something.

Saturday 12^th May

Today I had my Tech rehearsal at 9:30am! I was one of the poor few who had the earliest time. Although that’s not a bad time to get into work. I had a moment of panic as when I arrived at the Theatre the place was all locked up as it’s the weekend but thankfully I was early and my tutor came to the rescue.

The Tech went so smoothly – actually the smoothest tech run I’ve ever done in my performance career. No issues came up at all with what I had planned it was just a matter of sorting the lights out. The tech for my piece is quite simple; probably because it’s only ten minutes long, but it’s a massive positive when it comes together so easily. I even had chance to do a type of dress rehearsal so I’m feeling ready for Tuesdays performance now.

Monday 14^th May

Final essay submission is today at 11:30. The last academic piece I shall do at Lincoln University. I haven’t said more about it here as my dissertation seems a much bigger issue and more interesting to read about. I’ve been doing it along the same time as the blog though so it’s come together easily and now it’s gone off to be marked. I’m going to the Lpac later for a final rehearsal. I’m hoping my props are okay, left them there after the tech. I’m sure they will be but I still worry as I haven’t got much time to fix things by tomorrow if someone’s broken something carelessly or run off with it. It’s less about rehearsal tonight and more about prop guarding – terrible that I don’t trust other students but too many times before items have grown legs. Usually they lose the legs on the other side of the room or not far from where they have got up and started walking. That’s not the problem, the problem is the sudden loss of legs is obviously a shock and they fall down and sometimes hurt or break themselves. (Could have done a solo performance on this; ‘Props! A life of their own’)

I’ve not got many posts left to do on this blog either as the process is nearly over    :’ (

Tuesday 15^th May

Performance Day; I arrived at the LPAC at about 9:30 which was four hours before my assessment. I did a lot of runs on my own and when the tech guys turned up at about eleven, I was able to run it a good few times and then at twelve stop to just chill. The performance went well I think but it seemed to go quick because the segments making it up were so short. I’m a little upset that only two other drama students turned up as I’d supported so many others with their shows and gone to all the ones that hadn’t sold out. That knocked me back a bit but I had a good size audience none the less. The audience were meant to sit on both sides of the studio but I guess the person on the door forgot to tell them this or they were too nervous to cross the space. I ended up with my friend, my tutor and head of drama on one side and everyone else on the other side.

This was awkward as I planned to take one member of the audience from both sides as the performance was all about it being on both sides, like a conversation. This meant that for the hairdresser’s scene I had to use my head of drama because my tutor was marking the piece and my friend were filming it. I don’t like one off performances because you build up to them for so long and then they’re over just too quickly and it leaves you feeling empty. Especially with Uni being over too, there’s just nothing else to do. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading my diary though even if you missed the show itself or have no idea what I’ve been going on about. Thanks to the audience members who came; especially my mum (Mutti) and I think that’s the end of my diary.

Goodbye.

Thursday 17^th May 

I couldn’t help writing one more day. I seem to be over the shock of everything being done and I’m sat in my living room with my friend as we both finish off our blogs. Even though I felt bitter about other drama students not coming to my piece I swallowed it down and went to watch a few of the shows after my own and yesterday. There were some very good performances going on. I didn’t really lose the pot during my development did I? I just had a couple of rants but I think that’s acceptable, better than breaking down in tears. There’s nothing else to say really now though so I am officially closing the Diary page now.

Please feel free to comment.