What's Beyond?

Exercise Intermediate 15 min 2–2

Description

This exercise involves two players who explore what has happened or will happen beyond the stage. Players agree on the location, characters, and context before stepping on stage, but they do not reveal these details to the audience.

As they perform their scene, they should embody the actions and emotions connected to their agreed-upon background without explicitly mentioning it.

Setup Requirements

Clear stage space for two performers.

Point of Concentration

Focus on the unseen past or future actions.

Side Coaching

Encourage players to stay connected to their characters' past or future.
Remind them to react genuinely to each other.
Focus on the emotions rather than the specifics of the 'beyond.'

Points of Observation

Watch for subtle cues indicating the backstory.
Observe how players convey emotions tied to their unseen actions.
Look for shifts in character dynamics based on their shared history or future intentions.

Evaluation

What did you feel was effective in conveying the past or future?
How did the unseen actions influence your performance?
What could enhance the connection between characters?

Examples

Examples might include:

Returning from a long journey together without revealing details.
Debating a decision previously made before the scene began.
Preparing for a significant event that is referenced but not shown.