Punk Rock - Set design

After rehearsing for a lesson in our actual performance space we started planning what set we would need and how we could use the stage effectively. After discussing how we would create our library we decided to use the floor space as our main performance area and the stage with the curtains closed as an extra level of space. This creates two different entrances and exits which is helpful as it creates options for different people to go different ways. It also makes it more interesting as there is more space to use and makes it look more like a library. We had already decided on having at least two tables with chairs round for people to sit at on the floor and maybe a table on the stage for people to use. To create the library feel we want a bookcase to go on the floor resting against the stage to make it look less like a stage and give us some books to use making it obvious where we are supposed to be.

Dan has drawn out a floor plan of what we plan to have...




Not included in this picture is the grand piano that is already in the hall. We are going to keep this to add more scenery to our library, it also creates a grand feel to our library making it seem a bit more like a private school.

We are going to have the audience sat on the floor in front of us so they are on the same level as us for most of the performance, like they are also in the library. The main part of the play set on the stage will be the last scene when William is talking to the specialist, he will be up on the stage at a table by himself to emphasize his isolation and make it clear to the audience that he is no longer in the school library.

Punk Rock

In todays lesson we started from the start of the play again and worked through changing small bits. We carried on to staging the next scenes as we went along, seeing what came naturally as it is a naturalistic piece so I think trying things out is a good way to do it instead of over staging it and making it look forced. We then reached 'the wasp scene' (scene four), where Tristan spots a wasp and everyone becomes very loud and a bit manic as people argue over what to do with it. To try and create more of a comedic feel to this scene we stopped and staged it, as the lines have to be delivered at a fast pace to make it funny. Adding in lots of over the top movement, for example Tristan screaming and falling off his chair at the start, I think we have created an entertaining scene and I will be interested to get feedback from the other group about this scene.

Punk Rock

We read through the script a couple of times as it is very conversational, also we have had to cut out some of it as it is too inappropriate so we have sorted any problems with cuts. Moving on to setting the first scene we decided that we would have two tables set on our main performance area with lots of chairs round so we can move around, and this way it will look natural and like a realistic library. In the first scene we are introduced to each of the characters, in stages, so it was very important to create the right impression of them when they entered. For Lily and William we needed to create the impression that William is being annoying and overly interested in Lily, the new girl. So we had Freya minding her own business and Tom pestering her from across the table. This sets up the foundation for there relationship, it is clear from the first encounter that William is much more interested in her than she is in him, which we see more later on in the play. Next Cissy and Bennett enter together, Bennett is showing off as usual talking about how he impressed people on the bus. AS soon as Lily is introduced to them she takes the opportunity to move away from William, again showing her wariness of William at the beginning of the play.

As a start I think we are doing well with this play and everyone is enjoying it. As a group I think we work very well together and all have good ideas to put in, which all get listened to. We can work together to improve a scene, taking everyone's ideas on board which is sometimes helpful as you get to hear opinions from people that are watching the scene from a different perspective as not everyone is in every scene.

Punk rock - character profile

Cissy Franklin

17 years old

Girlfriend of Bennet

Comes from a very rich and upper class family

Cissy has an overwhelming need to be good at everything, especially school. There is a massive pressure on her from her parents to do well and be successful and I think having a boyfriend like Bennet is part of the package. To Cissy's parents Bennet seems like a nice boy, from a wealthy family, who is likely to do well in life and be a suitable suiter for her, but in real life he is a spiteful and mean person. Bennet makes fun of other people's misfortunes and insecurities to draw away from his own secrets. He is secretly gay and is with Cissy to try and cover this up, which Cissy knows. Throughout the play there are many references to Bennet being gay, "......I think there relationship is more of a mutual agreement to keep them both popular and everyone else happy, even though they haven't spoken about it outright they both know that they need each other. 

There is a lot of pressure on Cissy to do well as I mentioned before, she needs good grades to get into a good uni as she can not rely on her parents just paying her way. This is shown when she talks about how she's never going to leave Stockport and she is basically going to fail in everything, as if her life depends solely on her getting A's. Her parents expect a hell of a lot from her, nothing but A's, and would be thoroughly disappointed in her if she faultered, hence why she is so upset when she gets a B in English. She is genuinely scared of her parents as she doesn't know how far they will go if she ever messes up because she hasn't previously, so she is even more scared to do anything but the best. 

Cissy has to be part of the 'popular group' and wants to be top girl in the school. When she first meets Lily she is slightly wary of her because she is a threat to her popularity and even on the first day seems to be liked by all of her friends. She decides that the best way to protect herself is by becoming good friends with her and so let's her join her girl group of Tristan and her. Cissy values Tristan's friendship more than she lets on, really she would like to defend her when it comes to Bennet but she knows it will be worse for her if she goes against Bennet so she just keeps quiet and tries to play it off as a joke. 

Punk rock - research

For Punk Rock we wanted to find a private sixth form for us to base it on. So that we have a good idea of the kind of place we would be in and the atmosphere that would surround us we have researched different school in which it could possibly be based. The school I have found is Bedales. 

  

Bedales School, Church Road, Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 2DG
Age Range: Boys & Girls aged 13 – 18
Fees Per Year: £24,315 – £30,930
Website: bedales.org.uk

Bedales School is a private independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 13 – 18. Founded in 1893, it is located in a 120 acre estate in the small East Hampshire village of Steep, about 1.5 miles north of Petersfield. The school teaches around 500 pupils and the site is also home to the Dunhurst School (8 – 13 year olds) and Dunannie School (3 – 8 year olds). Some famous alumni include actors Daniel Day Lewis and Minnie Driver, singer Lily Allen and TV property expert Kirstie Allsopp

The boarding accommodation consists of 3 boarding houses, one for boys, one for girls and one mixed gender house for the sixth formers. Boarders benefit from a 24 hour medical centre, which includes qualified nurses and lots of house staff to ensure the smooth running of the accommodation. There is also a catering staff who provide a high quality diet with a varied menu. As over 50% of pupils board, there is a strong sense of community within the boarding flats and there a a plethora of after-school and weekend activities to keep the boarders occupied. New boarders are also assigned a ‘dorm boss’, an older pupil who provides pastoral support to assist the settling in process.

Bedales School is blessed with exceptional facilities including a modern indoor swimming pool, floodlit astroturf, sports hall, multi-gym, two gymnasiums, hard netball/tennis courts and 17 acres of playing fields. The campus contains two Grade I listed buildings in the form of Lupton Hall, constructed in 1911 and the impressive Memorial Library which contains a vast range of archives. Also on campus is a comprehensive arts centre which includes the 340-seat Oliver Theatre, 400-seat Quad concert hall, an art gallery and a drama studio. All are used regularly and usually contain some sort of performance, production or exhibition.

As you can see this private school in Hampshire is very grand and much as I imagine the school from Punk Rock to be like. Most of the play is set in the library of the school, the library at Bedales is much what I would imagine the library to be like. It is amazingly structured with beams and a high ceiling, filled with lots of books and desks and chairs. I think the school very much suits the play and now I have an idea of what it would look like I can create the set in my head and base my character around the place.