Update on the Second Week!

It's hard to believe it's only been about two weeks abroad. LDA is starting to feel like home, and at the risk of sounding overly sentimental, I can already see how hard it will be to leave...12 weeks from now. But in any case-this past week has been incredible, I got to see three shows-one with my school, and two on my own. The schoolwork is piling up as we get past syllabus week and introductions, but I've been craving the work. I feel at home in the studio, but I don't have anything specific to talk about yet as we have not really gotten into true class work-this week, however, will change all of that, I'm sure.

No that's not true-acting is becoming more intense as we explore Stanislavski's seven questions for our individual object exercises, and we are already starting to explore different characters through the same exercises, which are extremely detailed and helpful. Just goes to show that the work is there, and needs to be done...much like a pianist practices his or her scales every day, so this kind of exploration is to the actor. I am also looking forward to the mime and mask work we are to do in Physical Theatre, based on Lecoq's studies. One show that I saw this week, "Blind Man's Song" at Jackson's Lane in North London, demonstrated mask work beautifully, coupled with dance. I'm starting to see how all of the classes at LDA, much like the pieces of a puzzle, will fit together to produce stronger, more well-rounded actors of us all.

And now, to the pictures!

Some friends in Flat 10, after cooking a meal of pasta and salad.

During one of our walks with Simon Dormandy, around the West End, learning about the history of theatre in the area!

One of the studios at LDA, the Shaw Room. We have Acting and Movement here. 

Pre-movement class jam session!

Our first "Space, Place, and Text" class took us to the Victoria & Albert Museum. We went to the theatre exhibit and were told to choose a set that intrigued us-I chose this fanciful set of the English National Opera's production of "RUSALKA" by Dvorak at the London Coliseum. 

We are to write a piece on our chosen set, about the meaning of space and place, and how it affects our  thoughts and emotions as we walk into the theatre. I can't imagine walking into a theatre and beholding this set-the sheer magnitude of it astounds me. The play is set in a Victorian nursing home that eventually transforms into a magical forest with a pool. It is about a child longing to reach adulthood. The set is obviously shown mid-transition, and it has a dream-like, yet eerie quality, that finally drew me in. 

Me and my flatmate and a rather grotesque statue of Oscar Wilde.

And that concludes this week's recap. More to come very soon, as always. 

cheers!

M.Ang