Week 1.

I wanted to wait until the end of the week to do a post, but I couldn't wait.

So far, all of our classes have consisted of sitting around in a circle and talking, some exercises, but no real meat as of yet. Which is to be expected, it's only been two days for God's sake.

Only two days, but I can tell the next couple of weeks are going to kick my ass. I must say, the standout class thus far belongs to Kathy Pogson, the director of the program and a hell of a dame.

She is...really something, she is unapologetic, and demands every last bit of mental and physical energy from us. Which makes her such a great teacher but I have to admit that I was caught off guard and even a little offended by her being in our faces right from the start. It was weird because all of the points that she brought up, I knew inwardly. How serious the stakes are, how it is ok to take your time to really prepare, how acting is about effecting change in another person. I was not able to articulate it, however, and I think that may be why I've been feeling a bit weird these past two days in her classes. Made me realize how soft I've become. How undisciplined and coarse.

There is a certain frankness about her that I appreciate but also, in a small way, resent. I'm so used to thinking about only pleasant things that I forgot what it was like to face reality and truth...both of which are usually not so pleasant. And so I can feel myself recoiling from some of the activities we do in class, and I can't quite place why. I've become so closed off during the past semester, I realized, I forgot what it was like to work in a big group. She can sense my reluctance, I know it. Among other goals for this semester, I want to be able to (re)confirm for myself my desire to pursue acting-or theatre-in general. By which I mean, if I finish this semester with my love for theatre intact, I can most definitely continue among this path. (and perhaps continue with a more expansive heart for it and for others.) I want to know if I must act. If I can only be an actor-and not, say-a human rights lawyer.

Lots of personal reflection. But this blog is supposed to be about studio life with my classmates. So, a couple of pictures from our first few classes.

not a class, during a lunch break in the library. 

stage combat...? 

The rapiers we get to work with in stage combat are so cool. That's it for now. Tomorrow we see our first theatre show as a group, "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" at the National Theatre. 

more updates (and perhaps a guest blogger!) soon, 

-M