Devising: day 1

 Today, we began our new unit on devising. At first, we were split into groups randomly. We were then given out stimulus for our pieces which was the title "humanity in crisis" and explored the issues surrounding Syria and the refugee crisis. Before looking back to conflict between Bosnia an further back to ww2, exploring how people, particularly the children were affected. In addition, we explored how Saigon was affected and learnt that parents often decided to get their children out of the country to the US by the US army. To be honest, I didn't like the stimulus at first, I thought it was such a broad topic but quite dull and mainstream at the same time. I just found all the topics we could think if very depressing and nothing particularly jumped out at first and I struggled to feel any excitement towards the stimulus.

We then went onto brainstorming ideas around our stimulus, thinking what we could relate it too and created this mind map below.

Our next task was to create a small piece in twenty minutes on any chosen idea from our stimulus. We decided to pick the refugee idea. As it appeared the easiest title to create ideas quickly on. We began by trying to create freeze frames showing how normal lives are turned upside down by conflict. However it seemed a bit dull, so we put music to it. Which was a slow acoustic guitar piece. That worked very nicely. We changed the beginning to people greeting each other and falling in cannon, showing how friendships can be destroyed. Out next movement was standing in a line being executed. Symbolising those caught in the conflict and trying to fight back. Our final part saw us cluster into each other and bob up and down as if escaping the country on a crowded boat. Then, one by one, we parted from the centre and turned out to the sides leaving Ashley in the middle. He ran to each person on the edge who all turned their backs on this refugee, before the last person gave him a hug, symbolising the fact that he was being taken in as an asylum seeker.

I think the stimulus gives us a whole load of directions to go in, and allows us to explore very deep and serious issues. I think it will be difficult though, however, I think we have enough talent in the group to come up with and exchange ideas with a mix of strengths within.These pictures below helped us begin to generate ideas.