Scripted: Day fourteen

Today was the last chance we'd get to have a run through before the Easter break, therefore, we thought it best to try and run as much as we could again without the use of our scripts. The previous lesson we had tried to do the same, however used our scripts more than we'd have liked in order to get a realistic grasp of how long the performance would be. This time, we knew how long the performance would be so we went for it without the scripts, and it went rather well, I think a real encourager was the fact that although some lines were forgotten or said a little differently, we knew the scene well enough to interpret what was said and carry on. In some ways making up the rest of a sentence makes the play a little more authentic and up to date in terms of the dialogue. For example, instead of Bennett calling Nicholas a swot. He called him a twat accidentally, however, this made the piece seem a little more up to date and southern to the originally Northern setting of the play. I still think there is work to be done in terms of learning lines, however it is obvious that we know the performance well enough and how we have set our scenes out that it is beginning to get a little boring, which I believe, in this case, isn't necessarily a bad thing as I think it shows that we have worked hard on pulling this play together and now know it well enough to want to get it performed. I don't think there is much more practice we need to do other than keep on running the play and making sure our lines are learnt, the task ahead is simple, the hard work of creating characters and directing scenes is over, we just need to show this work in our performance.

Writing in role: Chadwick Meade

After William goes on a killing spree

I can't believe it. What just happened, was it real. Are they dead, is this some weird dream I'm trapped in.  Like what happened is in a parallel universe.

Is it weird for me to not feel anything. I don't feel scared or upset or happy. Just satisfied. I mean, Bennett being dead hardly effects me. In fact if anything it's a positive he isn't around to constantly annoy me anymore. Cissy, was just irrelevant. As nice as she was. She was suppressed and crippled by Bennett, no longer her own person. Nicholas... Again although the event could be perceived as rather sad, I really can't see how it will effect my day to day routine. I hardly associated with them anyway, the absence of the three and William will mean nothing to me. As for Tristan. I don't know when I'll see him again, if I ever see him again. As far as I'm concerned , I got away. No one knows I was there, I can just carry on as before. Get my grades, get out of here. Do what I need to do.

The thing is, when i saw the gun in Williams hand. I didn't fear death, after all it would only speed up what would inevitably happen. If he had chosen to shoot me there and then, it would have gotten rid of so much worry. The inconvenience of school life, it would relieve a little pressure on the world. I suppose my death would also be pretty irrelevant. After all I'm a tiny spec just like everyone
else. I doubt anyone would notice.

So I'll be in school tomorrow. Looking at the people who claim to be close to the victims. Pretending to be upset for attention and popularity. Don't expect any sympathy from me, nor any recollection of events. We are mere particles in the universe. Losing three will not change a thing, it may even better it. Who knows, maybe I can get on with my A levels in peace now...

Scripted: Day thirteen

For the first half of this lesson, we were busy learning some lines independently, although I think running the scenes helps me learn the lines more thoroughly. The second part, we ran all we could without the use of scripts. gain, this was a success seeing as we had to ask our teacher to fill in for an absent member of the group. However, this time we done it was probably the best time we had done off script,. I'd say people knew about 85% of the lines and the piece looked like it was coming together, of course, we desperately need a run through now to judge where we are at, although I think the only problem now is lines. Every scene we have set, thought about in detail and spent time staging. I think what we need is to throw all the scenes together and see what happens, in fact I think we'd be pleasantly surprised with what we have done in such a short space of time. Of course, some scenes will be a little rusty and need tweaking, but the staging is there, the proxemics are there, we know how to create tension, the interactions between characters. The run through will tell us where we need to be.

Scripted: Day twelve

Today was a very simple lesson, run as much of the play as we could without our script. We had one person on hand to prompt us if need be, but today was about getting used to letting go of the safety net and discovering how little or how much we knew. All in all, I think it went pretty well, even if I'm only speaking for myself, I knew when to come on and off for the first scene, we knew how our staging was set out, our use of proxemics was there to see, as was the atmosphere we wanted to create.

Writing in role: Chadwick Meade


One day, my time spent doing a levels will be over, and I know I'll look back on it thinking how irrelevant they are. All I need to do is get into the university of my choice, study maths, go and get a job engineering somewhere, work out how to stop the world destroying itself. I don't need to be friends with anyone here, after all I'm only here another few months, not that anyone here is particularly nice. I don't get how they can all be so laid back, with their parents paying their fees, I would kill to have the money they have, to be able to have had the level of education since infant years. I'm here because of my hard work and grades, this scholarship was gifted to me and I have to make sure I use it in the best way I can and if that means staying away from the vile students here, so be it, all they do is hinder me, abuse me, insult me. I don't need that, I can assure you that there are far larger, more pressing issues to worry about in this world than whether people like you or not. The general direction of how our planet is going is what concerns me most, how our own species will destroy itself, and how much of a waste of intelligence and resources our extinction will be. I sometimes wonder if other species on different planets can see what we are doing to the Earth, how we struggle to live in harmony. I wonder if they look at us in disgust, and shame, thinking how stupid and ungrateful we are. This is how I see the others at this school, how they could get the grades and live happy lives... but they wont, and its too late now.

Cissy on Chadwick:





Chadwick... Well, I actually think Chadwick is, you know, kinda cute. Not in your typical way, but there's just something about him, something endearing. Even when Bennett is being a dick to him, which is most of the time, he seems so, unaffected by it. He seems strong in the mind, maybe not physically, although I imagine he could beat Bennett in a fight, Bennetts hardly a man. Its just the way chadders carries himself, quietly confident, like a little puppy, someone you'd want to take care of. I bet he's actually a really nice boy, just we never really see it as there's so much conflict between him and Bennett all the time that he doesn't really associate with us too much. I suppose I'm guilty of siding with Bennett against him too many times, but how could I not be seen to back |Bennett up, I feel a more powerful with Bennett with me and I'd hate to think hat he'd do if I went against him. But whenever I've had the chance to engage in some kind of conversation, he's seemed interested in talking, insightful, I imagine he could be someone who actually cares. Sure, he looks like a bit of an idiot sometimes with his impeccably smart uniform, but I suppose he is interesting. How he uses lemon juice in his hair to make it go blonder, his American name, his intelligence. There's so much mystery about him and it kind of intrigues me, I want to find out more. The other day he said something so nice. It was the day Bennett was being an arsehole when I got a B in my mocks. He told Chadwick that I was stupid  but he replied that I had always seemed rather intelligent. That was sweet, I appreciated it, I never get anything nice from Bennett unless he's in front of my parents to make himself look good. Chadwick seems like a genuinely nice guy, I could do with a nice guy.

Scripted: Day Eleven




At first, we began working on self analysis of various skills and honestly scored ourselves on our various skills, highlighting our strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to set targets and how we would improve our skills in the short term. Whilst also completing our character profiles.

Scripted: Writing from another characters perspective.



William: After outburst at Bennett



He's just a vicious bastard. I've never seen him nice to anyone at all. You know, it makes me wonder what people like Chadwick and Tristan have done to deserve such horrible treatment. Never, have I had a problem with either of them, Chadwick is a nice, but shy boy, but easy to get along with, he's likeable enough. Tristan doesn't do much wrong either. He's so unbelievably stuck up, walks and talks like he owns the place, constantly insulting, looking to pick an argument or slap someone down. But, you see, the funny thing is, all he has are nasty words. He never picks on Nicholas. And I'll tell you why, Nicholas is big, he goes to the gym, Bennett probably knows Nicholas won't take any shit and will have no hesitation in reacting to him, so he's all pally with him. Chadwick and Tristan, not so much. But I felt like I had to stand up to him today, you know, call him out. I said I would fight him and easily beat him, and he looked scared, tried to laugh it off in front of everyone. But if I could I would smash his head in, make him bleed, make him cry, bring him down a couple of levels to make him realise he is just a pathetic, unimportant, vile bastard that nobody actually likes. You could ask anyone if they'd like to see that happen and they say yes. Even Cissy would deep down, she would never admit it but come on! She's only with Bennett for the status, he's absolutely horrible to her. To the point I feel sorry. She's not like Lilly. Lilly is lovely and strong. She wouldn't take that shit from Bennett, that's why I'm moving to New York with her, get away from here and start fresh, you know. Maybe get some kids and a Lamborghini haha. Never see Bennett again, or my family, or this stupid school. Everyone in the area looks as if they could rip out your insides at any minute. You know, I wonder if the noises in my head are true sometimes... The banging... The voices... I'm gonna stay at Chadwicks tonight. We can make cheese on toast in the night. Like a sleepover ! You know, like children again. How exciting!

SDV 1392

Scripted: Day Eleven




Today, we focused heavily on subtext. The idea of this was to explore how our characters really think towards each other and how they react inside their minds to what is said or happens. This is generally different to what is actually said. For example, as Chadwick, I would probably say a lot of sarcastic insults towards Bennett, but always avoid the inconvenience of commotion and conflict.

Scripted: Day 10

Today, we continued discussing the personalities of the various characters and exploring their relationships with the others in the play. These can be seen below.

After that, we went onto performing the very first scene. This time, aware of how we used proxemics and how we had set out the distances between everyone. At first we have William and Lilly sitting face to face over a long table whilst he asks her questions. This was designed to show the awkwardness that Lilly feels as William slowly moves closer to her from around the table. By the time he gets there, Bennett and Cissy walk in and sit together in the corner of the room, indicating a slight divide between them and William, as Lilly becomes more uncomfortable she moves from William to sit with Bennett and Cissy leaving William on his own, to further reinforce how William is the weird, outcast member of the group. Eventually, Nicholas walks in and sits on the table by himself but still engages in conversation, showing that he is in the group and well respected, but keeps himself to himself. All the while William seems to crave attention. As soon as Cissy asks him a question he moves over to the group, almost invading their space. As Tristan walks in we decided to place him with the main group too, seeing as he is a slightly weaker character who would hang around in big groups to seemingly fit in. As my character, Chadwick walks in, everyone is sat, apart from William. Chadwick remains on his feet and doesn't sit down, instead he looks for some books on the shelves and doesn't make an attempt to talk to anyone. This creates a little distance from the outset between Chadwick and the rest of the group, although I move closer to Lilly when introduced, only in order to appear friendly, as he has no reason not to get on with Lilly. As Bennett begins to wind Chadwick up, he walks closer to him, but very slowly, building this tension between the two and showing that he has a threatening demeanour about him. I believe the use of proxemics will be very important in how we show the other characters feelings towards each other, which is why the posters we created will be important, especially as there is little subtext for us to go by. I think from now on, we need to keep running through the play, but focusing more in the proximity between the characters to ensure that we have set the scenes out in the best way we can and not leave any grey areas.

Scripted: Character research on William


I think that it is important to understand William as much as possible, seeing as he is the main character in the play and as Chadwick, I interact with him a considerable amount, therefore, my understanding of his character will affect the way I behave towards him.


As a group, and through reading into our characters, we have come to terms with the fact that William may have a form of Aspergers as he is very awkward in social situations and unhinged. In a way, he is like the darker brother of Christopher from the Curious Incident. I think we believe that William develops schizophrenia throughout the piece.


The condition may develop slowly. The first signs of schizophrenia, such as becoming socially withdrawn and unresponsive or experiencing changes in sleeping patterns, can be hard to identify. This is because the first symptoms often develop during adolescence and changes can be mistaken for an adolescent "phase".


People often have episodes of schizophrenia, during which their symptoms are particularly severe, followed by periods where they experience few or no positive symptoms. This is known as acute schizophrenia.


Strange Behaviour

Adolescents with schizophrenia may engage in bizarre behaviour or speech. For instance, they may walk backwards or move repetitively. Bizarre, repetitive behaviour is more characteristic of adolescent schizophrenia when compared with adult schizophrenia, as noted by a review of research by Dr. Chris Hollis in the May 2000 issue of "Advances in Psychiatric Treatment."

Throughout the play, these characteristics are displayed by William, he is repetitive, doesn't understand personal space , engages in bizarre speech and so on. I think as  Chadwick, I would recognise the symptoms and know the potential characteristics of the affliction, so I think I would be a lot more cautious when engaging with William, and weary, bearing in mind his condition constantly.