The previous reflection of work on the grid can be seen here
When we decided to work on the grid we did not have a finished idea of what we wanted to do in our performance but dream/reality was still the main theme. We were really keen to bring the grids in to the performance as it has never been done before at the University and we could predict that it would look really good. The reason as to why we came across it is because Lee showed us a video of a multimedia performance where people could see their own reflection on a floor which you would not usually be able to do so. This made us think about what the grid would look like to an audience. Some of us decided to try it out, we went up to the grid and lay down while the rest of the group lay down on the floor underneath and watched us. It looked really effective and gave off the impression of a mirror image.
I was asked to go on the grid for the performance which was very daunting as it is something I have never experienced before. It was difficult to rehearse as the space was not always available and I had to be attended by one of the tech team due to health and safety reasons so I was only able to practice a couple of times before the final performance.
The grid was lined with sheets so we could project on to it. Our intention was the make the audience enter the space below and lay down so they immediately saw Luke and I above them on the grid, we wanted to make it look as if we were their reflection. We were lying underneath the sheets while there was a projection of a sky. We wanted to create a dream-like atmosphere and portray that we were sleeping up above. From the feedback I received from certain audience members, I think the concept of the grid worked really well. The feedback was all positive and they said it was very effective.
On the grid we had a routine which we had previously choreographed. This represented us sleeping which we hoped would encourage the audience to get in to a slight slumber. After the projection of the sky we showed one of our stop motion projections which showed a frantic movement, this triggered our movements to get faster. We did this as we wanted to show that the mood was becoming more uneasy, this was so we could build up to the bomb.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200970305761871&set=o.208941709245960&type=2&theater
Getting on and off the grid was a struggle as the sheet used for projection which we were lying underneath was pinned on to the grid which only left us with a certain amount of room left. It was a matter of rolling off and crawling out.
I feel the grid was one of our most successful ideas and it worked well. If we were able to do the performance again with more experience and more tech I think we would expand the use of the grid and incorporated it in the performance more.
By Olivia Clephane
