Live History's Site-Specific Workshop at Olveston

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Towards the end of term 3, Yr 11/12 Drama had the awesome opportunity to do a site-specific theatre workshop with Canadian touring theatre company, 'Live History', at Olveston. 

'Live History' offer location-tailored history shows and workshops to historical venues wherever in the world. This year alone they've worked between Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and NZ. 

Our workshop began in the Olveston parlour room with a presentation on site-specific theatre: what it is, its pros and cons. We learnt about how 'Live History' tour as a theatre company - adapting their series of scripts on the fly to location bookings and their histories. 

Students then divided into groups and devised scenes informed primarily by a room of choice in the house. They were challenged to involve the audience in unfolding the action of the scene to take the immersiveness of this kind of theatre  further. 

Group 1: Brie, Zoe, and Faith picked the parlour room. In their scene Zoe played a daughter bringing home her fiancé, Faith, to disapproving Mother, Brie. Things escalated quickly when Mother Brie went upstairs to retrieve "guns" for a showdown with fiancé Faith. 

Group 2: Nick, Harvey, and Cody picked the kitchen. In their scene Harvey played an angry customer who had been served the wrong meal by waiter, Cody. As far as chef Nick is concerned, there has been no mix up in the kitchen, but front of house feels otherwise. 

Group 3: Jacob, Rylan, and Kaleb picked the study. In their scene Father Jacob tries to buy property from seller, Rylan. However, neither can settle on an agreement. And this isn't helped by disruptive son, Kaleb. 

Group 4: Sam, Eli, Laura, and Sophie picked a bedroom. In their scene two sisters, Sophie and Laura, squabble over a missing necklace. Father Sam is unable to resolve the conflict and neither is the servant, Eli, who is accused of stealing. 

Group 5: Simon and Harry picked another bedroom. In their scene they played a married couple in the throes of exposed infidelity. Fortunately, they manage to figure things and find a way forward. 

There was so much fun had in the sharing of everyones scenes both as performers and viewers. Everyone left the workshop buzzing and it became a Drama highlight of the year for many students!