Developing the Script – Demi Morrison
Leanne and I worked on the script for the piece together during a meeting. We wanted to words to be very succinct as we did not want anything to draw away from the intimacy and the main concept of the performance. We realised that we needed some scripted dialogue as, despite the performance being influenced by the audience, we, as performers, needed to guide the performance to how we want it to be.
We decided as a group that the lines had to be short and therefore we began with “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind sitting/holding hands/cuddling/kissing (with) me just for the sake of it. With no reasoning/intention behind it. I just want to feel/be intimate with you”. After experimenting with this idea, we decided that what we had was a little too much information for the audience to be given. Therefore, as a process of development and elimination we ended up with: (for the kissing scene) “I was wondering if you would mind kissing me, just for the sake of kissing. For as little or as long as you want. I just want to be intimate.”
We realised during the development that we needed to give some indication of time to the audience and because we all agreed that it should be up to them to decide. This is why we included the line: “For as little or as long as you want.”
There are little aspects of the script which have been modified for the different stations in the performance as they do not make sense without it. However, ultimately we want the spoken parts to be as similar as possible to help built this trust with the audience, and so that they can begin to expect what will happen after the second one to one performance.
Delivery – Leanne McKettrick
Now having the script in place, we needed to do a lot of work on the delivery of these lines. The dialogue we have created is all that is spoken to the audience during the performance, and it is these words which help the audience to gain insight into what they are about to partake in. Due to these factors, as a group we agreed that the script highlights to the audience the essence of our performance and what we are trying to achieve, therefore the emphasis on the delivery was very important.
We felt the delivery needed to suggest intimacy to the participant. However, we did not want to do this in a way which would make the audience feel uncomfortable. It is vital for the audience to feel safe, in order to build them up to the final encounter in the performance. Therefore, we decided to the delivery of these lines should be calm and relaxed, almost as you would talk to a friend, but due to the content of our work exploring intimacy, with a hint or a promise of something more.
Due to the fact, we could be seeing numerous people during the day we highlighted the importance of making sure that each time a new member of the audience came to take part it we need to say the script as if it was the first time. Ensuring our delivery is kept fresh is another important factor in not only helping the participant to feel comfortable, it is also vital in building them up to the last section of the piece.
To effectively do this, it was important that we as performers were comfortable in what we were saying. In order to gain the audience’s trust and to have an intimate moment with them, it is imperative for them to see a truth from us and to believe what we do actually ‘just want to be intimate’. As discussed previously, each of our sections are what we are performers are comfortable in doing, as a result of this we hope that the delivery of these lines will express a truth to the audience because it is something we are committed in ourselves.