Learning New Things

In todays lesson we watched the other groups performance, after their performance we all sat and had a long talk. Mr. Evans gave a lot of feedback to the other group. Personally, I learnt a lot from the discussion we had today. I found everything Mr. Evans said very interesting and it made me realise how important communication and team work is when your working together. In our group everything started running smoothly when we became comfortable with each other and we all took leadership and when we wrote the script that is when everything feel into place. At the start our group had a low communication because it was the first time a lot of us worked together however we over came all our issues and now we work really well together. Whereas with the other group there is an evident lack of team work and leadership. This made me realise how important it is for there to be leadership roles and that we need to push our selves if we want to succeed. This lesson won't only help me get good grades but it also taught me some different lessons that will help me in my life later on. Overall, I think it was good that we just went of criteria and sat down and got straight to the point of all the issues. 

Feed-back

During our lesson on November 12th 2015 we had a long discussion about having to work as team. We also had our first dress rehearsals, and did a full run. Overall, our feedback was positive, However we needed to be more emotionally connected to our character in order for me to do that I have to memorise my lines better because the paper being in my hand it taking away from my true potential because Im not confident enough so I just read. We also discussed props and decided who would do what. 

Tech Run

We had our Tech Run today, it took a long time however we were able to complete everything today. We have written up a Que. for Pedro who will be doing our lighting. The only thing that needs to be done now is our music, we will discuss our music and costume in our next lesson. Overall today was a very productive lesson because we completed our Que. so our full dress rehearsal will run smoothly. 

Testing lights for the Drug Dealing Scene 

Pedros Que.

Testing lights for the Interview scenes 

Lastly we also made a few changes to the script and added a few more lines to the narrator so that there was a more obvious transition between scenes. I think the changes help tie the play together a lot more. 

Rehearsals

In todays lesson we only rehearsed, we were able to run through the script two times. Personally, I think we could have worked a lot better. I found that the boy were not taking things very seriously, which made it harder for the rest of us to make good use of our time. However, I did notice the my memorisation of the script is continuing to improve. 

Full run Rehearsal

In our last lesson November 2nd 2015,  we did a really full run through of our script. I think we worked really well as a group during this lesson. I think all of us have improved since the first few run throughs of the script. We also did a full run through with Mr. Evans and got his feedback. While discussing with Mr. Evans he said that it was good, and our intended message was getting across. In relation to that feedback, our group decided that during our tutorial we'll take the time to work a little bit on the lights so that we can soon do a run through in costume with lights and everything. Mr Evans feedback made me more confident, because we no longer need to worry about whether our message is being delivered or not. So we can now just focus on rehearsing. 

Rehearsals

During our rehearsals on October 22nd 2015 we didn't work as well as we could have. We weren't as active and motivated as normal however we did manage to get through the script 2 times. However, I did notice that I was using my script a lot less in this rehearsal than I was a couple days before. Although, we didn't work as well I think this lesson was helpful because we did become more familiar with the script and I think that this rehearsal helps us become not only more familiar with the script but also more familiar with the our characters. 

Sam and Howard running through their drug buying scene 

Rehearsals with Script

During our rehearsals on October 20th 2015 we had the final draft of the script with us, the first thing we did was read through the script as a group. After that we did a run through of it. We faced a few problems when doing this because when the other side of the stage was supposed to be frozen they moved around a lot and were talking. However, in the second run through we did it was a lot more put together. In addition I noticed that I didn't use my script as much as I did in the first run through. 

Drama Script – Just Say No

(Light out – completely black, then slowly come up on right side of stage only)

Nariel: Here with us today is Katie Scott, the sister of Ben Scott the recent victim of a legal high (pause). She has agreed to meet with us today to talk about the death of her brother, and also to talk about legal highs. Ben Scott was the victim of Mephedrone (Me-feed-drone), one of the most commonly used legal highs. Mephedrone killed 52 people in the UK alone in one year. To get us started, what was the relationship between you and your brother?

Lauryn: We were very close, my brother and I have always been very close because our parents are both lawyers and didn’t regularly have time for us. I always helped him with any problems he had, I was like a mother to him and I treated him as a child more than I treated him like a brother.

Nariel: Did you know about Legal highs before today?

Lauryn: I’ve heard about legal highs before but I didn’t know that they killed. I mainly thought that legal highs were either alcohol or high intakes of caffeine. (short pause) When I found out how my brother died I was shocked because I didn’t know about the different legal highs out there.

Nariel: We know that there were others found with your brother, however Ben was the only one to pass away. Were you familiar with your brother’s friends?

Lauryn: I knew his friends quite well I mean they were over a lot of the time but they all seemed like really good kids. They have never gotten into trouble in school, so when I found out they were caught high on drugs I was very surprised.

Nariel: Did you notice anything different about Ben in the nights leading up to his death?

Lauryn: Well a few days before his death he came home around 12pm and he seemed a bit nervous and out of it. So I asked him if he was okay, and all he said was that he got into a fight with his friends. (Right side of the stage freezes; lights go out on right side and come up on the left side)

(Truman, Howard and Danny frozen)

Erin: (points to Truman) this is Ben, Katie’s brother. (Points to Howard) this one right here is Johnny he’s a little bit naughty and breaks a few rules. (Points to Danny) This is Tim he’s a good kid and never gets in to trouble; he is also Ben’s best friend. (Snaps fingers)

Howard: Hey guys! Look what I got from a friend. (Shows bag of drugs)

Truman: Omg, what is that, is it what I think it is…

Howard: Yes, man they’re drugs, but wait they are legal I got them from a friend.

Danny: (Tries to grab bag) Ooo… Can I have a look?

Howard: (pulls away) nope not now… Lets meet back here tonight and try it out, I mean it is legal so what’s the harm?

Truman: No, that’s a terrible idea, I’m not coming back here tonight I don’t want to risk anything.

Danny: What the hell dude, come on they’re legal nothing is going to happen.

Truman: No thank you I don’t want to risk anything we could get into big trouble if someone catches us.

Howard: Fine be a wimp, go home then…

(Truman, Howard and Danny freeze / prepare for next scene)

Erin: Ben went home that night frightened and worried about what might happen to his friends. (Erin Freezes)

(Lights go out on the left side of the stage and come on the right Lauryn and Nariel unfreeze)

Lauryn: I didn’t really think anything of it because it’s very normal in a healthy relationship for people to fight.

Nariel: Do you know what happened after the fight?

Lauryn:  No not really, but the next day he asked me to go to the park, so I assumed that everything was back to normal.

Nariel: The other day I was talking to an officer about your brother’s case and he said that Tim one of the friends confessed to bullying Ben on the day of his death.

(Lights go off on right side of stage and come up on the left side)

Erin: Tim and Johnny were playing at the park when suddenly ben walked over and sat at a bench close by. (Snaps fingers)

Howard: Look who it is the boy who’s to scared to take drugs.

Danny: Ahaha boo hoo, poor baby scared of a little powder you know you missed out you little scaredy cat.

Howard: (messing up his hair) no one likes you anymore, why couldn’t you have just come to the part last night it was a lot of fun?

Truman: (Hides face in shame and tries to hold back tears)

Howard: Dude lets leave! (pause) This piece of junk isn’t worth our time

(Howard and Danny begin to walk away)

Truman: Wait, wait Howard could you come over here (Howard walks back to Truman and Danny exits)

Howard: Man what do you want I have better things to do with my life

Truman: I changed my mind, I want to take some drugs I don’t want to be a left out coward who’s scared of a little powder.

Howard: There isn’t any left but I can take you to my mate and we can get some more.

(Lights go out on the left side of the stage and come on the right Lauryn and Nariel unfreeze)

Lauryn: I wish I had paid more attention to him that day, If only I had realized. He came home with a friend and asked if he could borrow some money, I can’t believe I was the one who paid for the drugs. I gave him the money and he went off and bought drugs (Become teary)

(Lights go out on right and open slowly on the left)

Howard and Sam: Hey what’s up dude (high-five)

Howard: I have a new customer for you his names Ben

Sam: Could you ask him to leave for a moment (Truman goes to the back and walks around) What’s wrong with you man, don’t just come here bring random people of the street. Don’t you dare ruin my business!!

Howard: He isn’t some random dude I found on the street, he’s a friend

Sam: How long have you known him, can you trust him? What are you going to do if he blurts to the cops. You’re putting my business at risk.

Howard: He doesn’t know anything, he’ll keep his mouth shut I promise you.

Sam: I don’t want you doing this no more, you hear me

Howard: Okay, okay… I don’t see the big deal your getting money and anyways isn’t this suppose to be legal

Sam: I don’t care if its legal or not I don’t want anything being traced back to me.

Howard: Okay I understand

Sam: Now give me the money and leave, don’t do this again I’m warning you

(Exchange money and drugs then lights go out on left side and slowly come on, on the right side)

Nariel: Don’t blame yourself; you couldn’t have known that was what he would use the money for.

Lauryn: I know but I blame myself, I practically raised my brother I should have known something was going on.

Nariel: Is anyone else in your family addicted to drugs or has a history with drugs?

Lauryn: Our father use to be addicted when I was first born, he would stay out late and it would sometimes scare me. However, after him and my mom got into a fight he agreed to go to rehab and since then he has been off drugs.

Nariel: How do you think life will change for you know that your brother has passed away?

Lauryn: It will change a lot; we were always there for each other. I’ll no longer have anyone to talk to about my life and everything. He was an amazing listener and always knew the right things to say. I really hope that more people become aware of legal highs and their actual dangers. 

Nariel: Your brother was peer-pressured into taking drugs but do you have anything to say to anyone who may be thinking of taking drugs to help with depression or they might even be experiencing the same thing as your brother.

Lauryn: My advice to them is JUST SAY NO. You may be thinking in that time that things can only get worse but that is not true there are many different ways to get help. There is a quote that states, “Drugs are hell disguised as heaven.” Your just putting yourself through hell that at the time seems better but is just making things worse. Risking your life isn’t the way to get help. JUST SAY NO… Just because its called a Legal High doesn’t mean it’s safe… Think before you act and JUST SAY NO..

Nariel: Lastly, have you ever thought about taking drugs?

Lauryn: When I was 15 years old a friend invited me to a party, when I got to her house there wasn’t many people in the room I was a little confused and then she told me that they were taking Mephedrone. I sat down for a bit and thought about it but in the end I JUST SAID NO. At the time I didn’t know that Mephedrone was a legal drug, but I think what affect me the most is that I almost took a similar drug so that could have been me.

Nariel: I’m sorry to hear that, you’re an amazing person and I’m sure many will benefit from this. Thank you so much for agreeing to speak to me today.

(ALL LIGHTS GO OUT)

THE END J