Lesson diary

In this lesson, we got to know each other through a name-and-movement game. Each of us chose a word beginning with the first letter of our name and created a movement to go with it. My name is Ekaterina, so I chose “electricity” and showed a movement to represent it. We then repeated each other’s movements, using them to help us remember one another.

The exercise connected names, words and physical actions. It was a playful way to introduce ourselves while practising observation and memory. For me, it also highlighted how movement can communicate an idea—a useful skill to carry into character work and performance.

In the first half of the day, we each presented a life map. Rather than listing milestones such as when I was born or got married, I decided to share some of my theatrical mishaps: funny, slightly embarrassing moments from acting training and performing. There have been plenty over the years, so this was only a small selection! I thought these stories would be an interesting way to introduce myself. Everyone shared something different, and the presentations helped us get to know one another.

In the second half, we moved into practical acting work. We played a ball game and explored the space through walking, observation and exercises involving our circle of attention and imagination. We changed partners, worked in groups and created short improvised scenes, including a situation on the Tube. We explored actions and reactions, given circumstances, intentions, the “magic if” and inner monologue—using these ideas to shape how we behaved and responded within a scene.

My strongest realisation was how much I had missed acting and improvisation. I felt completely in my element. I enjoyed being on stage, creating something and responding to the people around me. The day reminded me how deeply I love this work. Returning to these exercises was a chance to reconnect with that part of myself, and I want to carry that enjoyment and willingness to play into the next lessons.

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We began with a warm-up, followed by impulse exercises in pairs. We passed impulses to each other and allowed them to guide our movements. Through contact improvisation, we explored the space and how we could move in relation to another person. I particularly enjoyed “Round, By, Through”, which encouraged us to discover different possibilities of movement around and through the shapes our bodies created. We also used eye contact and elements of physical theatre.

As the lesson progressed, we gradually added new layers to our improvisations. My partner and I were given the emotion of fear, which we explored through changes in expression and movement. We performed under two different pieces of music, with two pairs performing at a time while the others watched and tried to recognise the emotions.

The tango music felt especially powerful to me. It connected so closely with our movements and our emotion that the performance became deeply absorbing. Although we did not speak, I could clearly imagine a story: a struggle between life and death, between the fear of dying and the desire to live, without knowing which would win.

This experience reminded me how much we can communicate through the body, our relationship with a partner and our response to music. It also gave me a way into character work: beginning with a physical response and an emotion, then allowing a story and motivation to emerge.

The biggest challenge was the physical stamina needed for three and a half hours of movement. By the end, I was tired, but it was a satisfying tiredness. I had thoroughly enjoyed performing, and I felt grateful to be doing this work again.