Art Award – Bronze

Trinity College of London Art Awards – Bronze

This award is about taking part in an arts activity I enjoy, go to an arts event, research their arts inspiration and share their skills with others. (40 Hours)

Introduction:

I wanted to become a fashion designer, but what I did not expect what how this ambition has led me to a world of imagination. I did a 6 weeks dressmaking course which kind of put me off dressmaking as I am not very good with accurate measurements. However, while thinking about designing, I was advised to try acting in order to understand theater costumes.

I remembered how I was dragged to my first acting programme, thinking that this is going to be the worst experience of my short life……

As it turned out, I have a wonderful time and this opened up a whole series of exploration into dance, acting, writing etc etc ….

(Click on Link to see more information)

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PART A – TAKING PART IN AN ARTS ACTIVITY

1. Fine Art class

   I have taking Art Classes from Teacher Ceiling from Inside Out Drawing Studio for more than 2 years now since 2013. This is an ongoing activity. I have posted my recent fine art works in the Gallery. Most are works that I have been coached on. In particular, the ” Last Life”  is my own inspiration. It is my submission for 2014 Home-school Concert Art Exhibition. Please read here for more on the “Last Life“.

2. Drama Workshops
   

   This is the main bulk of my Bronze award. Since June 2013, I have been taking all sort of drama programme. Now, I am attending Centre Stage School of Art three times a week for classes on theatre, behind the scene, and speech & drama class for Trinity College of London. Below is a list of my participation in different classes:-
   

• Holiday Drama Programme with Act 3, Teen Angel – Cainhill Circle Singapore, June 2013
  

First on the left is me.

This was the first time I tried acting and it was lots of fun. I attended Act3 for 5 days at 3 hours each day. At the end of the programme, we had a presentation of a 20 minutes play called Teen Angel. I had to memorize the script and it was the first for me. I had really enjoyed acting. The play went well. At the end of it, I felt well accomplished.

• Holiday Drama Programme with Act3, Mid Summer Night’s Dream – Cainhill Circle Singapore, December 2013

It was 6 months before I had another go at acting. We went back to Act3 for 1 week holiday programme. This time I did an abridged version of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night Dream. After this holiday programme, I am left with a need to do more.

• Block 15 with Centre Stage – Jan 2014 to ongoing

Discussing about how a refugee would feel…

Block 15 is the very first class I attended at CentreStage. It has inspired me in many ways. I have learned many different things such as making an advertisement, directing, filming, improvising and others. For many months we prepare for our presentation of Goodbye Tom with Block 15, which we presented in Centre Stage Black Box on 11 Dec 2014. Please click to know more about Goodbye Tom.

• Onstage Acting classes with Centre Stage – April 2014 to June 2014

This is a 2 hours per week class. I had to audition to get into the class. I presented a monologue of Queen Margaret from Shakespeare’s Richard III for my audition. In the class we concentrated purely on our acting skill. For our presentation at the end of term, we did a presentation of Shel Silvertein’s poems. I am in love with memorizing poems.

• Theatre Workshops with Centre Stage – September 2014 to ongoing

Presentation of our 6 months of hard work in Theatre Workshop

Theatre Workshop is a weekly 3 hour class. I have to learn about acting, dancing and singing but mainly on acting. For 6 months we prepare our presentation of Dreams of Ann Frank. Read all about my experience with understanding Ann Frank here. It was an hour play which we presented in Centre Stage Black Box on 7 February 2015. Below is the programme front and back page. Have a look at a short clip of our play: http://youtu.be/dTtGf6KxkBw

• Drama Workshop for The Merchant of Venice with Royal Shakespeare Company, Season Park Condo Singapore, 10 May 2014.
  Please read about my feedback on the workshop in my post on The Merchant of Venice.

20 of us coached by a representative from Royal Shakespeare.

Below are a series of opportunities where I was able to apply my skill that I have learnt from my drama classes.

• A group of us were able to rap William Wordsworth’s Daffodil at Homeschool Concert 2013 held at Toa Payoh Community Centre in December 2013. Learning to memorize my script in my holiday programme has proven handy here.

Rapping the poem “Daffodil’ by William Wordsworth

• I was one of the 4 emcees for Homeschool Concert 2014 held at Singapore Civil Service Club on 3 December 2014. I was no longer shy and was able stand on stage confidently. Thanks to all my acting classes.

Mistress of Ceremony for Homeschool Concert 2014

• I was also part of an item of a skit about Concert Audience. I contributed to the script and obviously as an actress too.

One of the audience on stage

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PART B – GOING TO ARTS EVENTS

• Michael Morpurgo’s The Butterfly Lion presented by The Mercury Theatre Colchester Production – Malvern Theatre UK, 15 October 2013
  

  Getting ready to watch the amazing broadway style play with a programme in my hands.

• Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful presented by Scamp Theatre and ABA Productions – DBS Art Centre Singapore, 25 January 2014

Private Peaceful came to Singapore, tickets and programme in Jon’s hand.

• Terrible Tudors presented by Birmingham Stage Company and ABA Productions- DBS Art Centre Singapore, 31 January 2014

Can’t wait to laugh our way to our old time favourite of Horrible Histories – programme in Jon’s hand.

• Romeo and Juliet Ballet presented by Singapore Dance Theatre, Esplanade Theatre Singapore,  16 March 2014 (check out my comment about this.)

Forgotten to take a picture in our seat, here is one after the show with the poster

• The Merchant of Venice presented by Worcester Repertory Company, Worcester Cathedral, 18 Oct 2013, and
• The Merchant of Venice presented by The Singapore Repertory Theatre, Fort Canning Hill Singapore,  23 May 2014.
  

Please read here for my comment on The Merchant of Venice.

• A Mid Summer Night’s Dream presented by Worcester Repertory Theatre, Worcester Commandary, 20 July 2014
• A Mid Summer Night’s Dream presented by Shakespeare’s Globe, Diva Productions and ABA Productions, Esplanade Theatre Singapore, 16 Nov 2014

Click here for my thinking on Mid Summer Night’s Dream.

• Julius Caesar presented by Shakespeare’s Globe, The Globe UK, 29 July 2014.  Continue here for my review on Julius Caesar.
  

• Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake presented by New Adventures Productions, Broadway Entertainment Group and Esplanade’s Da:ns Festival 2014, Esplanade Theatre Singapore, 11 October 2014

Trying to take a picture in the very dimmed auditorium for Swan Lake

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PART C – ARTS HERO AND HEROINES

William Shakespeare

When I did my hoilday programme on A Mid Summer Night’s Dream, it was the beginning of my journey to learn about Shakespeare.

I went to many Shakespeare’s play in Part B of this award. Please see above for my reviews on some of the play.

In July to August 2014, I also did a trip to Stratford Upon Avon to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace. I learnt alot about Shakespeare on this trip. Among all the birthplace location, my favourite is Anne Hathaway’s family home just outside town. I think the guides there have fantastic knowledge about beginning of idiom.

Instead of just a biography of William Shakespeare which you can find on many websites, I decided to write about more on confusion surrounding Shakespeare’s work and reputation. Here is my 1000 words on Confusion about Shakespeare.

Learning about Shakespeare in Stratford Upon Avon, July-August 2014

Book Reviews – My love for books – Book reviews are set out in a standard style of Introduction to story, What I like and dislike, Book Cover, Characters from the story, and Conclusion. This is my first step to learning from different novelists. They are my hero and heroines and in this way I hope to pay tribute to them. (Perhaps writing a book will be my focus of my Silver award)

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PART D – ARTS SKILLS SHARE

• Self learning how to make Chinese Lantern – February 2015

I made these!

Teaching friends to make a Chinese Decorative Lantern

Please click here to read about my experience of learning and sharing.

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Conclusion:

I remembered that I used to get stage fright and I did not like it. This is why at first I did not want to act. Obviously I was wrong. It is really interesting. Over time, the stage frights went with all the performances and chances in the limelight. I do not get stage fright much these days. My interest in acting has overcome that fear of going on stage. I still get a bit nervous when I have to play my violin publicly. Perhaps it is because there are many people who can play the violin better than me.

When most people hates reading Shakespeare, I have found him to be intriguing. It was only recent that I begin to gain this fascination in his writing. Shakespeare has this amazing way of expressing emotion through words. I would like to write like that.

I look forward to the next art awards and perhaps by then I can share my love for music and writing a little more.

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