What is it going to take for us to be a good ensemble and create a successful production?

In order to create good ensemble work we are going to need to listen to each other's bodies, what are our physical and emotional limits are and making sure everybody feels safe. We need to develop a sense of trust between our cast. We need to have the ability to know what our comfort zone is but be able to expand it and push it as far as we can both physically and emotionally.

From the read through today, I could already tell who was thinking about what they were reading and who was just saying words from a page. It is really important as actors in this production and in any other that we listen to what our scene partner is saying and how they are saying. What offers are they giving us? A lot of scenes involving my character Sarah and her daughter are requiring me to react of what the daughter is saying. This is something I need to use in rehearsals and make sure I try react of what the other actor is doing and saying and make sure I don't get stuck in a habit of saying a line the same way each time.

To ensure we have productive rehearsals we need to have respect for our director and other cast members. This means being in on time and ready to work and not missing loads of rehearsals. If we all develop a sense of shared responsibility for the outcome of the production we will be more likely to do these things. In order to be ready to work we need to be able to leave the outside world at door and whatever people may have going on and make themselves emotionally available to work. This means engaging with your breath and opening your chest up. It is about making sure your body is ready for work, which requires you to fully stretch out before rehearsals.

When we begin to develop our characters it is important to have confidence in the choices we make but be open to constructive criticism from our cast or director, and be open to changing your ideas. I also think it's important to think carefully about how you critique the performance of others. Staying respectful and honest at the same time is often difficult but it is so important to do in order for everyone to feel safe and supported throughout the rehearsal process and performance.