My Methods
Written Text
- I will think about an idea, or a theme, or a scene, and write it down.
- I discuss my idea, or theme, or scene with my partners, friends, family, colleagues in informal chats, which often prompts another idea, that I write down.
- I get feedback from my mentor, tutors and classmates about work that I can bring into the work.
- I've been watching a lot of social media, and reading comments, to try to get a feel of "what the world is thinking", or "what the norm is" outside of my own bubble.
- I'm also reading blog posts and news articles related to being childfree, childless or in "the grey zone" where people haven't made up their mind yet, mostly written by women.
- I've been reading fiction books on these topics, such as Olive by Emma Gannon (about a woman who doesn't want children).
- I've been watching films and TV shows, or clips from films and TV, where women talk about not wanting children.
- I've looked up talks and interviews with women talking about being childfree. There are varying reasons, and I want to do them justice, but also use humour.
No matter how many interviews or blogs or TV shows or films or social media or fiction you read about childfree women - there's a thread that connects them. They always feel judged negatively for it, either from their partners, friends, family, co-workers, medical professionals or society.
Kelley Daring's Tik Tok page is dedicated to stories of regretful parents and childfree women
Grey's Anatomy - Cristina doesn't want to be a mother.
TV representation of a childfree woman.
Being childfree by choice - Five women on why they decided not to have kids.
Guardian interview with childfree women.
I don't want children - stop telling me I'll change my mind | Christen Reichter.
TED talk about women being told they should "want" children.
Should I Be a Mom, or Should I Stay a 'Brat'? - Blog about being in the grey zone.
Chelsea Handler discusses being childless by choice.
A comedic take on childfree lifestyle.
Floor Work
Devising
- I like to work on the floor when creating theatre, and devising is my process.
- I start with games and informal chats to create an atmosphere where participants feel at ease, and give them space to have agency and input into the work.
- I work by collaborating with people. I try out their ideas and put in my own, and both the text and scenes come together as a collaborative effort. I try to include the various strengths of the performers in the performance.
- Viewpoints are a technique I frequently use to start working on the floor.
- Improvisation is a tool I use to generate text and new scenes.
Games
- Change, Develop, Contra!
- Talk about a subject, but when your partner says "change" you must change the topic, if they say "develop" you must develop the topic and if they say "contra" you must speak of something that's the opposite. - Clown Focus.
- Performers on stage try to grab the audience's attention, the audience points at the performer they are looking at.