First lesson with Gavin Maxwell

We were introduced to Gavin as our new Acting teacher, while Dionne sadly left. Our first lesson with Gavin was pretty awesome. We we're introduced to the '7 Levels Of Tension'.

He started off the lesson by a physical warm up. One of those warm ups was the bean bag game. The whole class stood in a massive circle, and had to say the persons name before throwing the bean bag to them. Skills developed within the game. Afterwards it was only eye contact communication in order to throw the bean bag, which then turned into eye contact communication and the person catching it to clap their own hands before physically catching the bean bag. The whole idea of this game as a warm up is too get the whole class to focus, and concentrate on something they enjoy doing. Personally I thought this was a wicked warm up for our first lesson with Gavin back from the Christmas holidays.

After Gavin Maxwell introduced the 'Seven Levels of Tension' to the class, we started walking around the space, following single instructions as an individual. Gavin would speak to the class, creating an atmosphere within such a massive space. He would guide us by creating a scenario and changing the 'Seven Levels of Tension' as we walked around the space.

I found this excercise and lesson very interesting. Jack Le'Coq's technique is fascinating, the thought of following the Seven Levels of Tension and changing from one to the other really can help you discover more about your character and how the smallest details of your physicality and movement signify your character.

The 7 Levels of Tension.
1) The Jellyfish - This is when there is no tension in your body, as if you don't even have the energy to get up i n the morning, or even stand.
2) Californian - This is when your body is relaxed and cool, like the thought of floating on the water while swimming.
3) Neutral - or the “Economic” (contemporary dance). It is what it is. There is nothing more, nothing less. The right amount. No past or future. You are totally present and aware. It is the state of tension before something happens. Think of a cat sitting comfortably on a wall, ready to leap up if a bird comes near. You move with no story behind your movement.
4) Alert - This is when your body and facial experssions start engaging with your surroundings, your almost looking for things to study, looking around, minor version of feeling fidgity. The thought of Mr Bean comes into mind when I think of Alert. Levels 1-4 of tension come into our everyday states.
5) Suspense - or Reactive (19th century melodrama). Is there a bomb in the room? The crisis is about to happen. All the tension is in the body, concentrated between the eyes. An inbreath. There’s a delay to your reaction. The body reacts.
6) Passionate - Passionate (opera). There is a bomb in the room. The tension has exploded out of the body. Anger, fear, hilarity, despair. It’s difficult to control. You walk into a room and there is a lion sitting there. There is a snake in the shower.
7) Tragic - Tragic (end of King Lear when Lear is holding Cordelia in his arms). The bomb is about to go off! Body can’t move. Petrified. The body is solid tension.