This is the Eighty First article in a semipermanent column for Stroud Arts that appears in the Stroud American. The mission of these articles is to inform, educate and inspire you, the reader, to Make Art Happen in your life and the life of our community.
Over the next few weeks, this column will focus on preparing local volunteers for the 2nd Annual Stroud Arts Medieval Faire. The first step a volunteer must take to create a character that fits into the setting of 1000 A.D. is; learning about the physical environment, customs, politics, economy and folklore being reenacted.
The next cast meeting for the SAF will be on Saturday, August 21, from 1pm to 3pm at The Stroud Arts Building, 214 West Main Street.
The Stroud Arts: Arts & Sciences Medieval Faire T h e SAF was introduced in 2019 at Foster Park in the City of Stroud. Its debut showcased 9 Games, 8 Street Characters, 4 Activities, 2 Performance Groups and 2 Merchants, with over 100 Guests Attending. With the 2020 event being cancelled due to Covid-19, the 2021 Faire looks forward to increasing our Street Performer Cast and Activities for the public to participate with.
Performance Dates for the 2021 event are: September 4, from 10am to 2pm.
As a cast member of the SAF, you are a representative of Stroud Arts and we ask you to be polite, friendly and gracious in your interactions with your fellow cast members and our guests. Your actions will enhance the experience for everyone… including yourself, so make it a great, fun time for all!
After all, no single performer is more important than any other single performer.
Creating a Character Persona
Your Character Persona is the collection of many elements including: Clothing, Personal Props, the work you have done Developing Your Character and Story Integration. The most important element is Story
Integration as it transforms your Character from a solo creation into a reacting, interactive element of the collective story being told in the Kingdom
How do you integrate yourself into other Stories? By talking to other Characters; asking questions, giving opinions, arguing, agreeing with or ignoring; these actions will make you part of their stories and this teamwork creates a stronger experience for both our guests and the Cast.
Breaking Character
Don’t. Unless involved in an emergency or safety situation, do your best to stay in character. Especially when you think no one is watching or listening. Because they are.
As an Actor it is good training to stay in character but Breaking Character spoils the fantasy and illusion for our audience and makes it harder for other Actors to stay in Character.
Do’s and Don’ts of Staying in Character
Do your best to exchange information (directions, Bathroom locations, time of day) in character.
Do your best to educate the audience about your clothes, skills, Background, etc.
Don’t use Anachronisms (Cell Phones, plastic) modern lingo (OK) or modern references (Facebook) etc.
Do use your imagination, have fun and use humor when appropriate
Don’t assume guests want you to break character because they ask you a question about your character, clothing or yourself.
Selling Your Character
Your character must be “bought” or believed by the audience in order for the illusion to work. Everything about you is your persona – however your persona is projected and communicated by your energy – the energy of believability or ‘being real”. Children are often the hardest to fool; if you are not in integrity with your character persona and costume, the children are the ones most likely to believe your character portrayal. Just remember, if you stay consistent with what you have created
Defining your Character
To be successful as a Faire Performer you must make decisions and be specific in who your character is.
The following questions will help you do this, yet this may only be the beginning of your character creation.
1 Who gave you your name?
2 What does our name mean in your culture?
3 What are your parents’ names?
4 Where were you born?
5 How many members are in your immediate family?
6 What is your skill?
7 How did you attain it?
8 Were you educated?
9 Do you have a pet? What is its name?
10 Have you ever encountered a magical creature (Ghost, Fairy, Vampire, Witch, etc.)?
Stretching Your Character
Almost everyone is familiar with the European Middle Ages or something like it due to Movies (Robin Hood, LadyHawke) Television (Game of Thrones), plays or animated films. We are also familiar with the standard tropes of the Cinematic Medieval Ages; Unacknowledged peasant being revealed to be the son or daughter of a Noble, Helpless Princess, Brave Knight, Nobles are corrupt, Peasants are filthy, Peasants are superstitious, Nobles kill peasants at will, etc., etc.
As a character, you may select a standard troupe to portray, but how about stretching the concept or playing the opposite; Nervous Knight, Competent Warrior Princess, Kind Noble, Educated peasant, etc.
Give it a try and surprise the audience and maybe your fellow castmembers.
If you would like to be involved then please come to the Cast Meeting this Saturday and follow Stroud Arts on Facebook and look for more information in next week’s column!