Diploma in

Performing &
Production Arts
Unit 8 Project Proposal

Candidate
Name Charlotte Hutcheson
Candidate
Number 544849
Pathway Performing and Production Arts Level 3: Diploma

Project Title Final Major Project: Variations – written by Katie Hims.

Section 1: Review
I joined the Performing Arts course because I’ve always had a passion for theatre and creating my own theatre,
so this path was preferred. Throughout this FMP process, I have learnt to be open minded by including
everyone’s ideas into exercises so we can all collectively decide which ideas are strongest and should be used
within the exercises we do. I have also learnt that when we got cast, even if I’m not completely satisfied with my
part, I now understand that having a part with many lines doesn’t mean you’re a better actor, it just means you
may suit the role better. The skills I’d like to develop is accepting being rejected. I want to be able to refrain
myself from being upset over a part I didn’t get, and I believe it’s getting easier already. I have a few long-term
aspirations. However, the main one would be to attend Drama School at some point in my life. Numerous actors
in the industry suggest attending Drama School later in your life because it is a lot of hard work and will take up
a lot of your time, meaning going to school and having a job at the same time will stress you out also having
gap years gives you time to explore the world.

Section 2: Project Concept

I am doing a play called Variations by Katie Hims and will be performing at The Egg Theatre on the 5th and 6th of
May 2023. This play is about a girl who is discovering her identity, this play also consists of elements from the
multiverse and string theory. One main aim we have for our FMP is to have learnt all our lines by 17th of April,
so we can focus on our two-week intensive rehearsals in The Egg and Bath College ready for the performances
the week after. Another important aim is to create clear transitions when showing change in realities so for the
audience to understand, we must create clear moving transitions as the Alice Ensemble. I have personally
researched more about identities because this is the main theme and recently seen the Marvel film ‘Multiverse
of Madness’ since this gave me a clearer understanding behind the meanings of the play. So far, the resources
needed have only been pens to write down our ideas, and scripts to read through, during the intensives we aim
to use our scripts more and may add in other resources such as music and props. I will value my peers
feedback and develop my skills including their ideas and will aim to make time for myself to incorporate
independent study after every rehearsals in order to keep up on theory work whilst physically working.

Section 3: Evaluation
I will reflect on my work by recording myself reflecting on the week. This will happen weekly until the final
project has ended. This will be done by recording myself every Wednesday. I’ll be reflecting, and evaluating the
exercises we did, then upload it to my personal website I’ve been working on. This website allows the
moderator to easily look at the written work since It’ll all be organized on this website. As well as the weekly
videos, I intend on handing in written work called ‘Final Reflection.’ This will conclude all the ideas and skills I’ve
developed throughout the FMP. I also have planned to take notes after each session to remind myself later
what we have been working on. There will be a detailed action plan linked also on my website which will show
detailed work whether that’s written or physical. It will all be noted down, completed, and achieved. When
working with others, sometimes our ideas may differ drastically and sometimes it would cause problems,
however, you can easily solve this by including both ideas or deeply think together which one would end up with
the best result.

Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format)

Back In time, July 8, 2020. ‘8 Things that made the 80s the greatest decade’ [Online] Available at
https://medium.com/everything-80s/8-things-that-made-the-80s-the-greatest-decade-7984a4263173
[Accessed 29th March]

BBC News, August 15, 2019. ‘Sailsbury Novichok: Second police officer poisoned’ [Online] Available at
Salisbury Novichok: Second police officer poisoned - BBC News [Accessed 29th March]

Filmmaking Lifestyle, August 2022, ‘What is a Kitchen Sink Drama? Definition & Examples’ [Online]
Available at What Is a Kitchen Sink Drama? Definition & Examples • Filmmaking Lifestyle
(filmlifestyle.com) [Accessed 12th March]

History of American Journalism, May 2003. ‘Trends in Journalism’ [Online] Available at https://history-
journalism.ku.edu/1980/1980.shtml#:~:text=New%20technologies%20such%20as
%20cable,newcomers%20and%20fierce%20competition%20ensued.&text=MTV%20aired%20the
%20first%20music,Radio%20Star%20by%20the%20Buggles.[Accessed 29th March]

Michael Jackson Website September 27 2022, ‘Michael Jackson on what goes through his mind while
performing’ [Online] Available at Michael Jackson On What Goes Through His Mind While Performing -
Michael Jackson Official Site [Accessed 30th March]

Mirror, December 24, 2018. ‘The 18 most 2018 things that have happened in politics this year’ [Online]
Available at The 18 most 2018 things that have happened in politics this year - Mirror Online [Accessed
29th March]

No Film School, August 4, 2022, ‘What is a “Kitchen Sink Drama” (Definition and Examples)’ [Online]
Available at What Is a "Kitchen Sink Drama"? (Definition and Examples) (nofilmschool.com) [Accessed
16th March]

Pew Research Centre, May 31, 2018, ‘Teens, Social Media and technology 2018’ [Online] Available at Teens,
Social Media & Technology 2018 | Pew Research Center [Accessed 29th March]

Study Smarter, 2018, ‘1983 General Election’ [Online] Available at 1983 General Election: Results &
Demographics | StudySmarter [Accessed 29th March]

UK Parliament, Hansard, March 14, 2018. ‘European Affairs’ [Online] Available at European Affairs -
Hansard - UK Parliament [Accessed 29th March]

Wikipedia, March 24, 2023. ‘Serious Moonlight tour’ [Online] Available at Serious Moonlight Tour -
Wikipedia [Accessed 29th March]
Project Action Plan and Timetable

Week Date Week Activity / What you are intending to do - Resources / What you will need to
Beginning including independent study do it - including access to
workshops
1 Activity Script
20th February  Meet the director and start learning peers’ Online device
names if I don’t know them already since Notes after class
I’ve never worked with some people in my
cast before.
 Understand and learn the warmup
movement dance the director has taught
us to show the cast can work as an
ensemble and recover the dance in the
upcoming weeks.
 Read through the script playing different
characters, then judge the themes of the
play.
 Using the script, get into groups of 4-5 and
create a theatre showing our initial
thoughts on how we could present the
play.
Independent study
 Research the play ‘Variations’ to find
deeper connections with the characters
and themes towards the play.
 Film weekly reflective video

2 Activity Script
27th February  Play warmup games to increase energy Pens
levels to start off the day, including the Paper
warmup learnt last week. Notes after class
 Extend the group exercises period to
ensure the whole company are welcomed
within the group. This will create a closely
connected team and enable everyone to
work together well and feel comfortable to
be in each other’s presence.
 In groups of two, choose a character to
study and collectively find out their
interests, likes, dislikes, random facts
about them and present our ideas to the
group.
Independent study
 Research ‘Kitchen Sink’ Dramas and how
it can relate to Variations to create wider
understanding behind the thoughts and
meanings of the play.
 Film weekly reflection video
3 Activity Script
6th March  Someone from the group leads a high Moveable clothing
intensity warmup followed by a stretching Notes after class
warmup to boost energy levels.
 Explore the shoaling exercise - by
improvising in groups of 5-7 depending on
the song playing and watching each other
perform. This will help everyone be in
 unison as an ensemble should.
 Move around the space with the intent of
‘glitching’ or finding a way to move with
‘identity’ in mind – in small groups, create a
theatre piece using ideas from this
exercise and include narration from the
script to finalize the piece.
Independent study:

 Interview someone from the older

generation asking a bunch of questions to
help understand their views towards the
world we live in – doing this will enable us
to familiarize ourselves with our audience.
 Film weekly reflection video

4 Activity Script
13th March  Continue with group warmups lead by Pens
different members from the cast, this can Paper
enhance teamwork skills and focus. Notes after class
 Independently create a poster explaining Research presentation
anything related to Variations. This could
include poems about time, moods, or
rhetorical questions to deepen the themes
within the play. E.g., ‘What does identity
really mean to you?’
 Discuss the posters within small groups
and devise a song or rap related to the
ideas said in the posters and perform this
to the group – this will introduce us to our
vocal abilities during rehearsals.
 Create a poster with our observation on
how we would transition from scenes then
share with the group our ideas – doing this
will give everyone a range of feelings
towards the different ideas.
 Come up with three freeze frames
explaining the key moments happening in
a scene using different levels to contrast
each freeze frame.
Independent study
 Perform Research presentation, which was
studied a couple weeks ago, to the class
and allow them to ask questions after.
 Design research posters including
historical, political, and social events which
happened in both 2018 and 1983 – this
can help us understand the events which
happened in the characters world and
perhaps subtly include it within the piece.
E.g., costumes, set.
 Film weekly reflective video
5 Activity Script
20th March  Ensemble led warmups to ensure energy Boxed objects (props) to act as
levels are high and everyone is working parcels.
together and staying focused – this Notes after class
includes playing games which involve
everyone’s full focus to win. E.g., Ninga or
 Chain game.
 Focusing on the start of the play, before
the prologue, devise an opening scene in
groups. Make sure the focus for the
audience should be on the parcels when
brought in to show the significance.
 Using the same techniques, devise the
ending scene yet lose the focus on the
parcel and draw attention to the family’s
relationship - watching the other groups
perform is amusing as it expands the ideas
towards the play. This gives the director a
wider idea of how to present the start and
end of the play.
Independent study
 Write a creative writing piece, either script
or prose based on the play Variations
which is either before the prologue or after
epilogue – creative writing can widen your
creative work and allow yourself to reach
deeper into the themes and meanings of
the play.
 Film weekly reflective video.

6 Activity Script
27th March  Director led vocal and physical warmup Pens
which is taken over by one of my peers to Notebook
help – including a vocal warmup at the Notes after class
start of the day can physically warmup our
voices to practice projecting them later.
 First read through the script knowing the
roles since the cast list is out – doing this
will help understand everyone’s role in the
show and hear the dynamics towards the
different characters.
 Share thoughts of the play knowing the
casting and include ideas to help future
rehearsals.
 Get into groups with the most frequent
scene partners and discuss the
agreements the group will have to enable
a friendly space since we’ll be working
together constantly. Also, share any initial
ideas to enhance the quality of the play.
28th March Activity Script
 Work with movement director starting to Pens
plan out and perform the transitions Notebook
between different scenes and share with Notes After class
the group.
Independent study:
 Explore the musical side of Variations and
make a playlist to allow the moods
throughout the play to be heard using
songs- whether that’s the characters
emotions and moods or just the mood in
general.
 Film weekly reflective video
7 Activity Script
17th April  Show websites to a member of staff to Pen
enable us to enter the rehearsal room. Paper
 Create a warmup dance which we will Notepad
most likely use as our daily warmup to
create an ensemble within the cast and
develop movement skills further.
 Start devising transitions 1-2 for the Alice
Ensemble to develop.
 Block the opening scene with the whole
cast, ready to finalize with the movement
director on Tuesday.
Activity Script
18th April  Warm up with the dance we created Pen
yesterday to increase energy levels before Paper
starting a long day. Notepad
 Create transitions 2-3 with Alice Ensemble
and start adding the other actors into the
transition to create a wider illusion for the
audience.
 Finalize transitions 1-2 and 2-3 with
movement director so we can move swiftly
to the next transitions and complete more
tasks because it will give us more time to
perfect each scene.
 Start working on transition 3-4 and finish it
tomorrow so it can go into the long term
memory.

Activity Script
19th April  Start the day with the classic warm up Pen
dance which shall increase heart rate and Paper
include numerous team-building games so Notepad
the cast can bond with one another.
 Devise scene 7 as it involves the whole
cast, try minimizing distractions because
there will be a lot of people on stage at the
same time.
 Construct transition 4-5 carefully, as it can
become quite dangerous if distracted.
 Revisit transition 3-4 so hopefully it ends
up being muscle memory and connect it
with transition 4-5 smoothly.
Activity
20th April  Whole morning off so no need for a big
heart racing warmup.
 Start working on transition 6-7 but only
briefly as we haven’t got the TV heads
ready yet, so we can’t figure out how easy
it will be to move in.
 Stagger through transition 7-8 as there is
no music so far so we’ll have to come up
with ideas to what it could be.
Activity Script
21st April  Start morning off at tutor discussing what Pen
we will achieve when doing independent Paper
study. Notepad
 Dance Captain leads a new unison
warmup so the company can discover new
 interests within the group.
 Devise the closing of the show and have a
look at transitions 6-7 and 7-8 ready for
later.
 Achieve a stagger through of the show to
create a sense of what everything looks
like, doing this will bring the show together
and create excitement.
Independent study
 Film weekly reflective video
 Revise transitions ready for next week
8 Activity Script
24th April  Scrap transition 6-7 and redevise it since Pen
the TV have started to join the space Paper
meaning movements haven’t been Notepad
working.
 Go over transition 7-8 including all actors
to finalize the piece.
 Work with sound designer to record some
of the recorded scenes ready for the show,
these recording may be part of the music
in transitions 7-8
 Perform all the transitions to the sound
designer, this will allow him to alter some
of the transitions music as some are too
long and others are too short.
Activity Script
25th April  Costume consultations with the costume Pen
and make-up team. This will give everyone Paper
an idea of what their costume will look like Notepad
and give the actors a chance to discuss
what clothes we feel comfortable in.
 Practice transitions 4-5 with the actors
present in the scene before so we can
understand each other and agree on
different movements.
 Go over scene 7 with the whole cast and
include the warmup dance we created at
the start of last week into the scene,
named Safety Dance.
 Revisit and differ transitions 2-3, 5-6 and 1-
2 so it will be perfect and ready for the next
run through.
Activity Script
26th April  Intense warmup game ‘Ninja’ to allow the Pen
case to be fully energized ready for the day Paper
to be filled with movement. Notepad
 Work with the movement director
throughout the entire day focusing closely
on transitions which run smoothly and
others that should be looked at in more
detail.
 Start with the opening scene and go
through every transition so the movement
director can pick out the different dynamics
within each transition.
 Focus closely on transitions 4-5, 6-7 and 1-
2 to make movements sharp and have
 quicker dynamics.
 Perhaps, rearrange transition 5-6 as the
director Sophie doesn’t like something
about it but we can’t figure out what it is so
scrapping will allow us to devise an
improved transition.
Activity Script
27th April  Costume fittings in the morning, this will Pen
help us get an idea of how we will look on Paper
stage. Notepad
 Work with props and include in every
scene or transition to help understand what
people will have to take on and off stage
during the performance.
 The whole cast must practice the Safety
Dance and refurbish scene 7 because it is
supposed to have maintained energy
throughout as it’s such a chaotic scene.
 Perform and finalize transition 7-8, ready
for the music to be played.
 The aim is to have time for a full run-
through before home time because soon
we’ll be in the theatre.

Activity Script
28th April  Attend tutor in the morning so everyone Pen
can understand what independent study Paper
we shall work on over the weekend. Notepad
 Run through all transitions 1-8 as this will
be the last time we’ll be rehearsing
intensely in this space, tech week soon.
 Discuss TV heads in transition 6-7 and use
books on heads instead of the TVs to help
balance and posture during that transition.
 Aim to complete a run through.
 Tech week debrief will be announced to
inform the whole company what to expect
next week.
Independent Study
 Film weekly reflection Video.
 Complete the character analysis based on
Alice, as she is part of the Alice Ensemble.
9 2nd May Activity Water
 Run through transitions blocking certain
scenes ready to get into the theatre and
start the tech rehearsal.
 Start running through the show starting
with the opening scene and stopping
whenever the tech team had to set the
lights on the actors.
 Block every scene and transition with the
sound and lighting throughout the whole
show.
3rd May Activity Water
 Focus on scenes 1 and 2 using an Script
exercise to connect with the other Notepad
characters and really listen to each line Pen
 everyone is saying, act as if this is the first
time, we’re hearing every sentence.
 Work on every transition which involves
the use of confetti as it can get messy and
needs to look smooth.
 Finalize any transitions people are unsure
about and add detail within each one, also
include the facial expressions to allow
stage presence to rise.
 Introduce cast to bows at the end of the
show, everyone must get into height order
and then have smallest at front, tallest at
back with there being three rows on stage.
4th May Activity Water
 Enter tech rehearsal space ready to
complete scenes 6-8
 Practice bows as the theatre can be
smaller than the original rehearsal space,
we’ve been working in.
 Aim for a stagger through before going
home so everyone can be ready for the
dress tomorrow
5th May Activity Water
 Detail Safety Dance using 100% energy in
every rehearsal ready for the performance.
 Clean up transition 4-5 as it can get
dangerous sometimes, we are aiming to
make it smoother.
 Dress rehearsal with the Year 2’s and
other cast (Buckets)
 Performance in the evening
6th May Activity Water
 Focus on opening scene spacing everyone
out so the stage looks equal for the
performance tonight.
 Final performance and get out.
Independent Study
 Aim to complete Final Reflection.
 Clean up website ready to be shown to the
moderator.