Rafael de Morra: Performance anxiety due to inferiority and cultural difference in "The bewitched"
Description
This thesis is about my primary artistic challenge and how it was addressed in my thesis role, the character Rafael De Morra (the court jester to Carlos II the King of Spain) in the play The Bewitched by Peter Barnes. My artistic challenge was to overcome the performance anxiety and the fear of humiliation that had surfaced during training and performance work at York University.
I chose to address my performance anxiety by incorporating internal and external approaches simultaneously. The internal approach I developed to deal with my performance anxiety was a combination of different procedures: defining and analyzing it (and the inferiority complex behind it) through personal practices of psychoanalysis and EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), examining the cultural factors that reinforce it, exploring it in other actors, observing it in my studio work, rehearsals and performance and investigating personal practice of Yoga, Feldenkrais and Craniosacral Therapy as tools to work on it.
To further prepare for my thesis role Rafael De Morra, I researched the historical period in Spain and Europe between 1600 and 1700, the years during which the play takes place and the origins and significance of court jester tradition at the time. Such research helped me to better understand my character, Rafael De Morra.
The external approach, on the other hand included confronting the anxiety by taking risks in my thesis role such as accentuating the more theatrical aspects of Rafael and creating an effective physicality for the character, both of which were difficult for me as an actor.
The internal approach and the research I've done about the time period, the playwright and the court jester tradition prepared me for my external approach: taking risks in performing my thesis role.
I can conclude that the methodology I devised to overcome my performance anxiety yielded favourable results as I didn't experience extreme versions of it in acting Rafael De Morra in the play The Bewitched by Peter Barnes. At the end of the process I also discovered some other actor challenges that I should be working on in the future.
I chose to address my performance anxiety by incorporating internal and external approaches simultaneously. The internal approach I developed to deal with my performance anxiety was a combination of different procedures: defining and analyzing it (and the inferiority complex behind it) through personal practices of psychoanalysis and EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), examining the cultural factors that reinforce it, exploring it in other actors, observing it in my studio work, rehearsals and performance and investigating personal practice of Yoga, Feldenkrais and Craniosacral Therapy as tools to work on it.
To further prepare for my thesis role Rafael De Morra, I researched the historical period in Spain and Europe between 1600 and 1700, the years during which the play takes place and the origins and significance of court jester tradition at the time. Such research helped me to better understand my character, Rafael De Morra.
The external approach, on the other hand included confronting the anxiety by taking risks in my thesis role such as accentuating the more theatrical aspects of Rafael and creating an effective physicality for the character, both of which were difficult for me as an actor.
The internal approach and the research I've done about the time period, the playwright and the court jester tradition prepared me for my external approach: taking risks in performing my thesis role.
I can conclude that the methodology I devised to overcome my performance anxiety yielded favourable results as I didn't experience extreme versions of it in acting Rafael De Morra in the play The Bewitched by Peter Barnes. At the end of the process I also discovered some other actor challenges that I should be working on in the future.
Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Arditi, I. (2009, May). Rafael de Morra: Performance anxiety due to inferiority and cultural difference in "The Bewitched". York University, Toronto, Canada
Citation
“Rafael de Morra: Performance anxiety due to inferiority and cultural difference in "The bewitched",” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 9, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/19449.