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Problems we faced:

personal issues:

On the 10th of March I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes an autoimmune disease when the pancreas stops producing the hormone insulin.  There is no prevention for type 1 as its purely genetic, regardless of your diet or lifestyle. After spending some time in hospital and returning to college at the being of rehearsals for animal farm I realised the challenge I had ahead of me. Previously during shows I could perform without having to worry about anything other than my acting, however now I have to constantly check my blood sugar level in case they drop below 3.5mol ( hypo). Exercise and depending on what I eat can affect my blood sugar, and with animal farm being so physically demanding I had to be incredibly carful during the show. Having a hypo is incredibly dangerous if left untreated, I begin to shake uncontrollably forget what I’m doing and in severe cases there a possibly of going unconcise. To prevent this from happening I’m constantly checking my blood sugars while on breaks and eating something sweet to bring up my blood sugar when I feel them dropping. 
I found that in rehearsals during tec I was having more hypos than I normally would have, this was because I was using more energy than I was consuming, as the show was so physical I was burring of more sugar than what I had eaten making my blood sugar slowly come down. Everyone in the cast was very supportive and has been since I've been diagnosed. I made sure to eat before every show stared and in the interval, on the water table in the scene dock I have my bag of sweets that I also had when  I came of stage at parts. However no ,matter how careful I was on the last show Friday at 7:30 after my character had "died" I had a hypo that wad more server than what it had previously been. Luckily as I came into the dressing a friend was there who was also off stage was there to support me and keep me safe.

Rehearsals:

As an ensemble there was also conflict around each other giving criticism. Even though as an individuals we were only trying to help each other but sometimes in rehearsals the stressful environment makes us not realise the tone we speak in and that we can (without realising) hurt each other’s feelings. As a class we sat down together and discussed how we were all feeling and why we were getting upset with each, the problem was fully resolved and as rehearsals have gone on we’ve all grown stronger as an ensemble.  Where all more weary of each other’s feeling and how we speak to each other. 


“During my time throughout the rehearsals for animal farm I felt quite low and under confident as there was people being bossy, looking down on others. I felt that way. A lot of people also realise3d this. This caused a lot of distress for me as I have ADHD. Although I have gotten through it and can’t wait for the show.” – Courtney Kelly a first year level three.
Even though we though that we had resolved the issues of what we had once we had gone into tec all the tension that had gone came back, but this could only be expected as tec is the most stressful time. I myself felt this I knew that at some point I did snap at people mostly about talking on the wings. I didn't want to that but I did feel bad after, I knew that some of the first years don't know what happened is tec and as the show is so big and of how dark it is we all carried that emotion with us. I did apologise however, and admitted that I don't mean to snap at people but at the time with the stress of the show it difficult to control our emotions. This was also clear with other people in the cast who felt the same way.  At some point we had started to blame each other for mistakes, after the dress run we sat together and talked as a group about the issues were facing, and after as talk with our director we realised that the show isn't about the individual we have to work together to make the show a success, Which by the end I firmly believe it was.
Not only did we have problems as a group but there was a lot of issues regarding moving form the studio to the grange. In the studio we didn't have a lot of space , with the rosters put up and people using props like crutches. We fixed this by using spacing the movements out and going over them again. Lines where also a huge issue for of the cast like those playing the characters Napoleon and Boy who had huge paragraphs to lean, we all decided to stay behind after rehearsals had finished and do lines runs, we needed to rely on each other and as a group despite our ups and downs did support each other throughout the process.

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