top of page
Search

Who is Seline?

Updated: Sep 7, 2023

The most challenging part of the scriptwriting was creating a very delicate and strong female character.


I wanted to show the dilemma between taking an action and staying silent about the protests.



Questions like;


Is she going to take action?

What's her motive?

Where is she?

What does she want?

Is she helping anyone?

Is she scared?

Is she choosing the easy way?

Is this the easy way?


I found myself asking Stanislavski's 7 fundamental questions to Seline, but this time as the writer.

"The process of character building invites parallels with the psychological school of Stanislavski" (Pitches, 2006, pg.154)

I discovered that I was applying Stanislavski's 7 fundamental questions to Seline, but this time in the role of a writer. The skill of creating character backgrounds, understanding their motives, exploring "what if" scenarios, and grasping the story's setting has greatly benefited my journey as an actor.


Seline is a character whom I embodied for over 6 months, the longest relations I had with a character.

"The character exists within the field of writing and sealing" (Burns, 1990, pg. 7)

As I crafted Seline's character, it became clear that the skills I developed in writing were crucial. They not only helped me create her but also gave me a deep understanding of who she was. While making her character was a beautiful process, it also meant constantly discovering new things about her. This mix of an author's imagination and an actor's curiosity shaped a complex character journey.


Figure 1. The first draft of the ending monologue of the show. This version was for the One-Woman version for East London Theatre Collective's New Works Festival as a headliner.



Figure 2. Extended 2 act stage musical version had some alterations in term of the last monologue. I believe this is a very crucial part of the show and this was a moment where we kept exactly the same on both productions.







The Truth

19/05/2023






The Truth

21/07/2023







On the feminist theatre aspect I looked at, Judith Butler and Gender Trouble. Butler states;

"The very subject of women is no longer understood in stable abiding terms" (Butler, 1990, pg.3),

reflecting changing views on femininity in society. This shift is mirrored in the character of Seline. She's not just a character in the story; she represents the complexity of women. Seline is a strong character who has faced tough life experiences. Despite pressure from her friends and lover, she chooses not to join protests, expressing this decision both verbally and physically.


Choosing to watch rather than actively participate is a key aspect of this concept. When you, as part of the audience, experience the same dilemma, you embark on a journey with the main character. Will she take action or not? But then, there's a twist in the story: she's no longer alive.


The ongoing portrayal of Seline keeps alive the memory of the strong women and artists who led the protests, a movement primarily driven by women and artists.





Comments

bottom of page