My UWCSEA Learning Journey

OCTOBER 2020 – DECEMBER 2020 REFLECTION

In October 2020, I auditioned for the Musical Revue Showcase that was being hosted at East which would be a complication of the past 8 years of musical showcases in 40 minutes snippets. After auditioning, I was given the opportunity to play Young Jane in Jane Eyre.

The rehearsals that followed involved blocking and learning songs and scenes with COVID-19 regulations in preparation for the show. Pictures from the rehearsals are as seen below:

What I learnt during the preparation phase:

• Apart from learning lines, choreography and scenes, I learnt how to be creative with the space on stage considering COVID regulations and finding new ways to modify scenes to fit the type of showcase we were placing.
• Supporting roles: as a member of cast in several scenes, preparing for the musical taught me how to better support the lead actors in their scenes, such as being proactive in moving parts of the set, or interacting with them when they need support on stage.
• Getting comfortable performing in front of a larger group of people as I usually stay within the comfort zone of singing and haven’t had much experience with dancing.

DECEMBER 2020 – FEB 2021

As rehearsals continued, we started performing larger run throughs as we were coming close to the final performance.

• Time management: This was a challenge I faced in this phase of the preparation, since coursework started becoming more intense, balancing time between all-day weekend rehearsals, after-school rehearsals and schoolwork was a little hectic.
• Work-Activity Balance: There were times where I wondered whether I was using my time in the most useful way but it was a good lesson in not compromising on activities and passions for the sole purpose of work – everything will get done in time alongside passions if you are not overcommitted!
• Bonding: This phase was also a cherish-able time when I was able to spend more time alongside cast members and form connections as part of the CAS experience.

Pictures from the final performance:

Overall, this was one of the most memorable parts of my Grade 12 experience that taught me a lot about commitment to a project and balance that I have gained a lot of experience from.