Stylistic Conventions

These production video excerpts showcase the conventions of colliding timeframes and places

• The Prologue: the past intercepts the present as Astrid infiltrates Joan’s world on the battlefield, before the battlefield becomes the classroom.
• Scene 11: fluidity across worlds becomes more slippery and eventually builds to a climactic collision in the trial scene where Astrid is being questioned in the Principal’s office. This action parallels Joan’s inquisition.

The production video excerpts from Scenes 6 and 14 highlight the use of the magical intrusion convention as Joan enters Astrid’s world and is invisible to all but Astrid. Watch and consider the following aspects:

• Joan appears to Astrid as a vision, like an effigy coming to life

• the use of poetic metaphor in Joan’s appearance as a vision to Astrid

• Joan as an invisible physical force with supernatural power

• the structural development of Joan’s intrusion—initial resistance and denial of the vision of Joan, a growing acceptance but searching for meaning of her presence, and then progression and development as Joan impacts on decision making and propels the action forward.

These production video excerpts depicts moments where inanimate objects enter the world magically or come to life. Watch and consider their symbolic meaning:

• the chain mail armor drop at the end of Scene 1 
• the piece of cake that talks to Astrid in Scene 2
• the frog from Biology dissection that sings in French in Scene 5.

This production video excerpt, which captures a moment from Scene 4 when Astrid withdraws a sword from the moving boxes, is an example of a magical altercation. Joan physically assists Astrid in this moment and encourages her to hold the weapon. Watch and consider the symbolism of this interaction and the impact this moment has on the narrative action.

• Brainstorm ideas for alternate staging choices for the ‘invisible’ Joan that employ magical realist conventions.

 Joan first appears to Astrid in the History classroom in Scene 1. The teacher, Miss Dunkirk, introduces Joan as the subject of their oral assignment as she delivers passionate commentary on Joan the person, the martyr and the woman.

• Brainstorm multiple ways you could stage this moment to show that Astrid is starting to ‘see’ Joan come to life.
• Consider the use of projection, imagery, an actor as effigy, symbolism (Joan’s white flag) and movement choices. Share and discuss.

Using the magical realist convention to convey Joan’s presence only to Astrid, dramatic focus must be managed skilfully. The following activities assist in manipulating dramatic focus:

 Warm up activity

 Interrupted Interview:

Working in groups of three, Student A and Student B conduct an interview conversation about a chosen topic. Student C will interject and test their management of dramatic focus.

• Student A interviews Student B providing direct and open questions
• Student B tries to respond promptly
• After a minute, Student C interjects and directs questions or comments that Student B must answer simultaneously
• Student A does not acknowledge Student C at all and continues to conduct the interview

 Workshop Activity

•  Improvise a scenario with three actors where one character is seen and heard by only one of the other characters
• The invisible character could be an alter ego, an angel/spirit or a famous person from the past
• Decide on the context and the conflict, then improvise and de-brief
• Rehearse further, paying attention to the staging choices and manipulating dramatic focus to ensure clarity for the audience
• Present and discuss the challenges and successes