The
piece lasts for approximately 17’ 30”
There are eleven blackouts that form the structure of the devised piece.
There are many
sections for a piece of this length. The candidates made the
decision to increase the number of blackouts for dramatic intensity. However, these
themselves are not well handled and tended to slow down the action of the
piece.
The piece starts with the opening image using torches and the door frame effectively to
set the scene. Hindley is introduced (played by Candidate 4) Hindley has the opening monologue
and the ensemble multi-role characters in her life. These are more naturalistic
in style and depict her violent upbringing.
There is a long
blackout lasting 20 seconds.
The next scene starts and the ensemble stand back-to-back to
recite details about the victims. They start with Candidate 1 (the candidate with
the highest mark). There is then a moment of stillness and another blackout of
10 seconds.
The
ensemble alters the proxemics and stand in a line to pose the question “maybe
if?” to the audience. This segues into a game show and Ian Brady is
introduced, played by the only male candidate, Candidate 5.
At the end of
the scene another black-out follows and is 10 seconds long. The door frame is
moved into place again. Candidate 4 continues to play Hindley and the main characters
meet for the first time. The predatory nature of the relationship is explored. The ensemble adds dramatic intensity and pacing when they shout the dates
of the victims’ deaths.
There
is short blackout, and the scene opens at the cinema, on their first date. The
ensemble narrates the story and use gestures to depict the action.
The mood changes as all members of the ensemble run downstage representing the victims
trying to escape. This leaves Candidate 1 standing in the doorway as Hindley arrives (Candidate 4) once
more. The ensemble wipe red paint on her signifying death. The use of flashing
stage lights and a heartbeat sound effect add to the tension. This section
comes to a climax as they drop the frame to the floor and trap one of
the victims. There is long blackout of 20 seconds, which undermines
the power of the previous scene.
The next scene starts when Candidate 3 takes the lead as one of the victims. She
has a monologue and the ensemble use mime to tell the story. This shows a well-thought-out
use of physicality. The scene ends with
an inventive way to use the frame as it is dragged to the back of the stage to
trap the next victim.
The next
blackout is 11 seconds long. The lights come up on a spilt
scene with a mother of one of the victims (played
by Candidate 2). They create the tension with dynamics and physicality. This is all
underscored with the Christmas carol, The Little Drummer Boy. The heartbeat
sound effect here is dramatic as the character dies. There is another blackout.
The last scene
begins 15 seconds later and the ensemble stand spaced out on stage shouting the
names of the victims, followed by the words ‘Hindley Wakes’ (the title of the piece).
The piece ends on an emotional high with the question being posed to the
audience by Hindley, “What have I done?”, rather than offering a final
solution.
