Characterisation

Once finding out I was playing the role of Arkadina, I was very glad because it meant that it would be a slight challenge as I am playing someone who is not in my age-range, as Arkadina is a middle-aged actress. As it was a new role I had never really done before, it meant it was time for plenty of characterisation! I researched about my character and the women from the time, the clothes they wore, and how Arkadina interacted with different characters. Here are all of the ways I researched and gained more character analysis and developed my knowledge on the times. 

Side 1

Side 2

This is a mini questionnaire in which i filled it in first as myself, and as Arkadina. This meant that I had to create some of Arkadina's answers from my own imagination to really make the character my own. This really helped my creative side flourish and gave me an extra push to think of new ideas for Arkadina's life.

With every character I research, I always create a gingerbread man. I find this method extremely useful because it gives you a summary of how the character is seen by others and on the outside, and then also how they really feel on the inside.

I feel that Arkadina may be a high-class, respected woman but deep down she could feel quite lonely because as an actress you have to be constantly travelling to different locations so the people she meets are always temporary.

Arkadina doesn't try to let it show, but it is very obvious that she is jealous of Nina because Nina has taken Trigorin (her lover) away from her and she is also a new actress in the business, she doesn't want Nina to take away her crown, attention and respect. Nina's entrance into the world of acting could possibly cause Arkadina to feel quite insecure about herself because she is much older than Nina. Theatre is one of the ways in which she can feel younger than she actually is, and Nina is breaking that mirage for her.

I also think that Arkadina may want to take a break from her job sometimes. Being a famous actress means that she never has a break, she's always busy and I feel that she may want to have a break and settle down for once in a while.

Arkadina at the
National Theatre

On September 26th, I watched "The Seagull" at the National Theatre and I made sure to really evaluate how the characters were and their stage presence. Arkadina's entrances were always known, in each scene she was in she made sure to never really fall out of the spotlight, she was at least somehow in every characters' conversations. I enjoyed watching the performance because it really gave the message across that it is a naturalistic piece, and I think the actors pulled that off extremely well.

Once I had read through the play again and discovered Arkadina's personality, I then went onto doing research into what she looks like and what she wears, of course I wouldn't be able to get the exact right clothes of the time for my show, but I knew I wanted to have at least an understanding of what she might have worn so that I can picture it in my mind whilst I'm acting.

Women's fashion
in the 1890s

Arkadina is a famous actress, meaning she must have plenty of enough money because in those days, actors and actresses had to pay for their own costumes. It is also stressed a lot in the play that Arkadina has a lot of thousands of rubles in the bank but is not willing to share it with anyone else but herself and her job.