Rehearsals for Mother Courage and Her Children

This play is very dramatic and sad. Brecht lived during the war and served for military hospital where he saw more than enough of war cruelty. He started with writing anti-war poems at schools which led him to dropping out school. But it didn`t stop him from writing poems and plays based on his experience of war. 

In the middle standing Mother Courage, next to her sitting her
daughter Kattrin and two sons.

My role Kattrin is a daughter of  the main character Mother Courage which is a strong woman. Mother Courage faced the savage of war and stands for herself and her family (dumb daughter and two sons). She doesn`t want her sons go to the army as she thinks that everyone who serves in the army has bigger chance of death that those who don`t. She protects her daughter from filthy man as for them her daughter looks very innocent and quiet but the truth is she can`t speak. In addition, two world famous actresses, Meryl Streep and Fiona Shaw that starred at National Theatre by the way, has starred as Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children. 

Kattrin was born with disability, she wasn`t able to speak and is slightly dumb. All she does just mumbles strange noises and acts little bit weird. She doesn`t have any lines, however she stays on stage at nearly every scene. But it is important to remember that the life on stage goes on even though I do not have any lines. A feedback from Rob was that I still need to be engaged with my character and listen to others. react to everything that`s happening around me. Also Rob suggested me and Shadey think of what happened before, why Kattrin is not able to speak, why she is dumb. Is it the result of war? 

As a general feedback to us all was remember our favourite comedian and think of his/hers acting styles. My favourite comedian is Jim Carey. I noticed that he exaggerated everything and that`s what it makes so funny. He uses his face expressions to inflate the emotion. however, I am not sure I can adapt his techniques to Kattrin as her personality is very quite and shy. Not forgetting that she is a girl surviving brutality of war. She is afraid of everything that is happening around. But on the other hand her confidence and life experience is grown up during the years of travelling with her family. 

Here is a video of National Theatre cast and Fiona Shaw getting ready for the Mother Courage and Her Children. Starting with the warm up, ending with last minutes before going on stage.