ALICE LEVINE:'I'm Alice Levine, and I'm most definitely not an actress. But I've been asked to perform, for one night only, in War Horse on the West End. I have no idea what I'm doing'
ALICE LEVINE:Oh lord.
ALICE LEVINE:'So I have to learn everything I can before I take to the stage.'
ALICE LEVINE:Go War Horse!
ALICE LEVINE:'Okay, so I arrived at the New London Theatre, ready to take on my part in War Horse as Nurse Annie. It's now almost time for my big moment, but first I need to meet the director, Andy, to go through my big scene.'
ALICE LEVINE:Hi Andy.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Hi Alice.
ALICE LEVINE:I'm Annie-- I mean Alice.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Well, I'm Andy. I'm the associate director. Good to see you.
ALICE LEVINE:Thanks for having me.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:First day of most rehearsals you'll do what's called a read-through. Shall we just say the words to each other, in order. Let's not worry too much about the blocking. We go, # Their hope shall never cease, # Gas.
ALICE LEVINE:Oh, okay.
ALICE LEVINE:Gas?
JAMES BACKWAY:Yes, Nurse.
ALICE LEVINE:Can he see anything?
JAMES BACKWAY:Can still see shapes.
ALICE LEVINE:Tear gas.
ALICE LEVINE:You're lucky. You'll regain your sight.
ALICE LEVINE:Okay.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Good. Just watch you don't drop your T's a bit, you don't glottle them. So you've come in, and "their hopes shall never cease"
ALICE LEVINE:Can you see anything?
JAMES BACKWAY:Can still see shapes.
ALICE LEVINE:Tear gas.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:It was only tear gas.
ALICE LEVINE:Oh. Sorry.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:That's okay. So, it's important because that is all it is.
ALICE LEVINE:It was on-- It's–
ANDY BRUNSKILL:It's – that's all it is. You go, "It was only tear gas, you're lucky." So we get a definite split of attention, we know who you're talking to. "You'll regain your sight." Chaps, we'll go from the top again.
ACTOR #1:…I will.
ALICE LEVINE:What do you mean by your reply, Corporal?
ALICE LEVINE:'Ohh, what's my line again?'
ALICE LEVINE:What do you…
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Where was your…
ALICE LEVINE:Oh. Where was your gas mask?
ALICE LEVINE:That's probably me.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Okay.
ALICE LEVINE:You'll be alright.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Again from the same point.
ALICE LEVINE:Sorry boys.
ACTOR #1:Beautiful.
JAMES BACKWAY:Don't say sorry.
ALICE LEVINE:Don't say sorry.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:I can feel you going, "I'm near the end of my scene,"
ALICE LEVINE:Yeah, sure.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:"I'm near the end of my lines." So we're losing our Ts, we're going, "Well it's not a blighty one".
ALICE LEVINE:It's not a blighty one.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:It's NOT a blighty one. Don't forget where you're from.:17ALICE LEVINE:I think Annie's Australian.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:I don't think she is.
ALICE LEVINE:'Definitely gonna nail it this time.'
ALICE LEVINE:What do you mean by that reply, Corporal? Where was your gas mask, Corporal?
JAMES BACKWAY:It was damaged, Nurse.
ALICE LEVINE:Well, it's not a blighty one.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Good. Let's do it again.
ALICE LEVINE:'What, again?'
ANDY BRUNSKILL:I think you're ready.
ALICE LEVINE:I don't believe you!
ANDY BRUNSKILL:It's gonna be fine. Just remember to… Remember where Annie's from. Remember what she wants from the scene, and remember that everyone's there to make the scene work together, you're not on your own.
ANDY BRUNSKILL:Okay everyone, audience is about to come in. Have a great show as you always do. Look after Alice, she's gonna be playing Annie Gilbert, as you know, but we all know the scene, and we all know the play. And perform it as well as you do every other night. Have a great show.
ALICE LEVINE:'This is actually happening!'
JAMES BACKWAY:Remember you've done all the work before, the rehearsals have been done, so the most important thing for you now is to remember what you're doing on stage. Just remember your motive, and just keep that in mind, you don't need to think about anything else. 'Cause the work's been done. I've gotta go now, Alice.
ALICE LEVINE:Okay.
JAMES BACKWAY:No, no, no, you'll be fine. You'll be absolutely fine.
ALICE LEVINE:So what, the next time I see you will be out there?
JAMES BACKWAY:Will be out there. So, I've gotta pop round the other side of the stage, and I'll meet you in about, like, five… Maybe like five seconds. So.
ALICE LEVINE:Okay.
JAMES BACKWAY:Keep calm, you'll be fine.
ALICE LEVINE:Alright.
JAMES BACKWAY:Good luck! And I'll see you out there.
ALICE LEVINE:Oh gosh, okay.
JAMES BACKWAY:Alright.
ALICE LEVINE:Good luck-- break a leg, I mean. Break a leg.
JAMES BACKWAY:Break a leg!
ACTOR #2:And he might not get there at all!
ALICE LEVINE:So this is the moment where I have to combine everything that I've learnt. Working with the director, like they taught me on Wolfblood. Using my voice to convey a character, and someone new, like Ben showed me. Using the set and the costume, like they taught me at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But nothing really prepares you for actually doing it, so I think controlling my nerves, not letting that get the better of me, and just remembering my words will be my primary, primary concern. And not looking any of the audience in the eye.
ALICE LEVINE:'Here I go!'
ALICE LEVINE:Gas?
JAMES BACKWAY:Yes Nurse.
ALICE LEVINE:Can you see anything?
JAMES BACKWAY:Can still see shapes.
ALICE LEVINE:Tear gas. You're lucky. You'll regain your sight.
JAMES BACKWAY:That's good, Albert.
ALICE LEVINE:You'll be alright.
ACTOR #1:If you say I will, then I'll be alright. If YOU say I will.
ALICE LEVINE:What do you mean by your reply, Corporal?
ALICE LEVINE:Where was your gas mask?
JAMES BACKWAY:Damaged, Nurse.
ALICE LEVINE:Well, it's not a blighty one. Category two, slight. Wait here for an orderly.
ALICE LEVINE:'Yes! I did it! And the audience aren't booing. Result.'
JAMES BACKWAY:That was brilliant.
ALICE LEVINE:I'm never ever doing that again.
JAMES BACKWAY:Aw no, you were fantastic! It was really–
ALICE LEVINE:Apart from the rest of the run!
JAMES BACKWAY:Yeah, fantastic. No, it was amazing. You smashed it.
ALICE LEVINE:You do feel really good after it.
JAMES BACKWAY:Yeah, yeah, yeah, you got that buzz.
ALICE LEVINE:You feel terrible before.
JAMES BACKWAY:Yeah.
ALICE LEVINE:Like, standing there I felt absolutely awful.
JAMES BACKWAY:No, no, no! You were, you were fantastic.
ALICE LEVINE:'So I've been on quite a journey leading up to my debut on the West End. There were moments I didn't think I was gonna make it. But with all the advice I got along the way, I did. Although I think I'll stick to presenting, I loved every moment, more or less, and it's definitely something I will never forget.'
Alice Levine has reached the end of her journey to become an actor and all that's left is rehearsals.
She works with War Horse director Andy Brunskill, who helps her get to grips with her lines and understand Annie as a character.
She has a run through with the other actors and brings together all the skills she's learned before it's time for her to actually perform.
Teacher Notes
Students could take on the role of a director. They could have a clear aim for the scene considering what they want to portray to the audience and the impact they intend to have upon them.
When taking on the role of a director they could encourage their cast to experiment with voice and movement.
Reflecting upon the performance, the directors could consider how successfully they have communicated their vision.
Students could discuss the directors vision of other performances they have seen and evaluate how this was communicated to the audience.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be useful for teaching Drama, particularly performance skills at Key Stage 4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and National 4/5 in Scotland. It could also be useful for people of any age preparing for an acting role.
More from Alice's Journey to Wonderland
Developing a character (pt 1/8) video
Alice visits the set of soap opera Hollyoaks to find out how the actors there create their characters. She learns to think about her character's backstory and the influences that affect her.
Using your voice (pt 2/8) video
Alice takes a voice lesson from Ben Aldridge, star of BBC One's Our Girl to learn more about using her voice in performance.
Set and costume (pt 3/8) video
Alice visits the set of hit West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to find out how the elaborate set was designed, and how set and costume help tell the story.
Improvisation techniques (pt 4/8) video
Alice visits the Comedy Store in London and learns some improvisation techniques from actor / comedian Isy Suttie (Dobby from Peep Show).
Working with multimedia (pt 5/8) video
Alice visits the set of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time to find out how working with multimedia can help her on her journey to become a West End actress.
Working with a Director (pt 6/8) video
Alice visits the set of CBBC drama Wolfblood and talks to actor Jacqueline Boatswain who plays Victoria Sweeney about how to get the most out of working with a director.
Preparing for a role (pt 7/8) video
It's almost time for Alice Levine to make her West End debut in War Horse. She gets some last minute tips from lead actor James Backway and gets on her costume and makeup.
