End of a Year

The End of Year show has been and gone, and tomorrow is the last day of the year at Circomedia.  I can't quite believe how it seems to have rushed through my body and heart in a whirlwind of colour, emotion, hilarity, tears, pain and friendship, leaving me feeling as though I've been picked up, shaken upside down, slapped around the face and given a big sloppy kiss before being placed gently back on the ground, somewhat more ruffled than before, but excited, open and relaxed.

Work has stacked itself up nicely for the summer, and I'll be busy busy busy with lots of different projects.  And who knows what the future holds right now?  I think, in some ways, one of the most surprising things that I've found from being at Circomedia is that I don't have to perform the self that I've carefully created over the years, but am free to be the person I find within myself, when everything is quiet, or I'm training, or laughing till my sides ache at the discoveries we are making.

Thank you, Circomedia.

Sensory Circus, Polymathematics and the Double D's

Time for an update.  Things have been so hectic here that I haven't had chance to blog about everything that's been going on lately, so I'll start at the beginning...


May half term was busy.  VERY busy.  It kicked off with 3 days of workshops for the Arts Council, held at Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham.  I worked with several different groups, including students from Oakfield Special School.  I'd specifically asked to work with groups which included students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, and for this developed the concept of 'sensory circus', which is a very experiential way of accessing different circus skills, in a slow and relaxed atmosphere, so that each student is given space to respond in the way most appropriate for them.  And the reaction was  amazing.  I think, judging from the level of communication we achieved, that this is something that's definitely worth developing for the future, so once again, thanks to the marvellous Arts Council for the funding that's allowed me the opportunity to make these discoveries.


Next up, an audition with Nottingham based multi-disciplinary Arts company Polymathematics.  They have been commissioned to create 2 six foot explorer robot puppets who will be visiting Festivals in Kent and East Sussex this summer, called Puppit + Digit, and were on the look out for puppeteers.  Pleased to say I got the job, and this is us in rehearsals:

Puppit + Digit will have their first official outing on 16th and 17th June at the Fuse Medway Festival.  You can check out the links below for more info:

http://www.polymathematics.co.uk/

http://www.applauseoutdoors.org.uk/events/categories/puppit-and-digit/

Sadly, this job has meant that I won't be a proper part of the End of Year show at Circomedia, which is called 'Winner Takes It All'.  However, there's a chance that I'll be making a guest appearance on the 2nd and 3rd night(!), and in the meantime am getting stuck into duties as Assistant Director, which is turning out to be a really good learning opportunity.

Finally, Double D Theatre have been back out on the prowl!  We've been developing a  walkabout act which we performed on the streets of Bath last Friday evening, and went down a treat!  This features five Brides-to-be, who gradually realise that they are waiting on the steps of the Abbey for the same man - who is hiding in and amongst the general public.  As the tale unfolds the Brides chase their Groom, argue between themselves, find comfort in members of the public, finally find their Groom in MacDonalds and end up brawling in the street, before one of the Brides (who happens to be 8 and a half months pregnant) goes into labour, and is carried away by the others, leaving the Groom all alone.  It was so much fun to perform, and Mary and I also had the opportunity to re-create our original Double D act in Parade Gardens.  Look out for more Double D news coming over the summer.