Prototype IX

Another fine turn out for Bristol's biggest scratch night- Prototype, held in the Tobacco Factory Theatre.

In my usual style here are my thoughts on it:

The Tempest presented by Firebird Theatre gave us a short extract of their version of Shakespeare's play. The text was good and although some of the rhymes felt clunky the use of repetition was effective and it was well delivered. They created a very effective image of palm trees using a host of large cardboard rolls held by the performers. The piece was curtailed by the absence of a performer due to illness, so it felt like we needed to see more to see where it was going.

Vex Dance Theatre's Bluebird was about the flight, arrival and culture shock of Bosnian refugees. I liked the teacups, queuing and roses. But i couldn't get into this or the later Dance Theatre piece. I'm a proper philistine when it comes to dance, haven't seen much of it, although one of the first things i ever watched was Sol Pico at the Arnolfini way back on 26th October 2002 doing Besame el Cactus-

So anyway i don't really know enough about it. I reckon it's a pretty difficult discipline. How to keep the movements fresh and truthful? More importantly how to create them so that they are meaningful to an audience in the first place? Please recommend me a company to look at, you can post a comment containing a link to some video of theirs.

Next it was me. Again. I have long accepted that i don't make work unless i have a deadline. So I'm very thankful for Prototype and all others such nights, including Pilot over in the Midlands, without them my life would be much duller. Tonight I finally got started for the second time on The Third Part of my 'Self' trilogy. This time inspired by a brief email from Miss Lea I'm looking at isolation, escapism and protection. Still the main themes are Happiness, Desire and a Car Crash. But right now I'm thinking about the number of things we have to forget in order to be happy. It seems to me that it's not just looking at the small details, but simultaneously ignoring the big picture. How is it possible to be happy with full awareness of the horrors out there? The idea that we are on the crest of a wave in this country and that wave is a made from human misery and environmental exploitation. Anyway at least I started off trying to make an upbeat show. So tonight i set myself the challenge of keeping my mouth shut, not saying anything. Stepping away from the safety of my voice. Only now i agree with those that said i should go further. Working without that connection with the audience which is so much a part of my other work. For me i can clearly see this trilogy as a series of challenges, each of the parts a challenge in itself. First getting on stage, then acting (however badly), then stepping away from all my talents, tricks, techniques and seeing if I can just communicate. So anyway, probably need to do some more work on this.

Massive apologies to the lovely Cori of Little Ray Puppets, because i just couldn't stand still after my bit, being rather shaken, i didn't watch what she did in the bar. The feedback sounded good.

I was suitable calm to re-enter the theatre and watch Miss Bona and Mr Alex Hykel of www.puppetsandpandemonium.co.uk perform the start of Fishwife, a charming piece of puppetry for the children, which won't be totally beyond the grasp of adults either. Humorous and well worked on the animation front for a newly developed piece. The Fisherman and his Wife on which this piece is based is a folk classic and it would be hard to tell it badly. Good choice.

Final turn of the night Nice as Pie Dance Theatre gave us some movement and words around the idea of the Cinderella Complex in which the person is always looking to be rescued/fulfilled by the Prince Charming. It sounded like the final presentation will be very different in setting and execution involving more audience interaction. After a bit of a complex set up which itself got applause, they created some interesting images and their text came across well. It just seemed that it hadn't quite settled into what it wanted to say.

Oh and this time the feedback was really good, thank you audience you rocked!

Onwards.