Welcome to Articulation’s March 2019 newsletter, check out the details of some particularly intriguing shows to see this Spring. Also to be found here - a report back from the Open Space Gathering in Edinburgh on 25th February. A friendly and engaging day that produced passionate, robust and inspiring discussion on the subject of how to make great physical performance in Scotland. Articulation are preparing an ongoing ‘What’s On’ page on our website. Please let us know what you are getting up to in 2019 and we will put the information up on the page. Spread the word!
Best wishes, Sarah Jean Couzens, Co-ordinator for Articulation.
'Gravity', directed by in-house Director Rose Orr, will present nine amazing Aerial Edge students in action as they take to the skies to perform daring aerial feats! Watch as this talented bunch explore the risk-filled world of circus. Will they manage to defy gravity and pull off some seriously awesome acts? Or will levity prevail and throw everything back up in the air?
With disciplines ranging from mesmerising doubles silks to the jaw-dropping swinging trapeze. 'Gravity' will keep you on the edge of your seats right until the end!
Taking place on Friday March 29th, doors will open at 8.00pm with the performance beginning at 8.30pm. The show is family friendly so bring along anyone and everyone!
To mark the end of term, and possibly the end of an era for the UK, Modo has teamed up with Buchan Day Opportunities to stage and evening of entertainment on 29th March in Peterhead Community Theatre. The first half will combine sketches, movement pieces and songs from the Bluetoon Concert Party, with circus routines from CircoModo Peterhead.
The second half will see a rare full production of Confusion of Tongues: a comic circus kerfuffle revelling in the chaos and the shenanigans that follow as a group of oddballs gather under a common flag to create a new world.
“A little miracle of a show, funny, nostalgic, smart, touching, even poetic and magical at times.”
Confusion of Tongues has been performed at Scottish Week, Cruden Bay Gala and in the woman’s wing in HMP Grampian. In September the full show was performed at Haddo House as part of the Mash Up Youth Festival which was celebrating the Year of Young People.
The Adventures of Isabel is a critically acclaimed, immersive dance theatre production for children aged between 3 and 7 years inspired by 19th and 20th century poetry about childhood.
The piece follows the exciting escapades of the frightfully fearless Isabel as she embarks on an epic adventure, encountering four fearsome foes along the way.
This production is a fable for young and old alike, uncovering universal truths about overcoming obstacles, adversity and challenges before returning to the sanctuary of home.
Audiences are welcomed into Isabel’s garden, to sit in the flower beds (raised panels that reveal treasures throughout the show). This world is transformed through Isabel’s imagination, and the audience join her on this journey. The performance is an epic voyage through different worlds and landscapes – water, forest and circus – as Isabel faces many challenges, confronts her fears and learns about her emerging independence. The audience are encouraged to take part in various sections of the show and get out of their seats to dance alongside the cast.
Featuring choreography by multi award-winning choreographer Thomas Small, set and costume design by acclaimed designer Claire Halleran, lighting by Simon Gane and animation by Retchy.
Created with support from Creative Scotland. Co-commissioned by Citymoves Dance Agency.
The classic story leaps into the twenty first century with ballads, beats and backflips!
With tap dance, hip hop, circus skills and soaring vocals, this fresh new musical stars Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe, deaf street dancer Chris Fonseca (The Greatest Dancer), Seann Miley Moore (X Factor) and Matt Knight (Let It Shine).
Mole’s first day in ‘The Willows’. Her classmates look a bit scary. Surely Mr Badger will look out for her, as streetwise Rattie, rich kid Toad and cheeky Otter teach her the ways of The Riverbank. But when Toad gets locked up for joyriding, the Weasel Clan break into his (lily)pad. It’s now only a matter of time before Chief Weasel reveals Mole’s dark secret…
A modern interpretation of the ancient fertility festival of Beltane housed in the spectacular setting of Calton Hill. Beltane Fire Society performs the story of the death of winter and the birth of summer via dance, drumming, debauched acrobatics, giant puppetry and, of course, fire..
Join hundreds of performers and thousands of revellers as they come together on Calton Hill to celebrate the death of winter and the birth of summer by casting off the darkness and celebrating the light on one of the most magical nights of the year.
The Beltane spectacle is a celebration of the elemental story of death and re-birth and the eternal battle of the seasons, as played out with fire, drums, pyrotechnics and a procession.
There is no single central point where everything is performed, rather there are multiple points of focus spread around the public parkland on Calton Hill, with views across the night-time cityscape of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. A large part of the story follows the procession of the May Queen, representing summer, around the hill, but there are also counter-performances of fire dancing and Celtic characters dotted all over the hill to ensure everyone has chance to see and be involved. As the procession’s presence awakens one group of characters after another, each plays a part throughout the evening, bringing the hill to life, mirroring the earth’s awakening from winter to spring
Weaving together personal testimony, live original music and stunning aerial artistry, Egg takes you on a highly visual exploration of female fertility, sexuality and choice, following the true story of a woman who gave her eggs to her friend to have a child.
Paper Doll Militia are an Edinburgh-based aerial theatre company, combining visual theatre with innovative aerial, acrobatic choreography and multimedia.
Egg at Summerhall as part of Edinburgh Science Festival
April 12-14 Facebook Event
Egg at Waterside Arts, Manchester
June 22 Facebook Event
Company of Wolves: Achilles
Achilles tells the story of the greatest hero of the Greeks during the Trojan War: how his best friend is killed by the champion of the Trojans, his desperate grief, and his terrible vengeance.
In a fusion of storytelling, dance and song, Achilles is the story of a man’s exorcism: a burning out of his vulnerability, his rage, and his humanity.
Light hearted with something for all the family, Heroes mixes aerial skills with dance theatre and contemporary circus.
Asking profound universal questions with humour, straight talking and lots of moving, we follow the journey of the 2 performers as they navigate their way through the world of idolising and being idolised.
Heroes is a new show from All or Nothing and Room 2 Manoeuvre. It takes a look at who our idols are. The cult of celebrity and the fall from grace, the hidden heroes, superheroes and who do we really, actually look up to?
Building on the success of their last piece Sprawl, Tony Mills of Room 2 Manoeuvre and Jennifer Paterson of All or Nothing form a creative partnership again adding performer Beverley Grant into the mix.
Captain Sunshine is not living up to his name! This Super Human Hero is not feeling super.
Where’s the all action superhero? Where’s the run a hundred miles with a smile? We miss his sunshine, his light; we miss feeling that everything is going to be alright.
Captain Sunshine is overwhelmed by the challenges of the day. He’s tired of being sunny – being good, funny, loving, smart – tired of playing the part. Who will save Captain Sunshine, if he cannot save himself? What does it mean to be a modern day Super Human Hero?
A comical and musical dance with darkness, exploring the ways we are, fail and try to be super human heroes. There will be singing, there will be silence. We can’t be heroes all the time. It’s ok to be human.
Super Human Heroes is commissioned by Imaginate and supported through the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund.
Clowning is a state of playfulness that brings us to experience a child-like, naïve and vulnerable state of being. Paradoxically we grow, learn and are strengthened through reconnecting playfully with what makes us most vulnerable.
This approach to clowning is not a technique (tricks, gags and routines) but a personal journey towards finding one’s own unique way of being a clown, by listening and being receptive, essential skills for any creative and imaginative expression. It is only when we let go our control over things that we begin to be surprised by the depth of what reveals itself to us.
NosetoNose: Playing with Fire –
Exploring conflict through NVC and Clowning
14th – 17th May
Emerson
with Vivian Gladwell and Arnaud Durand
An experiential workshop, giving participants the chance to alternate between action and reflection. All the exercises are designed so that no previous experience of either clowning or peacemaking is necessary.
By embracing our fears around vulnerability, loss of control and not knowing, the clown invites us to remain fully engaged, curious and interested even in times of greatest stress without losing the connectedness to our own inner voice and emotions.
This practice counteracts our tendency in conflict to become smaller versions of ourselves and to get stuck in one-sidedness. Dealing successfully with conflict is about the courage and integrity to show our humanity.
Acrobatics of the Heart 2019 with Stephen Wangh and Wendell Beavers offers training in both the psychophysical acting work initiated by Jerzy Grotowski and the awareness and performance training of the Viewpoints.
Viewpoint training: awareness practices and group work
Boundless Improvisation, integrating psychophysical acting and Viewpoints
Outdoor and sensory training
Discussions/lectures on practice
Location
The 2019 workshop is taking place at Earthdance, an artist-run residency and retreat center located in the Berkshire hills of Western Massachusetts. The 125 acres of land and facilities provide a beautiful and rustic environment that includes beautiful studio spaces, sauna, and hiking trails.
Our Easter Weekend is a three-day event which comprises of a variety of unique and intensive workshops. All workshops will run in 2-hour or 3-hour slots with each day structured with workshops running throughout the entire day.
This three-day course led by artistic director Ned Glasier explores how we develop source material into new plays created with large and small groups of young people. We also discuss our unique recruitment model, workshop structure and ethos.
During the course, participants work through a series of practical exercises, discussions and reflection, including a practical session with young people from Company Three's core company.
Who is it for?
Participatory artists working with young people
Professional writers and directors who want to develop their work with young people
Youth theatre directors
Youth workers and teachers
Cost: £350 - payable in advance. (We are able to offer a limited number of discounted places for people from underrepresented groups.)
How to apply
We want to ensure that participants gain as much as possible from this course and in order to ensure the quality of experience, places are limited.
To apply, please send your CV with a short email by Monday 1 April stating why you wish to be considered for the course and what you hope to get out of it.
Workshop (Al Seed):
Creating Visual Theatre from Literature
29th March
Summerhall, Edinburgh
This workshop will explore approaches to creating visual / physical theatre, using literary texts as the primary source material. Al will draw upon current projects he is working on, the work of other practitioners, and the shared experiences of participants themselves to lead a series of discussion and devising exercises.
This workshop is suitable for anyone with an interest in literature and creating visceral theatre. It is also ideally suited to practitioners who are planning / at the early stages of delivering a theatre project based upon a literary source.
This new fund seeks to increase the diversity of people in the arts, screen and creative industries.
Developmental funding available for individuals and organisations. Creative Scotland’s reports ‘Understanding Diversity in the Arts’ and ‘Equality Matters’ highlighted numerous and complex barriers to access, progression and representation in the arts, screen and creative industries.
This fund aims to start addressing some of these well documented concerns and increase the diversity of people in the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland. This fund will seek to prioritise applications from individuals who self–identify as sharing one or more protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010; or from groups/organisations which are either minority-led or which focus on working with and for those who share one or more protected characteristics.
There are no minimum and maximum limits on how much you can apply for, and our intention is to award funding at the levels requested by applicants. We expect to support between 12 and 20 applications, depending on the level of demand, and the Fund has a total budget of £285,000 for 2019/20.
The Community Bursary Programme offers small grants of up to £500 to local community organisations in Scotland that make a difference to their local area.
The programme was launched as a means of offering much needed support and funding to local groups and organisations. The company has now awarded more than £75,000 to more than 150 applicants from across Scotland.
Awards for All Scotland gives out grants of between £500 and £10,000 to projects that bring communities, arts and sports together to enjoy a range of activities.
Creative Scotland encourage applications that remove any barriers to the involvement of arts and creative activity.
What types of projects would Creative Scotland like to see?
Projects that encourage creative experiences within the community. This could include activities that:
Work with skilled and experienced artists, tutors or mentors
Partnerships with cultural organisations
Opportunities to experience new art forms, creative activities, cultures and languages
Puppet Animation Scotland champions puppetry, visual theatre and animated film.
Scottish-based artists over the age of 18 of whatever discipline can apply to the Creative Fund to explore elements of their creative and technical working practices which relate integrally to puppetry, visual theatre and animated film, or any combination of these art forms.
We welcome applications which articulate clearly and concisely how specific, time-limited research and development will enable you to explore a new, vital, exciting creative concept and/or enable you to enhance your current working practices and learning.
Edinburgh Festival Carnival Job Opportunity: Carnival Costume Maker
Edinburgh Festival Carnival is looking for Carnival Costume Maker
EFC is looking to recruit a carnival costume maker who can join the team at our weekly carnival academies to deliver costume making workshops to the public as part of the Academy program.
You will be working as part of a fantastic and lively team to create an exciting and dynamic program of workshops and master classes as part of the EFC Carnival Academy skills development and training.
We are looking for someone with an interest in carnival arts and costume making, with previous experience leading workshops of varying numbers and varying skill level and with prior knowledge and experience of making, fixing and designing costumes.
You will be involved in the design and overview of the carnival academy costumes and creative direction of the outcome of the carnival centerpiece of the Carnival in July.
We are looking for a friendly, fun, dynamic costume maker to get involved.
This is a freelance role, for 3 hours per week, with the possibility of more hours in July in the run up to the Carnival.
Rural Arts Job Opportunity: Community Arts Practitioner
Deadline: 25th March at 12pm
The Community Arts Practitioner is a vital role at Rural Arts, delivering a large portion of artistic activity both in-house and on participatory projects.
A consummate and widely skilled visual artist, you will devise and deliver arts activities, manage Rural Arts’ studio and assist the Community Programme Manager in effective project management.
This role includes some Saturday morning working and a full, valid UK driving license is highly desirable.
Moray Art Centre, a busy and expanding arts venue based in Findhorn, is now inviting artists and artist groups to submit proposal to teach visual arts at MAC
Moray Art Centre, a busy and expanding arts venue based in Findhorn, is inviting visual artists of all media and of a wide spectrum of approaches to submit their portfolios for consideration for our 2019 and beyond exhibition programme. We have a programme of on-going and one-off classes and workshops 7 days a week, morning, afternoon and evenings, and throughout the year.
Artists will also be encouraged to submit their ideas for their potential inclusion as tutors in leading their own one-off workshops, courses, and talks at Moray Art Centre, in tandem with their exhibitions.
Scottish Youth Theatre / Aberdeen Performing Arts: Making Space Aberdeen Residency
Deadline: 24th March at 9pm
Offering emerging theatre makers the space and support to create a brand new performance
Making Space is a residency programme supporting young artists aged 18 - 25 from across art-forms who want to develop their own theatre piece.
The Making Space residency offers time, space and guidance, leading up to a work-in-progress presentation as part of Light The Blue Festival in Aberdeen in June.
The residency is open to solo artists or collectives of 2 or 3 aged between 18 - 25, interested in making performance work.
Any theatre maker can apply – you might identify as a performer, director, poet, playwright, choreographer, designer, devisor, live-artist, performance artist... or something else.
Open Call: International Theatre, Circus
and Music Project
“INSTANT ACTS against Violence and Racism 2019” (Germany)
Deadline: 30th April
We are looking for performers who are involved in theatre, dance, music, circus (no aerial acts), x-sport, etc. We want to create an international ensemble of 15 young, talented and creative people who want to reach out to a young audience and act against violence, racism and islamophobia. We believe art is a powerful educational tool.
UnShut is a festival of experimental and radical work in Sheffield on the 16th to 18th of May. We’re looking for performance artists from all disciplines to participate in this exciting festival of creativity and innovation at exciting new fringe venue, The Local Theatre, in Sheffield, UK.
Performance artists and creatives from all backgrounds are invited to showcase their work in an open and supportive environment. UnShut encourages work that seeks to challenge preconceived ideas of what performance art ‘should’ be and welcomes both emerging and more established creatives, looking to expand the boundaries of performance.
The festival looks to encourage work that is thinking outside of the box or challenging conventional ideas of performance. Shows that are 30 minutes to an hour long, though we will also consider durational work.
25th March – 10:30am – 4:30pm
Discovery Point, Dundee
FREE, but ticketed
This professional development event will explore collaboration and understanding across arts and social, community and justice sectors, in order to explore how we can support each other’s work and learn from each other. It will be a hands on day exploring partnership working and the potential of collaborations.
Participants will have the opportunity to hear from a number of case studies and converse with colleagues, identifying the characteristics of effective partnerships and collaboration,
What will you get from attending?
Ideas and inspiration from case studies, including Hot Chocolate Trust; Glas(s) performance project at HMYOI Polmont; Iriss approach to making co-productions happen in social services; Dundee City Council - Aspire Project; Rig Arts and River Clyde Homes
The opportunity to step out of day to day work to look at your practice differently
Time to discuss ideas and share experiences with others
FRESH STREET#3: International Seminar for the Development of Street Arts
22nd – 24th May
Galway, Ireland
*Registration open soon*
Circostrada and ARTCENA, in partnership with ISACS and Galway2020 are delighted to invite you to FRESH STREET#3 – International Seminar for the Development of Street Arts.
Exploring street arts as a tool for social, cultural, political and economic change, it will opt for an innovative conference model by inviting participants to connect with the local community and natural environment, building on an authentic encounter and a singular experience.
Call Out to Artists and Makers, groups and organisations involved with Circus, Street Arts, Physical Theatre - let us and others know about your work. Take your place in Articulation’s Directory on the Website by sending your information to info@articulationarts.org
Add to this Newsletter! Please send information about anything to do with Physical Performance together with a picture or a logo to articulationnews@gmail.com
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