reluctant raconteurs

Sunday, 29 April 2007

Reluctant Raconteurs

A big thank you to all the workshop participants in 2007!

After a new group of former participants and new performers, all over 40, except one!, had started the rehearsal process in February 2008, we showed our final piece of this project, on April 20th, 2008, at 7pm at Chisenhale Dance Space. Thank you for everybody who came to see this physical theatre/multimedia piece about the man in the cloak behind the door, who is getting into our way now and then, just when we had mapped out our journey nicely, and is dealt with in exasperation, and with a sense of humour!

A short video version of the piece is available to watch on Google Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2357158558967868749
For info, e-mail Stella at reluctant.raconteurs@yahoo.co.uk

The following short video is called "I remember..." and is an edit of an improvised solo (myself), and a rehearsal scene for the piece (Andrea and Clifford).

Why am I doing this?

1. Originally, Reluctant Raconteurs was a project for creative people over 40, that's why all the performers (apart from one!) are of that age group, that includes myself.

Turning 40 caused a change in my life - things became simpler, I grew content and happy with whatever would happen to me, and at the same time I knew that life was not endless any more, and that I had to concentrate on essential things, and say what I needed to say in life - lest it would remain unsaid forever. What I needed to say is beyond words, or between the lines, and comes from a realm that is neither popular nor spectacular, yet strong and present, a kind of second reality, if only we took time to listen. To see. To sense. What shall we call it? The man in the cloak behind the door? He may be up for jesting - who knows!

Looking for kindred spirits I guess!

2. Here is a another deeply unpopular thought: Wouldn't it be good to make friends with DEATH?

3. Contrary to younger artists, creative people over 40 tend to face social exclusion: Most projects and initiatives are aimed at, and run by, younger people. Uni is over, and collaborations are usually with people a good deal younger, who may have different topics they are interested in. Artists over 40 often need to hold down unrelated day jobs to make ends meet, and restricted financial means and lack of time are further hurdles in living their creativity.

4. I have worked in a wide variety of disciplines, and this piece draws on a great many of them. I would like to promote the multi-disciplinary approach, as a way to increase our personal range of expression.

Participant material from the workshops in May and July 2007

There is a room in my house where the shrouds and veils of years lost have stained the walls and minds of those who live there.

The garden is dry and barren, for nothing grows there anymore. The sun bleached the colour from the grass but dried the clothes quickly. The mother would hang it out, and in 10 minutes it would be dry, though in those 10 minutes the breath would be parched and dried up in their mouths.

Perhaps that was the reason they didn't talk to each. the chatter of their minds as they sat around the table.

This text was produced after a biographical visualisation exercise, in a variation of "automatic writing". A thank you to M, who wrote this.

reluctant raconteurs

Monday, 17 March 2008