MAPP project
Devising
A couple of weeks into the project, we made the shift from open-ended play and discussion to creating repeatable material for performance. This involved negotiations between all the company members about the style and the content of the piece of work we wanted to make together. This also marked a shift in our roles as we started to function more like a theatre company.
My key goal was not to impose my own ideas on these younger artists, but rather to try to enable and support their agenda. As a result, the project took on a somewhat unexpected core theme!
The steps of this devising process included:
My key goal was not to impose my own ideas on these younger artists, but rather to try to enable and support their agenda. As a result, the project took on a somewhat unexpected core theme!
The steps of this devising process included:
- Elevator pitches where the students each presented their vision for the show they wanted to make
- Creating a single moment from each elevator pitch
- Brainstorming on style and content to spot the points of convergence
- Writing text, both solo and collaboratively
- Staging, choreography and architecture for improvised sections
- Structuring the ‘bricks’ of sections into a coherent, but non-narrative, performance
Moment 1:
We initially planned to build the show around the theme of Ikea; a slightly odd metaphor for customising your life to seek joy within a consumer society, inspired by Björk’s elevator pitch around getting thrown out of a branch of the homeware store for hosting an impromptu cooking demo in the kitchen section.
We initially planned to build the show around the theme of Ikea; a slightly odd metaphor for customising your life to seek joy within a consumer society, inspired by Björk’s elevator pitch around getting thrown out of a branch of the homeware store for hosting an impromptu cooking demo in the kitchen section.
Spoof Ikea ads created by Björk: messy cake
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Spoof Ikea ads created by Björk: wooden boobies
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While I merrily went off to plan scenes around meatballs and Abba, the students had a re-think. They sent me a very polite email expressing their concerns that the theme would be too limiting, and suggesting an alternative; what evolved into The Capitalist Self-Care Club. I think that was the right decision, but I’m still intrigued by how narrow our thematic hook could have been while still allowing some quite wide-reaching emotional content. Clown theatre often leans into apparently trivial moments or ideas, as does performance for young audiences.
Moment 2:
We had come up with a range of scenes, games and moments, and were considering how to structure them into a short but coherent piece of theatre. While the students were tending to look for narrative- ‘this moment leads to this moment because it makes sense’ I introduced them to a more choreographic, compositional way of working- ‘this moment is followed by this moment because it provides a contrast, or offers the audience something they need’. Explaining how I organise material in a devising process made me stop and think about it in a way I don’t usually have time to do- it made me wonder if clowndance could describe a process as well as a genre, regardless of the performance outcome.
We had come up with a range of scenes, games and moments, and were considering how to structure them into a short but coherent piece of theatre. While the students were tending to look for narrative- ‘this moment leads to this moment because it makes sense’ I introduced them to a more choreographic, compositional way of working- ‘this moment is followed by this moment because it provides a contrast, or offers the audience something they need’. Explaining how I organise material in a devising process made me stop and think about it in a way I don’t usually have time to do- it made me wonder if clowndance could describe a process as well as a genre, regardless of the performance outcome.
Journeys from one moment to another, not a linear path. No narrative means thinking more about structure- wants and needs. (it’s) compositional- illogical/emotional logic.
Journal extract : 02/11/22
Journal extract : 02/11/22
Moment 3:
Sitting within our broader theme of self-care was an unexpected (for me) but thoroughly joyful interest in sexual pleasure, specifically as experienced by those with vaginas. Björk developed their thinking about Ikea into a spoken word piece extolling the virtues of Ikea’s range of adjustable boobs and fuck-proof headboards, Imelda’s musical solo was christened ‘Ukulele Edging’ (the term for repeatedly approaching but delaying an orgasm) and I choreographed the finale ‘Stupid Sex Dance’ using a range of mimed sex acts as motifs.
Sitting within our broader theme of self-care was an unexpected (for me) but thoroughly joyful interest in sexual pleasure, specifically as experienced by those with vaginas. Björk developed their thinking about Ikea into a spoken word piece extolling the virtues of Ikea’s range of adjustable boobs and fuck-proof headboards, Imelda’s musical solo was christened ‘Ukulele Edging’ (the term for repeatedly approaching but delaying an orgasm) and I choreographed the finale ‘Stupid Sex Dance’ using a range of mimed sex acts as motifs.
Kitty: I didn’t intend the direction we’ve taken. I was all like, ‘hey, radical joy…’
Missy: … and we went ‘we’re horny!’
Journal extract : 09/11/22
Missy: … and we went ‘we’re horny!’
Journal extract : 09/11/22
Most brilliantly, the students devised a game that could act as a running gag, an interruption and a transition from one set piece to the next: ‘Sex Charades’. Their game rule was deliciously silly and clownlike in its illogic- if someone is clearly miming something sexual, everyone must offer completely non-sexual guesses as to what they are doing, whereas if someone is miming an everyday activity, only obscene guesses are allowed.
Sex Charades: a horse?
Sex Charades: protein shake?
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Sex Charades: at a metal gig?
Sex Charades: pulled a hamstring?
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They refined this game over the course of a few sessions until they could all play it completely straight faced. I love the combination of elements that this game embodies- silliness, taboo, enactments of pleasure, and the raising of a middle-finger to patriarchal ideas that lust is a masculine trait.
Through this part of the process, a lot of our reflection was around the content of the piece- we wrote about compliments, recalled compliments we'd been given, pondered Ikea and rejoiced in the existence of tits.
We thought about how laughter is infectious, and that it is both caused by and releases tension.
We reflected on the joy of mess, of cake in the face, and how we might find even more pleasure in cheering each other on.
Personal post-its expressed excitement at how the show was developing, fear at trying new things, and pride in trying them. I reflected on how when life is challenging, the work can be the salvation (with thanks to my wise friend Danny Braverman).
We thought about how laughter is infectious, and that it is both caused by and releases tension.
We reflected on the joy of mess, of cake in the face, and how we might find even more pleasure in cheering each other on.
Personal post-its expressed excitement at how the show was developing, fear at trying new things, and pride in trying them. I reflected on how when life is challenging, the work can be the salvation (with thanks to my wise friend Danny Braverman).
Working with what's in the room- what we bring on the day
Moments of unexpected beauty
Journal extracts from group discussion: 02 - 09/11/22
Moments of unexpected beauty
Journal extracts from group discussion: 02 - 09/11/22
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