Rhiannon - Blog

ShoutOut Festival - The Promised Land

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 17:36:35 GMT

A big shout out to Applecart Arts' ShoutOut Festival which is a creative response to fear and hate. Applecart Arts have put together such an inspiring programme of theatre. It is wonderful to be part of a festival that is so rooted in the concerns raised by the local community. The Promised Land always felt like such a perfect fit with those concerns and so, with the festival in mind, we have worked really hard in producing a more developed version of the show. The last few weeks have been satisfying in reworking some of the script and adding more music. It feels like the show was always meant to be this way! It is pretty much a musical now and I'm channelling Maria in the Sound of Music to get me through the telling of this story.

An exciting 2019!!!

Sat, 08 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

via GIPHY

Camden People's Theatre have released details of their Spring programme and there is lots to look forward to on their programme and I am so excited to be part of it with The Promised Land in April! Wooohooo! It's so nice to be able to finally talk about it!

Scott Swinton will be joining me for The Promised Land. We will lengthen the show from 35 minutes to an hour! So it will be wonderful to do some more writing and add more detail. I've had lots of lovely feedback from Dare Festival audience and you asked for more songs and more trauma! OK, then..

Until then, check out the ticket website here and let me know if you have any fantastic fundraising ideas! :-)

R x

Thanks to Clickska Photographer for capturing the show so wonderfully in the images below.

Let's Talk about Post Show Blues

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Dissidents performing Voodoo Child

It is the same every time..you've been working on a show for, possibly months, and towards the end it gets really INTENSIVE. There are more rehearsals and meetings and even when you are not rehearsing you are sorting costume and sorting your arrangements for the busy performance days. The show literally..

takes

over

your

life.

The other cast members or members of the team have become more like family, in fact, you are spending so much time with them that you start to notice their annoying habits as well as their good ones. In those days leading up to a performance, especially with larger casts, things can get fractious but even when this happens there is still a sense of solidarity as we are all in this together and the show must go on...

Before you know it, its the day of the performance and you are high running on an intoxicating combination of nerves and adrenaline. You are

in the zone

and even the most annoying cast members with their bizarre dressing room rituals, which can range from some form of tai chi to yodelling (and sometimes a combination of both!) cannot and will not put you off.

via GIPHY

Once the performance is over you can ride high a little longer with after show drinks or possibly a last night party and maybe you are feeling very slightly relieved and that combined with alcohol is doing wonders for your mood. So you have a great time with your long suffering loyal supporters and you make joyful tipsy plans into the wee hours about further
                                                         drinks,
                                               parties,
                                and shows.

The next morning you wake up and you are too exhausted to be sad but very soon it's Monday morning and you suddenly realize you have to face the week ahead without any scheduled rehearsals and no shows at all.

Grace Kemp in Baby (2016)

You had forgotten how it feels until the moment it strikes, but when it comes back you remember this oh so familiar feeling. The despair, the will I ever perform again feeling, the is it all worth it mood and why do all the other performers have lots of work already and I'm just refreshing my inbox.

via GIPHY

Yeah, the blues are back and when we say blues, what we mean is a sadness that invades our life for a little while. A sadness that things have come to an end and a sense of missing those people who we saw more often than our own family, for a short time anyway. The point is we go from such intensity of rehearsals, tech, dress and then the performance days and then, well sometimes,

N O T H I N G

We talk about post show blues and kind of laugh it off as something inconsequential but it is something that as a performer you have to learn to deal with. For performers with mental health conditions, the highs and lows of an artist's life may need more careful consideration and support.

via GIPHY

However, I do need a bit of wallowing time, a space to evaluate why I am in this position and what I need to do next and to get over myself!

For me the nothingness of an empty space, a rejection, a failed funding bid, countless e-mails that don't get replies, all of that which is negative, actually spurs me on.

via GIPHY

In 2013 I made a show with 40 volunteer performers from the Olympic and Paralympic games. It was a massive show and was performed at The Place in January 2014, as part of Resolution festival.

15,000 volunteers.
4 Olympic/Paralympic ceremonies.
Housewives, teachers, bankers, became drummers, dancers,
nurses, and workers of the Industrial Revolution.
40 ceremonies performers explore how they live on, now 2012 is over.

The Legacy was basically a show about post show blues on mass; as it was about how the volunteer performers felt after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games finished. Despite the joyous experience and community it was celebrating, it was a really somber show until the final closing moments.

For me, there was a beauty in exploring that dark place that exists when things come to an end and looking at what the experience leaves behind and what 2012's legacy was to the performers.

Tips for dealing with Post Show Blues

Plan for cast drinks/meetup a month after the show.
Use any free time to reflect on what you enjoyed or didn't about the experience and what you would like to do next.
Start applying to do more creative things!
Enjoy the free time and relax, go shopping and calls friends you haven't called for a while, go to the cinema and make the most of it.
Focus on long term planning of your career beyond the next show.

Despite always feeling that you will never work again, before you know it, the next theatrical experience is upon you and the cycle is about to begin all over again!!

Do comment below and let us know about your post show blues experiences. I would love to write more on this subject in future so do get in touch.

Links:
Some great books about dealing with the life of an actor/performer.

The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide

Actors and Performers Yearbook 2018

Overcoming Stage Fright: Discover How to Get Over Stage Fright in 5 Easy Steps

Ginny Cat

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 11:00:43 GMT

Ginny Cat, the boss of me, died earlier this week and we are devastated.

Each room feels empty without the force of her personality in it. I’ve started breaking her rules because the sight of her biscuits in the cupboard doubles me over with grief. So I’m feeding them to your sister. Sorry for that, Ginny, but Tiggy is sad too. She is learning how to takeover the sole rule of this little kingdom. I’m getting rid of my neck ache as I can now sit facing the TV and not at an angle to allow you enough space to lie alongside me. Cushions now exist for our comfort and not to cushion laps as you desire.

Although it feels like the universe has shifted with a seismic change, the people outside carry on letting off fireworks in their garden at all hours as they did when you were sick. Every time I hear them I see your face and the memory of your fear penetrates more than the fleeting lure of bonfires and toffee apples. I’m sorry you suffered a little near the end but I won’t be running race for life in your name because, for now, it’s enough that I have to carry on without you.

Dissidents: Mary

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 09:37:14 GMT

Why did you decide to join Dissidents?
Rhiannon cast me in her other performance projects: Legacy, Baby, Last Dance on Earth and Inauguration/Trump. We’d discussed elder dance for some time and both agree that most performance dance for older people usually involves chairs and a lot of meaningless arm waving. Even when big name choreographers are brought in to work with an elder dance company they usually resort to the sitting-arm-waving choreography – descending to the lowest common denominator. There is little challenging choreography for groups of older dancers who can still run, leap and turn (although perhaps not quite as well as they did in their youth!). Rhiannon’s concept of Dissidents presenting an image of older dancers challenging what’s normally seen,therefore resonated with me and I was pleased to join the group.

What makes you a Dissident?
I’m my own person, caring less and less what others think of me. I’ve always said that throughout my life I’ve cultivated amiable eccentricity to make my third age performing life easier for others to understand.

What does the Voodoo Child piece mean to you?
Jimi Hendrix was part of my teenage and college years. Sadly, I never saw him live, but I was always aware of his music. I remember dancing to one of his tracks at the Art of Movement Studio (choreography by Henry Metcalfe) which was an unexpected and unusual choice of music at that time in the college.

Do you face any challenges in taking part?
Making my stiffening and aching joints behave the way I want them to i.e. as if I was still twenty! It was great to be part of the (B)Old festival at Queen Elizabeth Hall. We were treated very well and it was good to feel as if we were a company on tour. Any potential stage fright was alleviated by knowing the choreography so well. I enjoyed the performance and felt that I gave as much as I could. I think the spectators enjoyed us too! I hope that Rhiannon will continue to develop new work for us – perhaps one day we’ll have a full-length show

Written by Mary Cox
Photos by Clickska Photographer

Dissidents: Janine

Wed, 30 May 2018 08:42:09 GMT

Performing at (B)old Festival.

The day before our performance we took a look at the performance space (the foyer of QEH) only to find no space! It was filled with an audience ready to watch the royal wedding on a giant screen! We found space outdoors next to QEH to rehearse in the sun. Much curiosity was directed towards us Dissidents! The next day, when we arrived at QEH, we were taken to our dressing room which was very spacious and was off a larger room with easy chairs and plenty of refreshments (a very welcome touch).

It was with some trepidation that I waited for the music to start.

Waiting nervously, for the chord which was our cue to start.

It was good to hear the opening notes so that we could start our moves to Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child. Once I got going, with fellow Dissidents, the nerves went concentrating on each move of the moment and the next one and the next one...

All too soon it was over.

The applause and whoops by the audience were much appreciated. It was a relief that it had gone well and also the realization that I had enjoyed it. Performing helps take my mind off any body niggles as they are temporarily forgotten.

Performing on the South Bank was very enjoyable. Now to practice for Dissidents next performance at the Rose Theatre, Kingston on 16th June to improve on the last performance and enjoy it even more!

Written by Janine Smith

(B)old Festival at Queen Elizabeth Hall

Wed, 23 May 2018 21:17:12 GMT

Finally, it was performance day! We arrive early ready for our tech rehearsal in the foyer. Our first job is to help map out the performance space on the floor. We only have 30 mins in the space so the performers don't even get a warm up before they are asked to walk through the piece in order to space everything out. In the end, they get two runthroughs but as no-one has warmed up I ask them to not perform all out. I also want them to save themselves for the later performance as it is going to be a few hours before they perform. A clip from one of these early rehearsals is above.

The other performances on the schedule seemed really interesting and I was really looking forward to seeing them, particularly the rock choir!

The dressing room and facilities at the venue really helped with keeping the performers positive and eager to perform. Also during the day, before the performances, there were several workshops to take part in which allowed those who took part the opportunity to warm up in a novel way!

Above shows a picture from the morning rehearsal and our group taking part in balancing peacock feathers on our hands with Spare Tyre's interactive performance.

The Programme

Dissidents

Dissidents are a dance company for performers over 55 years old. The Company makes bold and relevant pieces of art and seeks to challenge expectations of senior dance companies. They have performed at venues including Sadlers Wells and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Older Women Rock!

Older Women Rock! creates pop-up political art spaces to raise awareness and explore issues facing early-old-age women in their late-50s to early 70s. Through performance, poetry, fashion, film, workshops and talks the project celebrates early-old-age women, challenges their invisibility and aims to subvert dominant assumptions and prejudices. The project is founded and led by spoken word poet, activist and lecturer Leah Thorn.

D2D Dance Company
D2D Dance Company is a performance-based elders company which meets once a week at The Bull Theatre in Barnet. The Company has built up an excellent profile since it began five years ago and has performed regularly in both community spaces and theatres including Sadler's Wells and as part of the Elixir Festival in 2014.

Silver Cheerleading Squad
The Silver Cheerleading Squad are a team of senior cheerleaders assembled as part of a project by Silverfit. They choreograph and perform routines to a variety of popular tracks and have performed at a variety of venues and events. Silverfit works to promote happier, healthier ageing through affordable physical activity while combating social isolation and improving older people's quality of life.

Complicité & Spare Tyre

Spare Tyre is one of the UK's leading participatory arts charities, with 40 years experience of producing bold and powerful theatre with voiceless communities. They use innovative performing and digital arts to challenge prejudice and transform lives, enabling unheard stories to be shared. Recent work with older people includes The Garden, a multisensory performance for people with dementia, and The Promise, a co-production with older people exploring the moral complexities of assisted dying.

Above Mary and Derek take part in the cheerleading workshop. Derek told me he couldn't resist the pom poms! :-)

The Performance

This was the fourth time Dissidents have performed this piece. However, this was with a smaller cast and their last performance was eleven months ago! It felt good that they were back performing especially in such a great programme and venue.

There was definitely a marked change in this group since their last performance. They appeared more confident and sure of both themselves and the choreography. They were fierce! I was so impressed and proud.

Reactions from the Dissidents

Sara

After Performing with DissIdents, we had a beautiful group hug, including, of course, Rhiannon, in what can only be described as pure elation. I am sure we had tears flowing. I personally felt empowered and a massive sense of achievement. In fact I am still in the 'after glow '. So proud to be part of it all.

Angela

I felt that our performance went well. I can always improve on my own, and I guess we all feel like that. We seemed to cope with last-minute reorientation of the performance space. It was good to see the preceding groups who were very good, and I think it encouraged us to show our piece at its very best. The audience was very responsive too, nothing like a few shouts and whistles to get us to up our game!

Why Dissidents?

Wed, 23 May 2018 09:59:44 GMT

PART TWO

Ever since Marylebone Dance Studio closed last July, I have felt that Dissidents needs to find a new base where they can have regular rehearsals and somewhere to call home! For now, we have been rehearsing in Laban, which has been wonderful! However, without a base we often struggle with the costs of rehearsal space before a big performance.

Dissidents rehearsing for tomorrow #noroyalweddinghere #whatroyalwedding Come and see them perform @southbankcentre Tomorrow 2pm in the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer also performing @rosetheatrekingston on Sat 16 June #ignitiondancefestival #dance #theatre #physicaltheatre #london #rehearsal #londondance #dancephotography #dancephoto #dancepractice #instagood #instagram #instagrammer #instalike #instadance #instadaily #instafollow #instafollow #workshop #instaart #instamood #instaartist #artist #artists #choreography #choreographer #dancers #dancer
A post shared by Rhiannon (@rhiannonbrace) on May 19, 2018 at 5:03am PDT

Last Sunday the Dissidents performed at (B)old Festival at Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer in a mixed programme of work by senior artists.

The previous day, Saturday 19 May, was the day of the Royal Wedding and the group met up in the foyer to take a look at the space, have a catch up and have a little rehearsal outside in the sun.

When we arrived in the foyer at 11am, a big screen had been put up for people to watch the wedding and a large crowd was gathering. As union jacks were waving and people were taking their seats in front of the screen, the Dissidents went outside to look for a quiet space to rehearse. I was so impressed by this group of people, who despite all the festivities around them, just wanted to concentrate on their performance the next day. I think this extra rehearsal in the sun really proved vital in making the performance more precise and aided with eliminating some hesitancy. It felt wonderful to not have the time constraints of a studio booking and therefore we just rehearsed until we were happy and until it got too hot!

What I feel holds Dissidents together is we want to fight stereotypes that anyone over a certain age is a doddery old person who does not have much energy or ability. I hope that by presenting a slightly surprising performance of an iconic rock track, which is full of vibrance and energy, that we can in some way fight this image.

The next blog will include footage and pictures from the performance at Queen Elizabeth Hall, which we are still all BUZZING from! :-)

Why Dissidents?

Mon, 14 May 2018 19:13:46 GMT

PART ONE

Dissidents formed in Marylebone Dance Studio in 2017, where I had been holding regular Sunday workshops in Physical Theatre. I applied for Sadler's Wells Elixir Festival with an idea which had been brewing for a while.

I struggle with using some terms such as community dance, community project and inter-generational because I think they are often used in a patronizing way to say this show wont be as good as usual because it's a community show. As much as I cringe, I do, however, use these terms, where appropriate, to be clearly understood by funders and programmers.

It is entirely possible to create a great artistic piece of physical theatre/dance with a cast of different ages, a cast of senior movers or any other age group. What is more important than age or level of physical ability is the performer's commitment and belief in the work they are performing. That above all, is the key to making great theatre.

There is definitely a place for a seated dance with senior groups in order to have a class that is inclusive of illnesses and disabilities. However, it can be really out of place in a senior dance group where the performers are physically capable of so much more. It is actually quite offensive to the performers and a cliche lacking in any artistic imagination.

If you ever see a chair in a Dissidents show then they are likely to be throwing that chair fiercely across the stage! If we do, in the future, have a member of cast whose physical capabilities become limited such that they need to be seated then I would hope that we search for more artistic ways of incorporating her than giving the whole cast a chair.

Read on to hear from some of the Dissidents about what it means to be a member of Dissidents.

Janine

Just over a year ago I was recovering from an operation to remove a benign brain tumour and I wanted to get back to dance as part of my rehab. I saw that Rhiannon was giving physical theatre workshops so I started doing them. This helped strengthen my legs and give me confidence.

I worked with Rhiannon in 2014 in The Legacy, revisiting our experience of being a volunteer performer in the London 2012 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies with fellow volunteers. This was quite an undertaking with 40 of us in the cast!

After several workshops, I was thrilled when Rhiannon invited me to join Dissidents to perform to Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child in Elixir Festival at Sadler's Wells. This built my confidence further.

Voodoo Child reminds me of the massive protests and rallies I went to against the injustices of the day in the sixties and seventies and marching half way across London in protest. My challenge at the moment is to overcome a bit of discomfort in one knee from arthritis. I'm determined to overcome this and continue to dance, do physical theatre and perform. Not bad for a 73 year old!

Sara

I decided to join Dissidents as I wanted to be part of a more ‘mature dance group'. Also because I have worked with Rhiannon Brace before and, have enjoyed working with her.

I feel what makes me a Dissident is actually being able to get to rehearsals, and to show my inner strength, that also shows to other ‘mature‘ people, that dance is not only for the youngsters. Our group is all of a finer age, and it feels like we have an understanding of each other.

The track Voodoo Child, brings back a lot of memories of years gone by. It makes me feel powerful, and at the same time somewhat vulnerable. They don’t make sounds like that any more.

My challenge in all of this, to be honest is, I have quite a rough time with my back and, at times, takes it out of me. But... nothing a good nights sleep doesn’t cure (touch wood lol). Also dealing with those ‘pre-show nerves’

Angela

Why did you decide to join Dissidents?
I had attended Rhiannon Brace's workshops and enjoyed them. I like the way she works. I also perform with several other dance groups.

What makes you a Dissident?
Not following the crowd.

What does the Voodoo Child piece mean to you?
It's the work of a talented musician, full of energy. Familiarity.

Do you face any challenges in taking part?
Poor eye-sight, as well as the challenge of remembering the choreography!

Penny

Why did you decide to join Dissidents?
I saw on Facebook an advert for senior dancers for the Sadler's Wells project and I wanted to perform again.

What makes you a Dissident?
I'm really good devising with a new group of people and creating a different performance project that shows older dancers can still move and be creative...not just' seated' performance.

What does the Voodoo Child piece mean to you?
Voodoo child is an inventive dance performance that is challenging to the performers and showcases ability for older dancers...and it's fun.

Do you face any challenges in taking part?
Travelling long distances for rehearsals is difficult to schedule and expensive, but worth the effort for participation in powerful performance.

Beverley

Why did you decide to join Dissidents?
I have worked with Rhiannon before and was eager to be involved in another project. I welcomed the opportunity to be part of a group of mature performers exploring movement which highlighted the individuality of the performer in response to a specific piece of music.

What makes you a Dissident?
Outwardly normal holding willingly nonconformist principles upheld and acted upon at a moments notice whilst being human.

What does the Voodoo Child piece mean to you?
Fire, rebirth, free spirit.

Do you face any challenges in taking part?
Distance! I live on the south east coast of England which presents a journey time of 2hrs to central London. There is a financial cost attached to this as well. Physically though I am fit and well!

Elena

Why did you decide to join Dissidents?
I liked the way you create a piece from scratch and to be part of something creative makes me feel alive... particularly as it is inclusive to people that are not in any way professionals.

What makes you a Dissident?
I have always been a Dissident as I question everything and everyone and tend to be in everything I do quite non conformist.

What does the Voodoo Child music mean to you?
This is difficult for me to answer as I literally only heard it the first time at your workshop (I am more into other genres of music) so I would say that it has given me an insight into a genre that I would never have chosen to listen to and that it was in a way liberating.

Do you face any challenges in taking part?
Yes I face many challenges taking part, mostly letting myself go crazy on stage and therefore overcoming my stage freight and shyness.

Gilly

Why did you decide to join Dissidents?
To be physically expressive.

What makes you a Dissident?
I'm naturally rebellious.

What does the Voodoo Child piece mean to you?
The music is ageless and always fresh. Performing in the piece makes me feel free and fearless.

Do you face any challenges in taking part?
Only to push myself to perform better each time.

With many thanks to Clickska Photographer for her fabulous pictures!

Phrases to be Used Upon...

Mon, 14 May 2018 08:55:58 GMT

So I am still stunned by the talent on display at Central Saint Martins last week in the performance of Phrases to be Used Upon.... by Anne Elmholt and Nina Kunzendorf.

This performance formed part of their final year of BA Performance: Design and Practice. In this blog post I share with you some photos from this piece and a chat I had with Scott Swinton on Saturday about his involvement.

As a reminder, this piece focuses on "observations of human nature we come across in daily life and how we respond and react to these." In this performance, the actors in the scenes mime their lines while the actors behind them voice their lines into microphones which creates a disconnect between the words and behaviour of the performers and invites the audience to examine this.

So on Saturday, I was at Studio Wayne McGregor and I also caught up with Scott about his experiences working on this show which I found fascinating. Below is the film of our informal chat. The film is poor quality but please use it to listen to the chat.

Thanks Scott!

Credits Phrases to be Used Upon...

Written, directed & designed by Anne Elmholt and Nina Kunzendorf.
Music Composed by Omorinmade Anikulapo-Kuti
Performed by Michelangelo Dousis, Magdalena Jasiniak, Kenneth Joynson, Michael O'Reilly, Alice Poli, Scott Swinton, Anatoli Tsampa and Kim Way
Music Performed by: Omorinmade Anikulapo-Kuti and Nicholas Sabisky