We are all graduates of the Theatre Royal Plymouth Lab Company programme, with Alex as a founding member of the Narwhal Ensemble, and Mich and Florian being founding members of Run Like Stags. Through this common factor, we started to make work together – initially as performers in each others writing.
Earlier this year, we were given space at TR2 by the Theatre Royal’s Talent Development team to research and develop the idea of how to create ‘real danger on stage’. From this, we created the show Fish in Blender and decided upon our company name – liveanimals theatre co. Fish in Blender has since been performed at intoBodmin and the Theatre Royal Lab. We hope to take the feedback from audiences at these venues into our next research and development phase, for which we will be aiming to make a fringe length show.
Q & A with liveanimals theatre co.
What do you love about showing and/or making work in Plymouth?
Having taken part in numerous Plymouth Fringe Festivals, we know that the atmosphere created when you bring together a hoard of South West artists is sparky and electric. Plymouth appears to be a hub of ideas just now, with a strong culture of exploration and collaboration. We are therefore excited for this vibe to continue into the Plymouth Art Weekender, and absorb as much as we can from the other artists around us. From our experience, audiences in Plymouth appear to be open to trying new things, which gives us motivation to push our practice further and truly explore our themes. We are excited to be adding the layer of community engagement to our work, and see the effects of and reaction to it on the general public. We are also keen to show audiences something unlike what they have seen before, and continue to add value and culture to the Plymouth art scene.
What can you tell us about this project, and why is now a good time to share it?
We applied for Plymouth Art Weekender as we felt that the concept of our show, as well as the form in which we deliver it, was conducive to engaging and questioning an audience. For those who find us during the event: expect to witness a debate, get involved and then walk away with a piece of art. Why now? Brexit. That’s why.
What are you excited to see at this year’s PAW, and why?
We are excited by work that focuses on liveness to enhance its presentation. Anything that truly takes on the idea that street art benefits from being immersive, and feels like an experience that you could only be a part of at that specific place and time. Work that plays to the senses – creating absorbing soundscapes or through the use of interactive props – is thrilling to us. We are also particularly interested in work that celebrates our surroundings – whether that is Plymouth itself, or the local areas of natural beauty – anything that makes us think differently about places we feel we know so well, revealing their secrets, is exciting to us. With that thought, work that tells local stories, uncovering hidden tales from our region, also appeals, as we are a company of writers intrigued by narrative.
Please note that no animals will be harmed in this performance
25, 26 & 27 Sept 2020 