In the second International theatre festival, Going Solo, Teamwork Arts presents solo acts that have featured in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival including Don't Wake Me: The Ballad of Nihal Armstrong , performed by Jaye Griffiths, If these Spasms Could Speak presented by Robert Softley and Shylock.
In If These Spasms Could Speak Robert depicts an individual narrative of disability. In an email interview, Robert writes of how he created the piece. “It started with a questionnaire, a call out asking disabled people how they felt about their bodies. Around 100 people from all over the world responded. I chose four people and worked with them over a three-month period, building trust. I used these people as the basis of the ‘characters’ in the performance. I also used artistic licence. Nothing I say is entirely true nor entirely made up.”
Robert, a prominent figure in the Scottish arts scene, directs and performs the piece. Talking about the challenges, “Performing a solo show is a unique experience. The show becomes more about you and the audience, whereas if you’re acting with other people, it becomes a collective exercise. So that exchange between performer and audience becomes much more intimate and important. The advantage of this is that you can take the audience with you; you’re with them the entire time and you’re very much in control of the show. The disadvantage is you don’t have anyone to support you or fall back on.” Robert is the artistic director of Birds of Paradise, and says through Spasms wants to highlight that there is no single way that disabled people see themselves. “There is no one way of ‘being disabled’. Disabled people like non-disabled people have a huge range of viewpoints on their bodies and their experiences.”
He adds that theatre can do a lot to create awareness about disability.
“Most people have very few interactions with disabled people in their day-to-day lives but through theatre they can get a glimpse in to their lives.”
Don’t Wake Me portrays a mother’s relationship with her differently-abled son. Speaking about the plot, director Guy Slater writes in an email interview: “It is a love story between a mother and a son, which moves to triumph as she is convinced against all professional advice that he can communicate. And she is right. He wins the prize for poetry and develops a wicked sense of humour. The ending is powerful and the word most people use for it is uplifting.” Guy says directing Jaye was a great experience. “It has been one of the most creative collaborations that I have experienced. We complement each other positively and enjoyed the experience.”
Guy Masterson will perform Gareth Armstrong’s multiple award winning Shylock . The performance will bring to light the various shades of Shylock's character. Guy will portray both Tubal’s and Shylock’s voice. Gareth has received acclaim, the world over, for his decade-long portrayal of Shylock This time he will be directing Guy Masterson, an Olivier award winning producer, director, actor and writer.
The plays will be performed at Ranga Shankara from October 16 to October 18, at 7.30 pm and 9 pm. Tickets are available atbookmyshow.com.
