Scratch Night – meet our chosen creatives
Our first ‘Scratch Night’ at Pyramid on Thursday, 1 December, is the chance to see new work by seven north west creatives/companies. On the night, the platform will create an opportunity for the artists to share works in progress for peer review and for audiences to see productions in early stages to offer initial feedback.
The successful pieces are:
Home by Dora Colquhoun and Luke Thomas:
Astrologer Carl Sangan described Earth as a fragile dot; ‘a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.’ Earth is our collective home.
But what is home? Is it a place? A feeling? People? Dora is on a quest to find out.
Dora is hilarious, curious and candid as she wonders why at 33 she doesn’t have her own toilet, and why do her toilet dreams seem so far away! A theatre piece with original music exploring what it feels like to be far from home and how to find your way back.
Using folk music, storytelling and stand-up audiences will leave feeling nostalgic, reflective and moved as Dora begs the question, how can a person feel at home when every other home has been fragile?
Dickensian Cabaret by Danielle de la Wonk from Seeking Circo
A vintage style cabaret number which compliments an existing piece of work. Using a combination of props and audience participation, it will challenge gender role perception, the perception of the value of women in society and where our structural inequality stems from.
Cocktails by Matter of Fact (Erin Pollitt, Daisy Howell)
This piece follows the journey of two young women making their way home after a night out. How safe can women feel walking home anymore? Is it better to stay as a group and grip your keys, or wear baggy clothes, cut your hair short and don’t make eye contact?
Through the use of nostalgic music and storytelling through movement, Cocktails will explore how we make the night less threatening. The group foresees this becoming part of a bigger, more substantial work that addresses the question: At what point does women’s safety and violence against women stop being a feminist issue, and starts being a human rights emergency?
Wet Dream with Jesus by Alice Way with Dragonfly Performance. Directed by Emma Bramley of All Things Considered Theatre
Set in Louisiana – home of Mardi Gras, southern hospitality, and raging purity culture – Wet Dream with Jesus is an autobiographical tale of Alice’s conservative, Christian-led education in public high school while navigating teenage social politics and sexual identity.
We join Alice during a typical day in high school experiencing her lessons surrounded by horny, misinformed teens taught by equally misinformed adults. Alice reveals how growing up in the buckle of America’s Bible Belt has shaped her adult life and how many lessons she’s had to relearn herself.
Wet Dream with Jesus will confront preconceived notions of the ‘American high school experience’ and leave you crying with laughter and rethinking your next trip to America.
Resurgence by Move Manchester
Inspired by a rising again into life, activity, or prominence – a resurgence of interest. This subject of exploration and performance stood out to Move Manchester post-coronavirus pandemic when the group had an itching to move and create again, an organic resurgence back into creativity and dance after confinement and time away from the studio/stage.
Resurgence is an empowering piece of work which offers snippets of recognisable human stories transcribed through movement vocabulary. The piece focuses on the response from questions proposed regarding the theme, such as ‘What moments have reignited your passions?’ ‘Describe a moment of resurgence in your life…’
Toxic by Divided Culture Co.
Toxic tackles men’s mental health, toxic aspects of masculinity and suicide. It follows two best friends and the circumstances which have caused them to spiral. After Andy discovers his husband has been having an affair, he decides to end his life on a motorway bridge. His plan is foiled by his bewildered best friend James, who begs Andy to accept his help.
Over the following days and weeks, Andy seems to be falling further out of James’ grasp than ever before. Shut away and alone, Andy longs to succumb to the torment of his demons, and he almost does. Until suddenly, his estranged nephew Patrick appears at his doorstep.
As Andy battles with his mental health and an irritating nephew, the usually happy-go-lucky James is encountering issues of his own. Although his footy mate Camo diagnoses his friend’s behaviour as simply ‘off’. As Andy slowly emerges from the darkness, it’s James who starts to sink into it. The stoicism and silence are all he’s ever known. Finally conscious of these troubling feelings, James channels his energy into helping Andy onto the life raft. Perhaps at the cost of staying afloat himself…
Tickets are just £3. Click here.