SLAP presents an evening of solo performance from critically acclaimed regional and national artists, incorporating dance, theatre, live art and multidisciplinary performance. Expect to smile frequently, be moved by moments of intimacy and experience something new. The evening will showcase an array of works by 6 different artists celebrating comedy, dance, the autobiographical and everything in between .
Margerita Elliot- Gli Angeli / The Angels
When finding ways of filling the void of a performative space,Angels recount short stories of my body.A body feeling hybrid as it is mutable through movement,uncomfortable in any defined and definitive form.A flowing cluster of images, options and ways of being after the Great Flood.
Sophie Unwin- The Chronicles Of Joy
In the words of Betrand Russel, Aristotle, America and myself, I will teach you the steps to happiness. I will jump head first into the murky world of Joy. Rule number 1; say yes.
Hannah Buckley- Woman With Eggs
Via Sophie Calle, a 90 year old woman, 7 year old girl and Kate Bush this is a solo about women’s ability to be many things.
Joshua Hubbard- Monochrome to colour
The enigma behind Joshua Hubbard F*#¿!D hails from the ‘Land of the Mills’ around the back of The Dog Inn pub. Sporting a dysfunctional and strong-minded persona shaped by bricked in windows and moving from school to school supported by a grunge soundtrack, Joshua has embraced the doom and gloom and has been projectile vomiting gothic/punk aesthetic, reggae veggie friendly, 'love it or leave it’ spectacles for the past four years.
Paul O’Donnell - So Far West
So Far West: A show led by a cowboy, a real, REAL cowboy. Using everything he owns — his horse, his mystery, his gun, his fancy clothes, his secretive ways — the man and the myth will stand in front of you, and will prove himself; join him to discover the truth about the rootin’ tootin’ cowboy deep down inside everyone.
This bar IS a saloon. You ARE Buffalo Bill / the Sheriff / the Bad Cowboy / the Town Whore. So, put on your hats, tie up your horse, and join this cowboy So Far West.
Nathan Birkinshaw- I Wish You Were Here
I Wish You Were Here comically aims to look at loss, love and loneliness and what it means to let things go. Blending performance, comedy, video and movement, Nathan picks at the heartstrings as if playing the washboard. Mixing personal and fictitious narratives, he would like you know he’s sorry, he doesn’t want to be alone anymore, and he’d like to know what love is.
Homage to SLAP-ping By Maggie Elliot
SLAPsolo happened, and it was epic in its elegance, aesthetics and contents.
It was a new experience, a variety show of experimental theatre comedy and dance work. All separate even though all together simultaneously. It was fairy lights and wine. It was edgy and comfortable. It was a fest for low budget artistic philosophies, celebrating solo performers and their solo performances.
Each piece was different and unique in its nature & outcome, becoming one ensemble of solo pieces on the night as they were all existing there and then, using not much more than a body, a (beautiful) space and a bit of time that a ‘caring hip familiar participating friendly funky relaxed interested’ audience agreed to dedicate to the night.
SLAP makes events that WORK and I can really say that, having been part of one.
It’s also work that is worth watching , it was RIGHT, as it felt to me it was answering to the question: how to make something big and of great artistic value out of a small scale production?
Watching other performances made me feel like I had time to digest information in between each act; being audience made me feel exposed as I was able to interact with the performative action, but still breathing a very homely atmosphere.
On the 12th of November 2014, performing SOLO became a shared experience; I was alone without feeling lonely.
Thank You SLAP-pers.
Current, Alternative and Radical….One of the most well organised events I’ve had the pleasure of being involved in, completely breezy as Goliath’s flatulence, maybe a little to breezy for a drama queen such as myself. Very responsive jam packed audience, it was fantastic performing to an audience that its pie graph percentage wasn’t majored other dancers (non dancer heavy).I encourage the future of Slap and look forward to being involved hopefully again, giving artists a platform to present work GENUINELY pushing the bounds. -
Joshua Hubbard