Pride Bristol

From the darkened room of my studio where I am tinkering (on a current super secret film project ssh), I stepped out on my stilts into the sunshine and rainbows of the Pride Bristol festival! Great crowd, good times.

photos by www.joe-clarke.com

Cabaret Abattoir

Had a great night performing and stilt walking for Cabaret Abattoir on Saturday. I made some Dogma-inspired bloody wing stumps with beautiful feathered shoulder pads for the occasion, photos are now up at www.joe-clarke.com

The Goblin King's Court of Disorder

photos courtesy of Joe Clarke and Marcus T

I love traveling to ye olde London towne. Especially when I'm not the one driving. And especially when it's to perform at a rather exciting new Guerilla Zoo event in the great big caverns underneath ye olde London Bridge - The Goblin King's Court of Disorder!

In between romping around the underground like a giant pixie on my stilts, I was fortunate to make friends with some beautiful creatures.

Highlight of my evening? Having a chat backstage with the enchanted legendary artist himself, Brian Froud! An absolute gentleman, he came all the way from the south coast to give a guest appearance and delighted us all with his tales of how the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth came into being. His son Toby, of course, played the baby that David Bowie kidnaps in Labyrinth. He's a puppet maker and stilt walker too don'cha know?

There are more photos to feast your eyes upon here:
http://www.guerrillazoo.com/goblin-king-s-court-of-disorder-photo-gallery/
and here:
http://photos.marcust.com/Events/Oct-2010-Goblin-Ball-CrowdArt/15019405_LKsnXk#!i=1121749833&k=gT8SG

Watch this space for more Goblin King events in 2012.....

Character Design

'...The little Dwarf looked in wonder all round him, and was half- afraid to go on. The strange silent horsemen that galloped so swiftly through the long glades without making any noise, seemed to him like those terrible phantoms of whom he had heard the charcoal- burners speaking--the Comprachos, who hunt only at night, and if they meet a man, turn him into a hind, and chase him...'

Both characters are based on those found in Oscar Wilde's 'The Birthday of The Infanta'. With my interpretation of the story, I have been playing around with the idea of the 'Comprachicos' or 'child-snatchers'. According to Spanish folklore (and wikipedia), these were woodland dwellers who bought unwanted babies from whores and then physically mutilated them in order to sell them as entertainment to the popular freakshows...

Hence, playing with this idea of 'made' freakism - the first character, the little Dwarf of Wilde's story. He is found running wild through the woods and brought to dance before the Infanta, who leads him on by throwing her white rose at him and fluttering her eyelashes, so that by the end of the dance the little dwarf is madly in love with her. But he doesn't realize the tragic truth about his own hideous appearance until the end of the story....

The unnaturally conjoined monkeys are based on the gipsy monkeys who make a brief appearance in the story, also performing for the Infanta.

Carnyville Foolery

photos courtesy of the Invisible PhotoBooth

Last weekend I had the awesome pleasure of performing with my fellow fools and circus freaks in the amazing Invisible Circus show Carnyville. The show spans three nights and takes place at the abandoned but now reclaimed Bridewell Island, the former police and fire station serving as an ironically apt location for a show so riotous and anarchic in nature. It was a great success, with the costumed crowds lining the street outside each night buzzing with excited anticipation for the opening of the gates, ready to become completely immersed in the pandemonium. There is so much beautiful, dazzling chaos once you step inside, it really is hard to believe your eyes. The astounding number of performances and interactive sensory delights on offer ensures that no person leaves with the same experience as another, if you can find your way out that is...

Carnyville brings together so many shining individuals and the sheer volume of hard work, determination and creativity that brings the show to life is a true inspiration.

www.invisiblecircus.co.uk
www.artspacelifespace.com
www.invisiblephotobooth.co.uk

You can also read some nice reviews here:
http://bristolculture.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/highlights-of-2009-iii-carny-ville/
http://www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk/performance-review-carny-ville/