We have been working on this material for a couple of months now for a few hours a week! The unit the performance is helping them to complete is site specific! This has been a challenge for us all!
This is the first time I have choreographed/ directed a site specific piece of work, I'm greatfull that by working with Helen Parlor last summer, i gained certain tools to use to construct the rehearsal structure! I prepared myself for the worst, I understood that material created in the studio might become something completely different when it is transferred to the specific site (thank God the performers supported me with this and were patient with me as I continually said "actually do it here..... No... Maybe here??.... Can you learn this bit in thirty seconds and do it at the same time here?!), I also understood that with health and safety regulations certain parts of the work would be enhanced if we still lived in the 1930s!( I hate being a "NO" man when the performers are willing to jump from great heights and attempt to stand on a platform that admittedly looks like if a feather fell onto it, the platform would collapse!!!)! But what I was not prepared for was the constant brickwall that was forced upon us by the venue! The same venue that agreed to us working and performing in the building, the same venue that expressed their excitement towards the project!
From the cafe lady to the receptionist, it appears that hving some vibrant life in the building, inconviniences their day!
Why though?
The performers are creating a buzz in the building, the performance will bring parents and friends into a building that appears to be used only by the two ends of the circle of life... The beginning and the end!
What ignites a raging roaring anger within me, is that the age range of the performers (16-18) are often the ones that are stereotyped to be wastes of space, no good! But when they are committed to a project, passionate about their college course and show upmost respect to those around them, they are still put down!
It's ironic that the work "Pursuit of Perfection" is about how we as humans develop in life. Constiently seeking perfection, but with the hurdles placed before us, it asks the question "Do we ever reach that?" judging by certain people we have encountered over the past few days no matter how much you mature, how old you become, your still pursueing it!
So in light of this discovery, Im glad I can jump resonably high to get over the hurdles!
Anyway rant over!
If your free come and see The Pursuit of Perfection at Bourne Hall Epsom next week!!
Jamie jAM jAR
Location:Epsom
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