Friday 23 March 2012

lots going on!

Well, blogging to avoid more difficult work and so much exciting 'stuff' happening need to blog to clear my head. Despite some people being away we had a very full session, Linda returned after illness, we were all so pleased to see her back. The summer flyer has been sent to the printers in time for the Private View on Friday ( last blog). Eddie has created a fantastic image
for Gyllngdune Performance, may need to change type face of Shallal, but fantastic work.

We rehearsed and discussed work for Hall for Cornwall short piece in June on Monday 18th, a fund raising event by Nick Carr Productions, this took a lot of time but was looking good, however we are going back to another piece as then found out a main performer will be unavailable, but the work isn't lost as the piece is probably being used in the summer at Godolphin. 
Worked in small groups on ideas, and work is coming together well, Gyllngdune is linking up nicely, just awaiting an Apex song to work to next term.
We watched what we have and I was shown again how important it is not just to plan through the head, we listened to Star and Elaine's poems and changed the order after listening, they are beautiful and pertinent to the place and in that lovely synchronous, creative way to other pieces.
Star also read her Godolphin poem, very haunting, and Eddie wrote a poem in the afternoon with echoes of the theme in it. 

Andy came and the creativity started to bubble over. Meeting with Andy and Debs over a book idea he has next week and Shallal book in pipeline as well. Anna, Stephanie and I had found some simple tops for costume this week. (Stephanie is on student placement from Cardiff University where she's studying dance, she is with us for 2 weeks.) Linda brought in costume/props ideas and she and Toby were heads down in art session, which is beginning to really work as a creative ideas, visual arts and support time which is how I'd hoped and envisaged it. 
Diana our administrator often pops in to our chaos, as we no longer have an office but all work from home, - I am ever grateful for my macbook bought with money left by Eileen a long standing Shallal member and very close friend who died a few years ago, without it I couldn't work as I do....or bore you by blogging! She would have approved as she was amongst many things a journalist and writer.
 I found myself introducing Diana as our walking office?! ( I want to write about Walter here but maybe best to put a link to his lovely photos! http://pebble-dash.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/walter-turns-five.html) it's good to have a physical handover time as we don't live near each other. 
The afternoon allows creative meetings to happen with more people present, last week Roger Pinsent, composer, came, this week Sally Crabtree, poet, http://www.thepoetree.net/    
it's lovely to work with her again. To share notes on the continual funding struggles, and the excitement of creative ideas.
Mousehole has been the last performance day for us to shape up and she has given us real suggestions, possibilities and it now is getting a shape to it. Last week Katherine introduced us to Sheila of Mounts Bay Singers who we may work with. http://www.mountsbaysingers.co.uk/index.html
 Colin may go into Mousehole school with Sally to engage some children in one of our performances, all in the world of possibilities and we shall see how it all lands!
Debs excitedly getting out her writing group idea she and Sally could develop. Sally off to write something based on anecdotal conversations with people from Mousehole, on the bus etc. Debs to write us an ode based on Dolly Pentreath - laughter over Cornish dialect what we remember etc..our slightly anarchic way of working is very Celtic/ Cornish i think! passionate and slightly disorganised, hard to stop us (talking!) when we get started....
the studio idea has come up again twice this week and Duane sent a link http://www.artistsfirst.org.uk/  - really good but if we can do Studios I want it to be inclusive, it's the mix that's so exciting! and really feeds people and allows mutual support, creative inspiration and exchange and fun!

Rory Mcdermott our BBC funded dance artist wrote us a nice quote; 
( for a press release on my "to do" list!)
 " it is always an inspiration to work with such creative and loving people. Warmth and support is the bedrock from which this extraordinary company produces such moving and innovative work. I look forward to the journey with this wonderful, maverick band of artists and performers". 
We feel the same about him!

Well dawn is breaking and my "to do" list awaits me, ( as do chickens, washing up, teenagers etc)

Hope to see you at the Private View next Friday 30th March 6-8pm at Studio 61, Lemon St, Truro or drop into it in April, info on our last blog !

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