We had our first lab this year last Tuesday, and it was really great to be back in the lab frame of mind and back together after a break since Besides, you lose your soul, or The History of Western Civilisation.

Attendants: Julia, Bill, Zoë.

For this lab we decided to continue working on reacting and responding, and look at the theme of celebrity.  Bill and Zoë were asked to: create something, react and respond to it yourself by going in and out of the action, also referencing levels of address and presence.

In one long improvisation they created small scores, which were then brought back in the subsequent 2 improvisations working on the level of reacting and responding.  By doing this the scores they had found layered in meaning and went further than just the initial actions presented.  By working at the same time they also borrowed from each other’s actions and heated up props and spaces the in the room. 

I was surprised how fruitful this work was so quickly.  It felt like we’d tapped into something in the air.  Bill and Zoë used some found props and the level of invention was very high and the playfulness was quite subversive, opening all kinds of opportunities for further experimentation.  The theme of celebrity became a loaded one, as they played quite openly with presenting a celebrity persona, and then undercutting that by taking it further.  It seemed to me that the work was looking at the cracks in the mask of celebrity culture.  As Julia said “we seem to either adore them or satirise them, they are the gods of now.”

The performers didn’t say “reaction” or “response” during the improvs as we have done before and Julia felt that we should definitely bring that back next time as it brings a heightened awareness of yourself within the action and moves the perspective around.  It will be interesting to see in the next lab how far this can go.

I include below some of my written responses to the work shown.  The next lab will be at the end of June

One up me/special guest

Breasts echo down the tube

What have I sacrificed to be here?

Good evening London

Invasion of the inflatable mummers,

Your money or my life?

I’ll have nightmares tonight.

It’s not just us its those outside

The eyes of a different kind.

Chasing racing for your attention

What would you like now?

Take me from your dreams of

Your need for affection,

Devotion, dedication: the

Holy mother wrapped in

Clotted plastic.

I’m the tumour on your

Forehead.  I’ll pray for my own

Soulessness.

Are you our special guest?

A haunting rhythm

Underscores my presence.

“She’s not going to do that”

“A treat for you”.

Wired for you (Attempted transcription from the last improv)

Hi hi hi there hi (sigh)

Hello and good evening.

Hello I said good evening.  Hi (laughs)

Hello and good evening

Hello and good evening.

Tonight we have a special treat for you all.

You can tell them all to get fucked, someone’s

Shocking, yeah see what ooo yes a treat

Yes ok for you all.

Hello I’m calling about the position

I’d I think I can entertain you

I’ve got what it takes.  Hello and good evening.

It gives me great pleasure

It gives me great pleasure

It gives me great pleasure

It gives me great pleasure

It gives me great pleasure

It gives me great pleasure

It gives me great pleasure

Well done.

Are you entertaining me?