Womb That is All Packed Out

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Thank you so much you special 27 who were able to make it to Womb With A View this last week. Very special times for me.  Performing in this show was challenging in a way I wasn't expecting. My characters job was to play with each person openly and personally. As a result, people connected with him. And then they opened up. Initially, I wasn't sold on the whole one audience experience idea but after doing this I think it’s quite special. Arlo Gibson, I love making work with you man, everytime I do I end up being faced more and more with the universality of emotions like fear, shame, and worthlessness. It makes me braver to face these things in myself. And the less I am afraid of them, the more I can show others not to be afraid of them too. I’m so proud of you for making your own thing.

The picture is of little Ewe, unpacking now, but only to reform in another womb, another time.

 

February Update

Woo! The year has kicked off with a blast! Pilot season madness got me like:

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I've started back with HTA Trust, directing a piece for them that should have a showing in April.

The Sight of Stars by Jakob Twidle and Run, Shosana Productions had its premiere, along with all the other work Run, Shosana had made last year, which was really inspiring.

One of my fav shots from Sight of Stars

One of my fav shots from Sight of Stars

On top of that, I've started teaching drama at St Kentigerns, AAAAAND been making a show for the Fringe. It's called A Womb With A View and it's about experiencing being in the womb for a second time. It's on at the Basement 27 Feb - 3 March and is a show for one audience member at a time. But it's very special and gentle, you will enjoy and will not feel too on the spot, even though you don't have an army of audience at your back.

BLEEP BLOP BLERRP..----'

Womb With A View - From the Brain of Arlo Gibson

Shot guys, more sweet treats to come this year is just getting started. Love to you all. Hit me up if you are wanting to produce some short films this year. Even if you have no experience - just the desire to learn and get involved is excellent. - Opportunity to be mentored by Alix Whittaker - Producer of Candlelit Pictures.

Drag FOr the Win

Had so much fun performing Now I Become Beauty Destroyer of Worlds on Thursday night at the Golden Dawn with Johnna Cecilia and these two babes..

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We may come back and do it again, you never know your luck..

As you can see, there was a little audience involvement here.. 

As you can see, there was a little audience involvement here.. 

And then! Last night! I performed with Murella and Drew again in drag wars all stars, and well done Murella for your 3rd place!! Podium, baby! 

Well, that’s what I’ve been up to, hope your halloweekends have been nice and spooky ☺️

Tonight was an impossible night

Tonight was impossible.

Owl though,

Even if eventuality opened up like a heart thump

And the group grew up high like a high opportunity.

There's still work to do.

But it's fine in time.

We dine till eleven.

Soul meal under heaven.

And it opened,

It opened.

While we, aping and gaping and heaping and meanwhile,

We welcome the mariner,

That deep diving Herbie,

Extraneous expert we expelled it for you.

And he, he'd help well and even,

Then he'd heap a whole treasure mound,

So far devoid of his experience

He'd stare at a mirror hoping to find a person he recognized!

Like ten tyres teaming and tired of this magnificence,

He's stuck still, killing every tadpole that comes his way.

And what would happen then?

Could he breathe then?

Could he open up his bellows and laugh with aching sides,

Chin stretched out in mirthing agony

A birth of rapturous noise

Elephantine pronouncement like,

"Hello I'm here."

I mean, it can't really be helped.

Like, it's neither here nor there.

If you were to land upon an alien ship,

Swept together by the tide,

Would you know what to do with it?

Cause that was so beyond your experience,

What would you revert to?

And if I want to ask that,

What does that mean for the rest of humanity?

Like a sly sal silver slug

In sallow.

Sylvester Stallone in the 80's with a mustache like my 90's Dad.

It's hip, you know?

And as I sit here,

Stretched over the basin in my woolen jumper,

I read these words aloud like a well tonne warlock,

Hunting up high like a ghost for the door lock.

I put my tower up too but come on it's not really that strong.

It couldn't take the weight of a lion who wanted me

Really

Let's be honest here.

And if I had a rifle,

It's gonna come at you so fast,

And all my palms so sweaty with anticipation,

That I'll damn near miss every shot,

But probably only get off one or two,

And then what?

I drop the bullet box like a bullock?

Rolls over the side as the lion presses up

And I roll and totter, grasping for a tree with nine leaves at a stretch.

What is this weird world?

What is this wine nightmare?

What am I doing in Africa hunting beasts?

What well tuned wisdom did lead me here,

Doomed and at mercy of nature,

Naked in my ignorant purpose.

And what did they do to the trains?

To the training of the spearheads and spades?

I've only instead got this gun that's no good

This gun so outside of me I've got no chance,

No pace to this alien deathgiver.

My roots let go and I blast in the right direction like a piston

Steering naught but the wheel,

And I've got lobster claws somewhat.

So,

what?

I'm better whisper to the master and filter out,

Slide along like a puddle almost dried,

And then I can whimper and rankle,

Hoping you don't really notice those high tones embellishing nothing

Now, really.

If we return we angle certain,

Open out the corner with 18 wheels and nowhere to make it.

Impossible with that peeping hand,

Reaching out to comprehend these grains of sand from a state of statues burnished down,

Down to paste

Down to pate

Down to take and frown

Down on patsy and even brown

And down on me.

Down like an even surface flat and 90 degrees

Never fuck with a 90 90 (two times)

A rabid 90 in her ninties

Untied and sprightly with two lines

Up high on her hind knee

With preachy and batty home spines but whiny.

So sound and sing slimy it might be,

Slip sidelong inside me

And nicely you pry

But likely,

I'd knock on the door but pray to you never to find me.

That simple eyed gibbon

That sign handed ribbon

Let's have it, I'll burn it

Then have at it again.

So within that is your self-hidden reverse,

Grim turns and grace will disperse this ant hiffisence,

And with stim churned the chin scatter

With this platter

Into thin chatter.

Too much coffee and a slight watered roast.

Mastering art like a kite in the sky.

Snaking with string as it's held by three hands and hope that we keep it up.

5 nights to play and then whatever happened

It leaped and grew and tangled.

Bless this show,

I wish it the best,

I love it,

I give it my cuddling love and my care and now it must run.

It's been held by my shins and it's struggling to sprint down the hall and fall wincing then pick itself up and shout.

Go you little show,

Many died to get you here

Do your stuff you new note.

 

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Non Flower Elements

For the last week I've been traveling around the South Island with my flat mates but I wanna let ya'll know about the next show I'm making. It's another with Arlo Gibson, same as SKYLOVING, but this time will be a full length work (about an hour or so), and upstairs at the Basement from 22nd - 26th August. Awesomely, we just found out that we have been accepted into the Let's Make Work Together Incubator by Barbarian Productions in Wellington (https://www.facebook.com/events/2280710245487638/?ti=icl)

So we'll get a week in Welly to work on the show with some mentorship from the Barbarian Productions peeps.

About the show: 

On the journey to gnosis, Ash and Arlo seek self enlightenment through dismantlement. Let's pick apart ourselves. How did my family make me, me? How much was who I am, by nature? How much of me is my upbringing? How much of the me that is right now, the one that is making new decision after new decision, is completely controlled by that little one I have no memory of? Inspired by dance, clowning, and game, Ash and Arlo seek to expose their own earnest self-investigation in a meditative hour of entertainment. First, Arlo performs a solo piece for 20 minutes. His solo piece is joined by Ash and for the next 20 the boys perform together. Almost without notice, Arlo slips away and Ash performs the last 20 minutes alone.

This performance will be very physical; movement and image oriented, with words and music and our family too.

Non Flower Elements will be on in the Basement Studio from August 22-26. 

http://basementtheatre.co.nz

 

SKYLOVING

Look here's a little write up about SKYLOVING, the show me and Arlo Gibson made for Auckland Fringe!

http://www.heartofthecity.co.nz/article/auckland-fringe-festival-basement-salon

My Play, Thomus

Here we are and its only two shows till this beauty rests a slumber, indefinite. She has been a lovely lover. Volatile, interesting, and acute. Painful and uncomfortable and requiring. But restful too, and giving. Thank you to all who have come to see her, and who have helped her to be alive and to dance. xxx

I've written a play!

Holy shit guys, after years of work I've finished writing a play and will be directing it.  It will be on at The Basement (lower Greys Ave) August 30th - September 10th @ 8pm

In the cast we have:

Milo Cawthorne  Amelia Rose Reynolds  Michelle Leuthart  Mark Andrew Clare  Arlo Gibson  Ollie Cox  Bruce Hopkins!!!

In design we have:

Andrew Foster  Rachel Marlow

Behind the scenes we have:

The mean Sara Shirazi

THOMUS

Buy tickets here: thomus

For those looking for something to do tonight...

My hella talented friend Dan Veint is performing in the Drag Wars at the Dogs Bollix tonight (2 Newton Rd, Ponsonby - Cnr Ponsonby and K). Its his first drag competition. I have seen him before and he rules. He even makes his costumes himself using his advanced knowledge of clothes maths. Check it out.

Doors open 8pm, performances start 9.30. Heres the link to the fb page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1730424433844193/