Fringe Festival: day.. um, no.. I don't know which day we're on.
Right, so. The 'blogging each day' thing didn't work out, did it, as I'm currently sat in bed on the morning of Day 4. The last few days have been a whirlwind, and I have no clue how reviewers manage to take it all in.
So. Day two. Daaaaay Two. In the foggy mists of my memory, I seem to remember starting the day at Forest fringe at the Edgelands conference. Which was brilliant, a triumph for Andy Field and Hannah Nicklin. I think that the day has been fabulously archived at http://flashconference.co.uk/ - so make sure to check that out, for details of what went on. Highlight, for me, was Chris Thorpe's mini performance. I'll never look at a Watermelon in quite the same way. There were also some really valuable discussions going on, I caught John McGraths provocation;
Feeling sorry for the word 'audience'. Wikipedia defines an audience as a group of people who encounter a piece of art or work. Audience members participate in different ways. Some work invites different audience participation whilst others create the moderate clapping. The audience is a snowflake, beautiful and delicate but completely different each night.
Which seemed to stimulate some really interesting discussion, there seemed to be a general agreement that when we use the word 'audience' we're on about the audience that actually comes into the theatre.. the one that's actually engaging with the work. We then need to find other ways of talking about those people who we want to attract to the space.
There was then an interesting conversation about digital tech and the arts, I was sat in the group that Tassos Stevens was sat in, and I spent most of that session thinking about how smart everything he says is. He's really smart.
I dived out at about 3pm to go and watch Analogue's 2401 Objects, which is on at the Pleasance beyond. At the start of the show it was announced that the technical operator had been taken ill- and there were two other people running the show for the first time. I'm not sure how the show was supposed to look.. but generally I thought it was really good. I liked the dialogue with the audience, and i thought that the subject matter was really delicately dealt with. I would imagine that with everything in full working order, the show would be amazing.
Next up was Belt up's 'Outland'. Beautifully written by Dominic Allen, brilliantly performed by the three strong cast.. and actually, its probably one my new favourite Belt Up show. I thoroughly recommend a watch. I have to say though, I nearly died in the heat up in c Venues. If you're going to go, DON'T WEAR A JUMPER. In fact, wear as little as you can possibly get away with.
Right, I'm caught up with day 2 (I know it's now day 4) but, I'll just have to be a day or so behind, as I've now got to dash for a meeting, and then a show. I'll catch you up again tomorrow..
Bye for now.
x