#changingstate

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Demonstration of a 'Cyr Wheel' performance, custom built by @skillhoarder at @madeonstate #ChangingState #ROC (at MADE ON STATE)

[newslangproductions]

EXHIBITION: CHANGING STATE BY THE LONELY LONDONERS

Words by Sheena  www.sheuppity.com

Last night welcomed the second installation of the Lonely Londoners expertly curated exhibition

Changing States. It was an amalgamation of illustration by Croydon Nitty, typographic posters by Cecile Emeke, and photographs by Bekke Popoola, juxtaposed with live performances in the form of monologues, taken from the new coming of age play Changing State by the playwright Tian Glasgow.

At once, both a small theatre production and art exhibition, Changing States did not disappoint. True to it’s name, one moment you were standing there talking to other attendees, writing on walls, and viewing the artwork, then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, someone would start reciting a monologue in the middle of the room. The music would go off and the room would gradually go silent, the spectators listening, waiting, and watching until the next monologue started in another part of the room. And then another, and then another, forcing your mind and body to constantly shift, participating unknowingly in the performance.

What I loved most about the Lonely Londoners exhibition, is the way it was reminiscent of some of my most favourite neo-expressionist and contemporary artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barbara Kruger, John Baldessari, Jenny Holzer and Paula Scher. Artists who all create(d) work that visually expressed their thoughts and feelings on the human condition, society and their personal philosophies.

The Lonely Londoners exhibitions are curated within urban spaces, in a way that feels carefully thought out but free with a strong cut and paste vibe. There is none of the staleness of white walls or abundance of empty space characteristic of art exhibitions held in major galleries. Nothing was framed, most pieces felt almost randomly placed, and viewers are encouraged to interact with spaces which were deemed “empty”, and encouraged to make their own artworks. In the end both viewer, artist and artwork within the gallery became a live performance, by the end of the night the space was completely transformed.

The Lonely Londoners was curated by Pelin, Kareem and Rianna.

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Crowdfunder reward for one generous Charlotte Burr! Signed program, sealed and delivered!

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Our Artistic Director talking about Changing State on This Day Live breakfast show!

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Changing State Production Stills

©Camilla Greenwell

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Changing State by Tian Glasgow, Hen & Chickens theatre

Changing State is a darkly comic coming-of-age story set in inner city London

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Speaking truth to power: this is the rebirth of political theatre

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Changing State Sharing - Weds 15th Oct

On Weds we had the culmination of all the R&D hard work in September and October. We delivered a sharing to an audience in The Talawa Studio in Old Street.

This was an immensely helpful event for such a complex script. The play is an interlocked storyline with 4 characters all attempting to find their way. This means that the audience has to keep up with four important stories all vying for attention. We received lots of amazing feedback on what worked in the experimental side of the performance and what didn't.

It has to be said that I for one was so very happy with the performances that the actors put in and that was definitely mirrored by the audience who had nothing but praise for Belinda Fenty, Michael Robinson, Lauren Anthony and Ashden Oke.

Also, one of the things we were testing was the musical stylings of the wonderful Ines Lapa, who's violin and loop machine created an atmosphere that the audience were really impressed with.

A play that's still a work in progress but that will be ready to impress in February! We're all looking forward to it!

The New Slang Team

From left to right: Ines Lapa, Lauren Anthony, Michael Robinson, Belinda Fenty & Ashden Oke