In the world of performance, so often the producer is the hidden entity – turning the cogs but not necessarily noticed by the public. This autumn, Turtle Key Arts, has works by four of their exciting companies in London; circus from Joli Vyann and the outstanding award-winning Ockham’s Razor, children’s theatre from Slot Machine Theatre and a touching autobiographical show from Oddly Moving.
Turtle Key are committed to developing talented emerging performing arts companies and to making art available to those that might not otherwise get the opportunity. These diverse and thought-provoking shows go some way to illustrating their work to London audiences:
Imbalance – Jacksons Lane – Joli Vyann (30th – 31st October)
With Choreography by Jonathan Lunn, Imbalance integrates exciting acrobatic skills with athletic dance in an energetic and thought-provoking performance that explores our obsessive dependence with technology, asking whether our lives are ‘in’ or ‘out’ of balance? It is rare nowadays not to ‘log in’ at every opportunity- the breakfast table, nights out with friends, even in bed! How well connected are you? When and how do we separate ourselves from the virtual chaos surrounding us?
He Ain’t Heavy – Jacksons Lane – Oddly Moving (2nd – 3rd November)
Grania Pickard uses physical theatre, aerial circus, audience interaction and storytelling to tell the story of growing up with her disabled autistic brother. Through puppetry, the audience see how Sean walks, talks and interacts with the world and how his unique take on life has shaped and influenced Grania. She comments, When people ask me about my brother I usually give them the short answer: he has severe learning disabilities, epilepsy and autism. He Ain’t Heavy is the long answer. As Sean cannot go on a national tour due to a love of routine and no concept of theatre, we are going to bring him into the room in other ways.
Your Toys – Lyric Hammersmith – Slot Machine Theatre (4th November)
Your Toys is an innovative family show that incorporates the children’s toys as puppets into the story. Using their unique style of puppetry, original live music and quirky humour, Your Toys takes your beloved friend on a gigantic adventure. Enjoyed by both adults and children, there is no limitation to whose toy can take part. Everyone is invited to hand in their toy at the beginning of the show to see them included in this magical journey
Tipping Point – Stratford Circus – Ockham’s Razor (23rd and 25th November)
Tipping Point draws the audience in close, as the action veers from catastrophe to mastery. The five performers, enclosed within the circle of the stage, transform simple 5 metre metal poles into a rich landscape of images. Poles are balanced on fingertips, hung from the roof, lashed, climbed, swung from and walked along, they become forests, cross roads and pendulums. The performers balance, climb and cling to this teetering world, supporting each other as they wrestle with the moment when things begin to shift. They must decide whether to rail against the chaos, struggling to exert order on a disordered world, or ride it out, allowing life to tilt towards the tipping point.
Artistic Director Charlotte Cunningham, who was made an MBE in 2016 for her services to the arts, comments, “These four companies really show the variety of work that Turtle Key Arts are producing at the moment, there’s circus, dance, physical theatre, puppetry and storytelling.”
