Spoken word and performance workshop at Newcastle University

Over the past couple of days I have been facilitating a Spoken Word and Performance workshop with students at Newcastle University who have an interest in transforming written text based work into spoken word performance. The workshop will continue next Friday and will result in a small group exhibition of work made by the students during the 3-day workshop. 

I developed the workshop having returned from the Spoken Word Residency at Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada last year, and use the workshop as an opportunity to share some of the techniques, skills and tips learned while on the residency.


Following the success of the workshop last year and the demand from students, Newcastle University invited me back to work with a different group of students.


During the session yesterday I showed the group some examples of artists that use spoken word / text / performance. As I was compiling the list to share with them I thought it would be useful to share it more widely, so here are the links to some works that I mentioned. Please be aware that this list is only mean to be a taster and in no way does it cover all artists working in these ways. It is simply a starting point!


ZENSHIP - Mundo Gumbo - Tanya Evanson


This is an example of how a live band can be used in spoken word performance.


https://youtu.be/r3bnV2vG5Rk



Afua Cooper at VERSEfest


This demonstrates that a convincing performance can be given even if the performer is using written notes.


https://youtu.be/pgo-nedZnwM



Martin Creed - Words and Music


This is an example of the combination of words, music, visuals (on the screen behind) and how the means of delivery can echo the content of the work.


https://youtu.be/WKFM1nl7_Y0




Blonk performs Ursonate with real-time typography


This is an example of how subtitles can add to a work.




https://youtu.be/rs0yapSIRmM




Samuel Beckett - Not I

This is an example of how spoken word can exist in a video and how cropping of an image alters the reading of the work.

https://youtu.be/l8C4HL2LyWU

Martin Creed - Words and Music

Artist and musician Martin Creed has been performing Words and Music at The Studio in Edinburgh as part of the International Festival and British Council season Spirit of '47.



It is billed as "a delightfully nonconformist evening of words, music and more" and audiences are advised to "expect an extraordinary encounter between artist and audience, a bit contemporary music hall, a bit art lecture, shot through with Creed’s renowned wit and absurdity, and delivered in his own highly original style. Expect to be surprised, and you won’t be disappointed."





Creed has always produced musical compositions. He has composed for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta; launched his own label – Telephone Records – in 2011 to release his albums of ramshackle, catchy folk-pop; and performed at music festivals throughout the UK and Europe.

https://www.eif.co.uk/2017/martincreed#.WaA8RJOGO-5

I appreciate the way that Creed is able to talk about difficult issues such as loneliness, but avoids it becoming a sob story.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ewxxj5/live/cbn6v2

His music is lighthearted and hardly melodic, yet the lyrics are poignant. The simplicity of the words and music and his casual method of delivery emphasise his vulnerability.

Comforting words from Martin Creed

In this fascinating interview, Martin Creed talks to Kim Hill about life, music and art.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/201773148/martin-creed-art-and-philosophy

Ball pool for adults opens in London

Because being an adult is rubbish and all anyone really wants to do is thrash around in a soft play area, a bunch of heroes have opened a pop-up ball pit in Hammersmith.

The pit is free to visit and contains 81,000 balls, which can entertain up to 30 people at one time.

It is the brainchild of creative agency Pearlfisher, who will donate £1 to the charity Right to Play for every person that visits.

 

 

 

They've shunned the traditional multi-coloured balls, instead going for a nice calming, utopian white.

The installation follows a similar one from Turner prize-winning artist Martin Creed last year, who filled a room with white balloons.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ball-pit-for-adults-opens-in-london-10010207.html?cmpid=facebook-post#