early Catalogue of work by Interwoven Productions pre-2015 and prior to their development of the squilometre approach to participatory work
2013 SW Tour - Exeter, Bridport, Taunton, Stroud
Written by Steven Duncan and JoJo Spinks
Directed by Amanda Knott
FIVE STAR REVIEW!!! - SOLD OUT IN EXETER!
"It was a joy and privilege to see and hear astonishingly creative people from different disciplines combine in a work of such transcendent wonder...This is no run of the mill endeavour – an energy of cosmic proportions reaches into our souls and demands a heartfelt response." - Avril Silk
Audience response
"A truly magnificent and emotional journey".
"Superb performance, expressive dancing, lovely interactions with musician and attention to audience. Left feeling glad."
"Its like watching my secrets. Just beautiful."
Antara – an intercultural love poem featuring the exhilarating and powerful Indian dance of Ajeesh K Balakrishnan fresh from the world-renowned Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Bangalore. The movement has been created by Ajeesh in collaboration with Exeter talent Kay Crook who undertook a six month residency at Attakkalari where their journey together began.
“I can’t believe how incredibly lucky we have been to be able to draw this international talent to the South West. The project is entirely due to the extraordinary energy and sheer beauty of this young duo. To think we have all that, and the pulsing narrative of urban poet, Steve Duncan, is beyond a dream.” - JoJo Spinks
“A beautiful, visually stunning production we are very proud to have as part of our programme” – Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter
Written by Steven Duncan and JoJo Spinks
Directed by Amanda Knott
FIVE STAR REVIEW!!! - SOLD OUT IN EXETER!
"It was a joy and privilege to see and hear astonishingly creative people from different disciplines combine in a work of such transcendent wonder...This is no run of the mill endeavour – an energy of cosmic proportions reaches into our souls and demands a heartfelt response." - Avril Silk
Audience response
"A truly magnificent and emotional journey".
"Superb performance, expressive dancing, lovely interactions with musician and attention to audience. Left feeling glad."
"Its like watching my secrets. Just beautiful."
Antara – an intercultural love poem featuring the exhilarating and powerful Indian dance of Ajeesh K Balakrishnan fresh from the world-renowned Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Bangalore. The movement has been created by Ajeesh in collaboration with Exeter talent Kay Crook who undertook a six month residency at Attakkalari where their journey together began.
“I can’t believe how incredibly lucky we have been to be able to draw this international talent to the South West. The project is entirely due to the extraordinary energy and sheer beauty of this young duo. To think we have all that, and the pulsing narrative of urban poet, Steve Duncan, is beyond a dream.” - JoJo Spinks
“A beautiful, visually stunning production we are very proud to have as part of our programme” – Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter
Vega Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter
14th January 2013, 7.30 p.m.
Reviews and Audience feedback
Four Star review!!!!
"Interwoven Theatre's 'Somewhere Between My Broken Seams' and 'Vega', gorgeous unions of dance, theatre, music and the spoken word ...
Vega was ravishing to watch, and the evocation of starlight was vivid and breath-taking ....
Apparently 'only brilliants like Vega and Arcturus have power to make an impression upon the retina' and tonight's stellar performances duplicated that brightness" Avril Silk, 15th January 2013.
Audience feedback
"Thank you so much for a wonderful show! The first piece was so artistic and creative! The second piece was mesmerising! What a beautiful stunning dancer and a wonderful script. Loved it!"
"Amazing dance - loved the lights against the dark backdrop. Original and very artistic."
"Beautiful, stunning performances."
"Beautiful"
"Wonderful, very moving. Visually stunning!"
"A beautiful combination of dance, music and story"
"Vega was beautiful! Magical. Loved the Indian influence. Kay is a really talented dancer."
"Very beautiful and intriguing. Thank you."
"Love Vega ..... so beautiful."
14th January 2013, 7.30 p.m.
Reviews and Audience feedback
Four Star review!!!!
"Interwoven Theatre's 'Somewhere Between My Broken Seams' and 'Vega', gorgeous unions of dance, theatre, music and the spoken word ...
Vega was ravishing to watch, and the evocation of starlight was vivid and breath-taking ....
Apparently 'only brilliants like Vega and Arcturus have power to make an impression upon the retina' and tonight's stellar performances duplicated that brightness" Avril Silk, 15th January 2013.
Audience feedback
"Thank you so much for a wonderful show! The first piece was so artistic and creative! The second piece was mesmerising! What a beautiful stunning dancer and a wonderful script. Loved it!"
"Amazing dance - loved the lights against the dark backdrop. Original and very artistic."
"Beautiful, stunning performances."
"Beautiful"
"Wonderful, very moving. Visually stunning!"
"A beautiful combination of dance, music and story"
"Vega was beautiful! Magical. Loved the Indian influence. Kay is a really talented dancer."
"Very beautiful and intriguing. Thank you."
"Love Vega ..... so beautiful."
SEVERANCE is a cross art-form piece, combining movement and theatre. It is a gutsy, poignant reminder that “austerity” and “cuts” are happening to people already managing the loss and conflict of marginalised lives. Severance seeks to give voice to those on the outside and brings hope through humour and defiance.
Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple and New Theatre, Exeter June 2012
REVIEWS and FEEDBACK
"In Severance, Spinks employs monologues and dramatic episodes to reveal individuals’ experiences of the cuts, while dancers (Durant and Amos, from TrashDollys, used to great effect) embody the subtext, their moves conveying the contortions required of our value systems in order to negotiate such a landscape. One of the strongest sections sees Frank (Gordon Frow) contemplating how capitalism’s promotion of competitiveness between colleagues results in ruthless behaviour. The bleakest section, the last, sees Dean (Fin Irwin) visit his floundering younger self (Amos) to encourage him to pull himself out of poverty and despair, to get work, any work, because it’s the act of ‘being paid’ that is key to self-esteem, so asserting the awful truth that market forces require the most vulnerable to be the most resourceful in order to survive. With potent themes and inventive staging, it’s a sad, funny (honestly!) and thought-provoking piece for our times" - Belinda Dillon - Exeunt Magazine 11th July 2012.
"Are we defined by the job we do? And what becomes of us if we lose that link to our identity? This is the gritty subject tackled by this extremely talented cast with some very strong individual performers. We are subjected to the psycho-babble of employment speak that is heard regularly in this time of economical crisis. Phrases that have become common place such as ‘economical necessity’ and ‘due to financial restraints’ are challenged by a workforce disgruntled by prospects of their own disposability. This performance is a mix of contemporary theatre and dance, a brave concept for such a serious subject matter. Impressive. Gritty, truth. High quality acting" - Fringe Secrets, North Devon Fringe Theatrefest.
Val Wilson - Exeter Arts Council
"Very emotional and real - great performances - loved the movement"
Phil Roberts - St Loyes Foundation (sponsoring partnership organisation)
"Really powerful and could relate to many parts which pulled on my emotions - Well done everyone - excellent!"
Jane Edwards – St Loyes Foundation (sponsoring partnership organisation)
"Brilliant - great way to getting the messages over. Well done"
Interview participant
"... Very good and true. I hope someone can take this further and effect change"
"Felt at one point you had used my life story. People need to hear this sort of stuff so they know they're not alone. Great ending"
"Brilliant. Incredibly moving. Spoke to my very soul!"
"Tremendous. Well paced, sharply observed, believable characterisation. It struck many chords with me ...."
"Strong performances all round. Amazing movement. Drew me in completely"
" .... the combination of word and movement held the head and heart in an almost unbearable tension"
"Excellent. Good use of dancers. Fast pace and plenty of variety. Also very relevant content to today's struggles in the work place"
"Very thought provoking and 'real'"
"... Very energetic. Excellent acting. Shocking in parts - great"
"I thoroughly enjoyed the show from start to finish. It think it is fantastic that, finally, subjects are being addressed which are normally taboo. Brilliant production with excellent acting".
"Hard hitting and very relevant. I could relate to most of the issues"
"Would just like to say well bloody done to all involved ...."
Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple and New Theatre, Exeter June 2012
REVIEWS and FEEDBACK
"In Severance, Spinks employs monologues and dramatic episodes to reveal individuals’ experiences of the cuts, while dancers (Durant and Amos, from TrashDollys, used to great effect) embody the subtext, their moves conveying the contortions required of our value systems in order to negotiate such a landscape. One of the strongest sections sees Frank (Gordon Frow) contemplating how capitalism’s promotion of competitiveness between colleagues results in ruthless behaviour. The bleakest section, the last, sees Dean (Fin Irwin) visit his floundering younger self (Amos) to encourage him to pull himself out of poverty and despair, to get work, any work, because it’s the act of ‘being paid’ that is key to self-esteem, so asserting the awful truth that market forces require the most vulnerable to be the most resourceful in order to survive. With potent themes and inventive staging, it’s a sad, funny (honestly!) and thought-provoking piece for our times" - Belinda Dillon - Exeunt Magazine 11th July 2012.
"Are we defined by the job we do? And what becomes of us if we lose that link to our identity? This is the gritty subject tackled by this extremely talented cast with some very strong individual performers. We are subjected to the psycho-babble of employment speak that is heard regularly in this time of economical crisis. Phrases that have become common place such as ‘economical necessity’ and ‘due to financial restraints’ are challenged by a workforce disgruntled by prospects of their own disposability. This performance is a mix of contemporary theatre and dance, a brave concept for such a serious subject matter. Impressive. Gritty, truth. High quality acting" - Fringe Secrets, North Devon Fringe Theatrefest.
Val Wilson - Exeter Arts Council
"Very emotional and real - great performances - loved the movement"
Phil Roberts - St Loyes Foundation (sponsoring partnership organisation)
"Really powerful and could relate to many parts which pulled on my emotions - Well done everyone - excellent!"
Jane Edwards – St Loyes Foundation (sponsoring partnership organisation)
"Brilliant - great way to getting the messages over. Well done"
Interview participant
"... Very good and true. I hope someone can take this further and effect change"
"Felt at one point you had used my life story. People need to hear this sort of stuff so they know they're not alone. Great ending"
"Brilliant. Incredibly moving. Spoke to my very soul!"
"Tremendous. Well paced, sharply observed, believable characterisation. It struck many chords with me ...."
"Strong performances all round. Amazing movement. Drew me in completely"
" .... the combination of word and movement held the head and heart in an almost unbearable tension"
"Excellent. Good use of dancers. Fast pace and plenty of variety. Also very relevant content to today's struggles in the work place"
"Very thought provoking and 'real'"
"... Very energetic. Excellent acting. Shocking in parts - great"
"I thoroughly enjoyed the show from start to finish. It think it is fantastic that, finally, subjects are being addressed which are normally taboo. Brilliant production with excellent acting".
"Hard hitting and very relevant. I could relate to most of the issues"
"Would just like to say well bloody done to all involved ...."
