COVID CONSEQUENCES
July 2022 - An Update
After a 2 year pause we are back
-much to do and much to explain-
but first...
...watch the “Mimika in 2 Minutes” video
It's all about Mimika - and it lasts 2 minutes.
2022 and 2 big things to do:-
1. Deliver and develop the ARCTIC EXPERIMENT
2. Reinvent the Tent as a Covid safe space
1. Deliver and develop the ARCTIC EXPERIMENT
2. Reinvent the Tent as a Covid safe space
1. ARCTIC - AN EXPERIMENT
Two weeks before the first public performances of "The Arctic" were due to take place, Covid 19 struck.
Performances in our tent were no longer viable, we locked down and we waited
We knew "normal" wasn't coming back soon so be began to explore the idea of making the work an online experience for schools.
Test of the site is underway right now and the Beta version is being hosted at :-
We knew "normal" wasn't coming back soon so be began to explore the idea of making the work an online experience for schools.
Test of the site is underway right now and the Beta version is being hosted at :-
Currently full access is by invitation only as we are asking selected groups of teachers to preview and review the material we have posted and we will be altering, adjusting, tweaking and amending the site over the Summer.
We expect the site to be up and open to all Primary Schools in the U.K. by October.
2. THE TENT - A REINVENT
For 25 years our beautiful calico covered, dome shaped portable theatre housed our performances and took us around the country, the continent and the world.
The real star of every Mimika performance is the tent, it does more than let us present theatre - it allows us to create worlds.
Lovely stuff eh?
Well, on March 16th 2020 at Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax
(our favourite venue in the UK)
we did our last performance in the tent as Covid struck.
The small, intimate, snug, enclosed special space was no longer safe.
Most of the strengths became weaknesses in the face of an aerosol transmitted infection.
As our minds mulled over the future of the ARTIC show we also considered what we could do with the tent.
Long story short we came up with an idea - the "semi open tent."
Plans were drawn, models made and in June we undertook 20 performances to 20 full classes at Heyhouses Primary School Lytham St Annes.
Result:-
Performers - Covid free
Audiences - no spikes reported
Result:-
Performers - Covid free
Audiences - no spikes reported
We have other tests to make, public audiences are quite different and more varied so we need to develop more flexible variations.
If all goes well we should be able to start taking bookings from October onward. Check back for updates.
THE COST
There is of course a price to be paid for opening up the tent: we can only present the work in spaces that have full and effective blackout!
We realise this is not possible for many schools and for some non theatre venues but until the Covid situation changes we can not see the fully enclosed tent tent returning in the near future.
Schools - thinking caps on "could we create a blackout space?"
And there is...
ONE MORE THING.
As a self employed couple making stuff up and taking it around the world for over 40 years we have not followed a clear or established formal career structure.
Our informal working status has therefore been: make as much stuff up as we can and let as many people see it as possible.
Following the Covid induced 2 year hiatus and because of an ongoing mobility issue
(yes - just like the Queen)
we are altering our unofficial working status.
We explained our situation to a friend: the online Arctic, the open tent, the mobility issue, and he said:-
You will be sort of "semi-retired."
We thought about it - and agreed.
So what does it mean?
Well it means we carry on as before but making stuff up will take a bit longer than it used to do and we will be presenting it to fewer audiences.
How much, how many?
Let's wait and see.
Jenny & Bill