Homage to SLAP-ping By Maggie Elliot
SLAPsolo happened, and it was epic in its elegance, aesthetics and contents.
It was a new experience, a variety show of experimental theatre comedy and dance work. All separate even though all together simultaneously. It was fairy lights and wine. It was edgy and comfortable. It was a fest for low budget artistic philosophies, celebrating solo performers and their solo performances.
Each piece was different and unique in its nature & outcome, becoming one ensemble of solo pieces on the night as they were all existing there and then, using not much more than a body, a (beautiful) space and a bit of time that a ‘caring hip familiar participating friendly funky relaxed interested’ audience agreed to dedicate to the night.
SLAP makes events that WORK and I can really say that, having been part of one.
It’s also work that is worth watching , it was RIGHT, as it felt to me it was answering to the question: how to make something big and of great artistic value out of a small scale production?
Watching other performances made me feel like I had time to digest information in between each act; being audience made me feel exposed as I was able to interact with the performative action, but still breathing a very homely atmosphere.
On the 12th of November 2014, performing SOLO became a shared experience; I was alone without feeling lonely.
Thank You SLAP-pers.
Images © Elliott Hardey
