“And so I go to the woods. As I go in under the trees, dependably, almost at once, and by nothing I do, things fall into place. I enter an order that does not exist outside, in the human spaces….I am less important than I thought. I rejoice in that.”
Wendell Berry: Essays 1969-1990 ‘A Native Hill’ from ‘The Long-Legged House’, 1969
Edvard Munch – The Fairy Forest
Titania appreciates humans who understand the special nature of woods, and the Fairy Queen sometimes even appears to these mortals.
She can assume various guises – here she channels the spirit of Edvard Munch (famous for ‘The Scream’ painting)…
How long before you see her in Munch’s Fairy Forest?
If you would like to see Titania in person, visit the Edinburgh Fairy Embassy at Paradise Green, where she, Oberon and Puck will be welcoming visitors.
One might say Venus was ambitious in her love for Adonis – she actually wanted to come before his hunting! [Er, yes: pun intended – sorry!]
“Since thou art dead, lo, here I prophesy: Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend” Venus and Adonis, William Shakespeare – ‘Venus mourning Adonis’, Peter Paul Rubens Painting Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Still, Venus and Adonis is a sad tale (even if Shakespeare plays with it a bit) and one that apparently accounts for the heartache love can bring, with Venus – Goddess of Love – spreading her pain.
The anemone flower is said to have been created by Adonis’ blood, possibly mixed with Venus’ tears or the nectar of the Gods (depending on source).
I’d love to know what sort of situation / role you would associate with these different shots by the excellent David Ho of Headshots Scotland:
1 (side look)
2 (direct, smiling)
3 (laughing)
4 (smile with tilt to head)
5 (slight angle)
Considering the above as 1 (side look), 2 (direct, smiling), 3 (laughing), 4 (smile with tilt to head) and 5 (slight angle), what do you think? Which image expresses what for you?
This is the manifesto for Persistent & Nasty, “a script-reading, debate and art as activism initiative for women and gender minorities in the stage and screen industries.”
“Hope for the Future”
Having learnt much and really enjoyed myself at a Persistent and Nasty event at last year’s Fringe, I was absolutely delighted to be asked to take part in their “Hope for the Future” evening! This was recorded live at the CCA in Glasgow and is available now: you can watch it here.
The event involved two rehearsed readings of short scripts by Jerusha Green and Tamara von Werthern, followed by a Q&A with guest speaker Dawn Sievewright and the actors, including Elaine Stirrat and Misha McCullagh of Persistent and Nasty.
Run by Civil Disobedience, “Persistent and Nasty is a script-reading, debate and art as activism initiative for the female-identified voice in stage and screen...Our goal is to create a project that is safe and supportive, but that is also an act of protest. Persistent and Nasty is about changing the cultural narrative through the stories we tell.”
Discussions from the “Hope for the Future” event include what makes a strong female character, differences between generations and cultures in Scotland / UK when it comes to making progress on equality, and what we can do to create the changes we want to see. I found I actually had things to say myself, especially on awareness and what is non-conscious.
I’d love to hear your opinions! What do you feel / think of the plays and the discussion?
Martyn Jacques of The Tiger Lillies, with character Alice Schalek in the background (Three actors playing single role together) Photo: Chris Scott
Armistice Day of 2018 saw the world premiere of a major adaptation of Karl Kraus’ ‘unperformable’ play The Last Days of Mankind, featuring the Olivier-winning The Tiger Lillies. John Paul McGroarty and Yuri Birte Anderson directed this powerful satire about WWI, much of which was written in Viennese cafes at the time of the conflict.
At Leith Theatre, I joined casts from seven different countries which had been on different sides of the First World War. Now – 100 years later – artists from these allied and opposed lands united to work on creating an immense piece of theatre about the horrors of that war using Kraus’ words, dark humour and song.
Fine guests act out atrocities of war – I chose to be hanged! (Actors from various different countries collaborating on one scene) Photo: Douglas Robertson
This was truly epic theatre, as borne out by reviews (four and five stars) and reactions, some of which you can read here. People returned a number of times to see it, at least one audience member letting me know they had come up from England twice!
We all played a number of roles, but my main one was that of Alice Schalek, the only female war correspondent with the Austro-Hungarian War Press Office. There were three of us, always appearing together, who played this role – just one of the exciting approaches to the play which arose from the work of the different companies and styles brought together.
The three Schaleks (L to R: Danielle Farrow, Alina Tinnefeld, Sophia McLean) with just one of the incredible backdrop projections of visual designer Mark Holthusen Photo: Douglas Robertson
I also had lines at the very end of this production’s script, spoken by one simply known as ‘Mother’. While lines from a show normally leave my head once I’ve left the production, on this occasion those last words stayed with me – a haunting testimony to their strength and the honour I felt in saying them.
Never, through all the days that you disgrace, will you avert your eyes from this dead face!
And may, when you have ended your descent to hell, this image greet you there as well.
May the splinters of this little one’s skull penetrate your brain and soul!
Long may you live and may you be terrorised through all your nights by this mother’s cries!
The Last Days of Mankind by Karl Kraus, translated by Patrick Healy
A powerful anti-war play, indeed.
Mother has cursed Cast from seven different theatre companies gathered to end the play with a haunting song Photo: Douglas Robertson
A few responses to the production…
“spectacular… a series of stunning images to illustrate the text… a mighty theatrical feat” The Herald – Neil Cooper
“a thrilling sense of occasion and momentum… a biting, superbly-performed score… huge, brilliantly-blended visual images of the war” The Scotsman – Joyce McMillan
“a musical and artistic triumph… Hard hitting and impactful… several scenes brought a lump to the throat and the last 20 minutes of the play are worth the ticket price alone” Commonspace – Professor John Davis
“powerful anti-war play… stroke of genius… superb cast… highly relevant” Edinburgh Guide – Irene Brown
More reviews, images + responses here, including comments of: “astounding” “brilliant” “passionate” “amazing” “stunning” “incredible” “fantastic” “moving” “epic”
At Frank Gilhooley’s Masterclass in December 2018 – among great actors’ release work with fantastic people – Headshots Scotland visited, setting up quickly with just 10 minutes per participant.
Here’s one of the new shots, taken by the delightful David Ho, who works with fellow photographer Sandie Knudsen as Headshots Scotland. I took a while to post here – the shots themselves were sent very quickly: excellent service!
Maya Angelou has such wonderful and profound things to say to all of us, and you can find my Pinterest Maya Angelou board here, with lots of brilliant quotes.
I am currently listening to The Amazing Maya Angelou: A Song Flung up to Heaven, the final part of her autobiography as presented by BBC Four, which is what inspired me to find out what her own voice sounds like, leading me to the above video.
I hope this and other links likewise inspire you in your Maya Angelou journey!
What is your favourite quote – if you can choose one from so many greats – by this truly inspirational, visionary woman? Comment below…
I am always delighted to read at events and for podcasts for Noel and the other great folk at Shoreline of Infinity, and it is wonderful to see their hard work paying off so well, as reflected here by Eric Brown for The Guardian:
“Edinburgh-based Shoreline of Infinity won a 2018 British Fantasy Society award for best SF magazine, and in celebration Noel Chidwick has edited a selection of stories from the first 10 issues. Shoreline of Infinity: The Chosen from the First Age (Shoreline of Infinity, £4.95) collects a dozen tales taking in virtual reality, alien superheroes, robots and apocalyptic nightmares … as well as a Shaker side table time-machine, and much more.It’s a strong collection from an international lineup of authors, and standouts include…”
Danielle Farrow - Actress: Blog 