Throwing it back to Rules For Safe Lifting with @johnwilliamwatson - here’s an initial collage of references I put together to inform the design.
‘LET’S RUN THROUGH IT ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE’
#theatredesign #costumedesign #setdesign #dance #dancetheatre #theatre #contemporarydance
Design for ‘Rules For Safe Lifting’ by @johnwilliamwatson
Come and see the work alongside ‘Why This Chair Does Not Exist’ in John-William’s new solo double bill, ‘A Treachery of Images’ at @sevenartsleeds on 26th of April. Link for tickets in my bio.
#theatredesign #costumedesign #setdesign #dance #dancetheatre #theatre #contemporarydance
BTS of THEY LOOK LIKE PEOPLE by @johnwilliamwatson with Sadler’s Wells Company of Elders
#costumedesigner #costumedesign #setdesign #contempoarydance #dancetheatre
They Look Like People BTS
Five months late but here’s a little look behind the scenes of the premier of They Look Like People at Sadler’s Wells last October!
This was one of the most memorable, beautiful and joy filled processes to date. The love I have for this gorgeous cast is hard to put into words but if I had to it would be…
Silk Scarf
Sugar Bowl
Tall, Majestic, Cool and Calm
If you know you know!
Anyways, They Look Like People has been programmed for Elixir Festival at Sadler’s Wells East in April. So if you didn’t make sure it last year, make sure you catch it this spring!
With the wonderful NOT TO BE REPRODUCED team:
Set and Costume Designer: Joshua Cartmell - MELSH Studio
Composer and Sound Artist: Adam Vincent Clarke
Lighting Designer: Amelia Hawkes
Voice Actor: Beth Emmerson
And the incredible:
Rehearsal Director: Simona Scotto
Violin: Edgar Gomes
Vocalists: Barbershop John and Valentina Jazz
Projects Manager: Katie Vernon-Smith
Senior Projects Officer: Brittany Roberts
Producer: Christopher Haddow
Special thanks: Mind the Gap
Tickets in my bio!
That’s all for now folks!
JWW x
#johnwilliamwatson #nottobereproduced #dancetheatre #communitydance #sadlerswells
They Look Like People
The most incredible project with the most incredible cast imaginable, grateful doesn’t quite cut it. More to come soon on these beautiful folks and the beautiful time we had together. Until then enjoy one of my favourite images from the show!
“Our bodies may be containers, but they will carry specific histories. And those histories are still meaningful.” - Chana Porter / The Seep
Writer, Director, Choreographer: John-William Watson
Performers and Co-Creators: Bernadette Durso, Keiko Onishi, Rachel Thompson, Sara Harris, Roberto Ishii, Kate Marshall, Stephen Rowe, Terri Erdem, Dahlia Douglas, Isidora Joseph, Monica Duck, Catriona Maccoll, Jennifer James, Judy Lipsey, Amina Patel, Hisami Okamoto, Fred Manson, Margaret Gaskin, Almeric Johnson
Set and Costume Designer: Joshua Cartmell - MELSH Studio
Composer and Sound Artist: Adam Vincent Clarke
Lighting Designer: Amelia Hawkes
Rehearsal Director: Simona Scotto
Voice Actor: Beth Emmerson
Violin: Edgar Gomes
Vocalists: Barbershop John and Valentina Jazz
Projects Manager: Katie Vernon-Smith
Senior Projects Officer: Brittany Roberts
Producer: Christopher Haddow
Projects Coordinator: Siân Gilling
Photography: Ellie Kurttz
They Look Like People
“Our bodies may be containers, but they will carry specific histories. And those histories are still meaningful.”
- Chana Porter / The Seep
Who are we, in the awkward moments in-between? Waiting for the kettle to boil, the rain to stop, the bus to arrive; the beautiful but seemingly unremarkable moments.
In Watson’s latest surreal dance play, we are invited to observe a group of strangers inside a doctor’s waiting room; as their comfort in their anonymity is slowly upended by a person who is uncannily not like the others.
An absurdly whimsical exploration of identity, They Look Like People is co-choreographed, co-written by and made in collaboration with Sadler’s Wells Company of Elders.
Company of Elders Mixed Bill
Saturday 18th October 🗓️
Sadler’s Wells 📍
15:00 & 18:00 ⏰
-
Writer, Director, Choreographer: John-William Watson
Set and Costume Designer: Joshua Cartmell - MELSHstudio
Composer and Sound Artist: Adam Vincent Clarke
Lighting Designer: Amelia Hawkes
Voice Actor: Beth Emmerson
Violin: Edgar Gomes
Vocalists: Barbershop John and Valentina Jazz
Performers and Co-Creators:
Almeric Johnson, Amina Patel, Bernadette Durso, Catriona Maccoll, Dahlia Douglas, Fred Manson, Hisami Okamoto, Isidora Joseph, Jennifer James, Judy Lipsey, Kate Marshall, Keiko Onishi, Margaret Gaskin, Monica Duck, Rachel Thompson, Roberto Ishii, Sara Harris
& Stephen Rowe
Graphic Design: Joshua Cartmell - MELSHstudio
Projects Producer: Katie Vernon-Smith
Senior Projects Officer L&E: Brittany Roberts
Producer L&E: Christopher Haddow
Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells
Thats all for now folks!
JWW x
#nottobereproduced #ntbr #choreographer #dancetheatre #dance #surrealism #theatre #johnwilliamwatson #contemporarydance #northernartist #sadlerswells #companyofelders
THEY LOOK LIKE PEOPLE
Right at the start of this project, John-William and I talked about themes of identity, loss, life and the human experience. These themes coupled with specific tableaus and the parameters of the show inspired my mood boards, centring around eclectic styling and mixed era clothing to reflect the diversity of the company whilst creating a strange and surreal image; unmoored from time.
After sharing these mood boards with the Company of Elders, they brought in clothing from their wardrobes, with their own stories that resembled elements of the boards. This collaboration unintentionally worked parallel to JWW’s collaboration with the company in regard to text and movement. I then sketched on top of our fitting photos to create a more stylised, eclectic feel and to complete the vision. We then sourced additional accessories and clothing from local vintage and charity shops keeping things nice and green where possible.
More to come soon!
Costume shopping for THEY LOOK LIKE PEOPLE by @johnwilliamwatson with Sadler’s Wells Company of Elders.
These costumes have been created in collaboration with Company of Elders, using their own clothing with their own stories. After our first fittings JW and I popped into Leeds to shop around independent vintage and charity shops to find pieces to finish off the costumes and to align with my designs. More to come soon!
#costumedesign #costume #contemporary #contemporarydance #dancetheatre #theatredesign
