THE INFAMOUS BROTHERS DAVENPORT

It is 1862 and the gaslights are flickering... Welcome to an evening of magic and illusion with the infamous brothers, Willy and Ira Davenport.

Inspired by the true story of the Davenport Brothers, this amazing play promises to be a true theatrical treat.

Join us to witness the wonder and mystery of the Davenports' dramatic demonstrations. In their presence, furniture dances, bodies levitate and the voices of the dead resonate through the theatre.

Discover the dark undercurrent to their Victorian world as the showmanship and drama of the brothers' onstage presence contrasts with their cruel and curious childhood.

Story by Candice Edmunds, Jamie Harrison and Peter Arnott


Script by Peter Arnott


Directed by Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison


Featuring original composition by Phamie Gow

Cast: Ryan Fletcher, Scott Fletcher, Gavin Mitchell, Anita Vettesse, Kirsty Stuart

The Infamous Brothers Davenport is a co-production with the the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.

Tour:

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh 19th January - 11th February

Citizens Theatre, Glasgow 14th - 18th February

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness 22nd - 25th February

Please note that this show is recommended for ages 14+ due to strong language and adult content.

Fringe Festival Frenzy

picture copyright Brian Hartley

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now approaching it’s second weekend and although Vox Motus doesn’t have a production this year we couldn’t entirely keep away from the madness so here are our recommendations of shows that we have been involved with and shows we have just seen so far and loved..

A Conversation with Carmel (St George’s West 2.15pm)

Co-directed by Candice, designed by Jamie and produced by Susannah this show definitely has a Vox Motus influence on it. It is an honest interrogation of family relationships and a beautiful celebration of the older person’s experience and place in society told through dance, theatre and film. A Guardian dance pick of the Fringe and only on for 9 performances don’t miss it!

The Wheel (Traverse various times)

Zinnie Harris’s ambitious new play is a journey through the landscape of war and a symbolic comment on the corruption of childhood innocence. Featuring some powerful performances and illusion design by Vox Motus’s Jamie Harrison, the production has just been awarded a Fringe First.

Untitled Love Story (St George’s West 6pm)

Fire Exit’s new production is a lyrical and intelligent meditation on love told through four different monologues. It features beautiful sound and lighting design by Graham Sutherland, who has done many a brilliant sound design for Vox Motus.

Federer vs Murray (Assembly 12.30pm)

Originally produced by A Play, A Pie and A Pint, this tragi-comedy by Gerda Stevenson is another play that tackles the subject of war through personal relationships and an enduring love of tennis... It features the lighting design of Simon Wilkinson who is a core creative associate of Vox Motus and a brilliant lighting designer.

Other shows we have enjoyed….

We have barely scratched the surface of what is on offer yet this year so there may well be a second blog post before the end of the festival but here’s what we have loved so far…

Dance Marathon (Traverse 7.15pm)

A four hour dance competition may not sound like fun but trust me it is. Inspired by the Dance Marathons of Depression era America it is joyous, immersive and life affirming. Go and dance your socks off.

Tonight Sandy Grierson will Lecture, Dance and Box (Assembly various times)

Another show that originated at A Play, A Pie and A Pint. This is part lecture, part theatre and part stand up comedy. Find out about the extraordinary life of Arthur Craven – poet, thief, boxer and great grandfather among many other things. Featuring a mesmerizing performance by Sandy Grierson, you’ll come out scratching your head about how much of what you have been told is true.

I Hope My Heart Goes First (St George’s West, 2pm)

An exploration of love by teenagers on the brink of discovering all of its joys and woes. This is at times energetic, angry, funny, poignant and touching. Created and performed by Junction 25 - a performance collective aged 13 – 20. This autobiographical piece is original and accomplished.

The Rooftops of Budapest

Vox Motus heads to Budapest this month for a residency to explore a future production: Rooftops. Following our presentation of future Vox Motus projects at the Glasgow IETM Plenary we were invited to SĺN Cultural Centre to be inspired by the beautiful rooftops of the city.

This is the very beginning of a project about transcending city life: stories of hidden and unreachable ideas and landscapes. We would like to develop the project with partners in cities around the world.

We are interested in exploring different cityscapes, finding unique vantage-points, reading short stories and seeking out other artists who find beauty in hidden places.

Original inspiration came from one of our favourite Glasgow vantage points: the 6^th floor of The Lighthouse on Mitchell Lane. Well worth a visit to stand and look across the Victorian rooftops of the city.

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Vox Motus does Victorian Séance!

After two and a half months on the road The Not-So-Fatal Death of Grandpa Fredo packs up its shed and takes a rest. But as there’s no rest for the wicked Jamie and Candice are straight into developing the next VM show.

We’re exploring Victorian séance parlours – especially the rise and fall of the (in)famous Davenport Brothers who travelled the world performing magical feats by contacting ‘the spirit world’. Jamie’s in his element researching spectacular Victorian illusions. He also gets to gloat a lot as Candice tries to figure out how they’re done.

One of our favourite finds so far has been Derren Brown: Séance. Put aside an hour, dim the lights and prepare for the hairs on the back of your neck to stand upright. That said, we watched it in broad daylight and it still had the desired effect!

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derren-brown-the-specials/episode-guide/series-40/episode-1

We’re aiming to stage a Work-in-Progress in January/February 2011 so watch this space…

Glasgow Fabulous

When touring a show it is always nice to return to home turf and the Grandpa Fredo bandwagon has not one but two Glasgow venues on the horizon.

Firstly this evening if you can brave the pope traffic, we will be appearing at Eastwood Park Theatre in Giffnock (www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk) where we will also be musing on the nature of faith in today's society but with polar bear costumes instead of papal robes and with altogether more humour, creativity and (in my humble opinion) better songs. After the performance tonight you also get the the chance to participate in a post-show discussion with writers, directors and designers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.

Next week from Tuesday 21st until Saturday 25th September we will be returning to our wee home from home the Tron Theatre (www.tron.co.uk.) There is always an amazing atmosphere at the Tron and as we are there for 5 nights we really want to get as many friendly Glasgow faces along as possible. Just in case you need further enticement here is what some other people have said:

"multi-talented cast" **** The Scotsman

"magnificently inventive" **** The Herald

"slickly acted and wickedly funny" *** The Guardian.

"Ingenious" **** The List.

"Again and again it astonishes and entertains with its technical ability... a beautifully unnusual piece of comic theatre." The Sunday Herald

Looking forward to seeing you soon...

image credit: Eamonn McGoldrick

Watch this Space!

Vox Motus have an exciting new production opening this summer

THE NOT SO FATAL DEATH OF GRANDPA FREDO

“I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.” Woody Allen

A frozen body found in a woodshed wreaks havoc in the local community, forcing them to confront questions of science, faith and immortality. Inspired by an incredible true story, Fringe First 2008 winners Vox Motus present a pitch dark comedy featuring a host of eccentric characters, original live music and stunning design.

“ faultless, fast-paced, brilliant sense of style...a cutting-edge comic-strip show for theatre” The Scotsman on festival sell-out success Slick.

“A technical and emotional triumph.” The Stage on Bright Black


http://www.voxmotus.co.uk/

[image credit - Gary Birnie http://www.garybirnie.co.uk/]

Full production details coming soon!

Heading East...

While the Bright Black cast and crew have a well deserved week's holiday Jamie, Candice and Susannah are heading off to Lithuania (Europe's "best kept secret" according to Lonely planet..)

Along with several other scottish companies such as Vanishing Point, Plan B, the Traverse Theatre and Grid Iron, we will be participating in the IETM theatre and dance networking event in Vilnius, discovering what Lithuanian theatre and dance has to offer (Chekov seems to be particularly popular) and no doubt sampling some local hospitality. News and pictures from our trip to follow when we return to these shores.

(image Peter Adams/ Getty images)

Bright Black trailer

Who are we? The Bright Black Team CANDICE

While Artistic Directors Candice and Jamie are often seen as one theatre-making unit i.e. candiceandjamie or jamieandcandice (depending on who you speak to), they really are individuals in their own right…

Candice Edmunds

Hails from
Tamborine Mountain in Queensland, Australia

Credentials
Artistic Director, Vox MotusTrained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, GlasgowSince 2002 has worked as an actor for companies including Theatre Cryptic, The Arches, Traverse Theatre, Glasgow Repertory Company and Cumbernauld TheatreFormer member of the Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre Group

Brings to the table
A love of the creative process – seeing a concept through from the seed of an idea to a fully-realised productionA warm-up regime akin to those only found in totalitarian dictatorships

Is brilliant at
Linking things together – scenes, words, ideas, logistics

In another life she is
Living in sunny Australia, the undisputed star of the Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre Group and wondering what might have happened had she accepted that offer to study in Glasgow.

Mantra
Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Who are we? The Bright Black Team JAMIE

While Artistic Directors Candice and Jamie are often seen as one theatre-making unit i.e. candiceandjamie or jamieandcandice (depending on who you speak to), they really are individuals in their own right…

Jamie Harrison

Hails from
Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Credentials
Artistic Director, Vox MotusTrained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow. Has acted for Film & Theatre in UK. Has performed as a Magician in 22 cities around Europe, America and Asia.1991 Karate Champion (Newcastle Under 13’s)

Brings to the table
A passion for creating theatre that is theatrical.The ability to have the most ridiculous idea at the most inappropriate moment.

Is brilliant at
Big Ideas. Persuading people to do things. Shuffling playing cards.

In another life I am
An eccentric Las Vegas magician who wears frilly suits, vanishes white elephants from flaming boxes and has doves stuffed in secret pockets around his personage.

Mantra
Keep your eye on the prize.

Opening Night Approaching!

Vox Motus’ Edinburgh Fringe debut is finally here and our first week is pretty much SOLD OUT!

We unloaded the van at the Traverse yesterday, rigged our lights, set our marks and now we’re ready for an audience. Even though it was a day off for all performances at the Traverse yesterday the bar was still jumping by the time we emerged from our subterranean fit-up. What a great Festival hub!

Things I am most looking forward to:
A much earned drink after Press Night
Meeting up with friends who have travelled from as far a field as Australia to make it to the Fringe
Finally seeing some shows that don’t involve obese puppets
Donning a frock and making the most of the Festival parties

Things I am not looking forward to:
The last train back to Glasgow
Queuing for returns when shows I am desperate to see have sold out
Navigating wet Edinburgh streets in high heels after donning a frock and making the most of the Festival parties

Candice