Water Islands
Water Islands—artists
- Maren Stott (eurythmy, concept, costumes)
- Geoffrey Norris (speech artist, director)
- Alan Stott (piano, coach)
- Sarah Kane (drama advisor)
- John Watson (lighting design)
Concept
The concept for this solo programme began with the search for the source of inspiration in the WORD itself: the search for gesture, music and tone-colour in poetry. What motivates the poet and the composer? What is their creative path, faced with the life-situations at the beginning of the last century till today?
The Programme
The programme itself is arranged as a conversation between speech, music and eurythmy. A waking-dream landscape appears as we progress through tensions and resolutions, through humour and the deeply-serious, which are hardly separable.
Water Islands
We are led out of the depths of the sea on to the dry land – from the question of insecurity to that of the artist (for us all?) – What is reality? Do not beauty, ambiguity and humour, just as interest, compassion and environmental questions belong to our full human existence, faced with everything that would threaten to deny, fix or destroy?
The English language
The English language with its non-inflected freedoms, its openness to what lives unspoken between the words themselves, offers particular possibilities to express this playful element in life. The innovative music of Debussy provides an ideal commentary.
The Art of Eurythmy
The art of eurythmy – a language of gesture and movement – attempts to extend experience. By researching in movement the nuts and bolts of poetry and music, eurythmy can bring before, and with, your eyes what your ears deeply perceive.
The Programme
The programme lasting c. 1 hour, is comprised of works by E. Dickinson, S. Plath, J. Tressider. D. Whyte, C. Sandburg, T.S. Eliot, K. Raine, R. Brook, E. Morgan, P.Neruda, G.M. Hopkins and Shakespeare, with music by Debussy.
“Let us hope that this kind of fluid and highly imaginative concept – banishing the endless “ons-and-offs” with long pauses – will gain more and more friends. The creating of an organically evolving tapestry of sound, colour and movement must surely have a secure future” (from the review by Christopher Cooper of the premiere, Dornach, 4th August).
‘Water Islands’ performances:
Up-coming performances:
14 Oct. 2011: R. Steiner School, Kings Langley, Herts. upper school performance.
14 Oct. 2011: Delrow Camphill Community, 7.30 pm, public performance (Roxanne Leonard: 01923-851703)
Previous performances:
Première: Wed. 4 August, 2010, 8.00 pm. Goetheanum, CH-Dornach
UK première: Sat. 28 August, 2010, 3.45 pm. Rudolf Steiner House, Park Road, London NW1 6XT
Tour from September 2010 – continuing 2011/12
Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT (nr. Baker St. tube station), 28 August 2010, 4.00 pm;
Peredur Centre for the Arts, East Grinstead, Sussex, RH19 4NF,
9 October 2010, 8.00 pm;
Alanus Hochschule, D-Alfter/Bonn, 2 October, 12.00, shortened version as part of a movement festival ‘Eurythmie und Performance 2010’;
Lehr Theatre, Glasshouse College, Stourbridge, W. Midlands, Friday 22 October 2010, shortened version for the Glasshouse students;
Lehr Theatre, Glasshouse College, Stourbridge, W. Midlands, DY8 4HF, Saturday 23 October, 7.30 pm, full programme for the public.
Rudolf Steiner School, S.Devon, Hood Manor, Dartington TQ9 6AB. March 18, 2011, 7.30 pm, full programme.
Cotswold Playhouse, Stroud, 23 April,2011, 7.30, full programme.
You can see snippets from the dress rehearsal for the premiere of ‘Water Islands’, in Dornach, on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKLahI2f0aY
For more information, contact: Maren or Alan Stott <eurythmywm@gmail.com>
Review: “Water Islands”
at the Steiner School, South Devon
West Midlands Eurythmy performed their last programme in the parent-built eurythmy house, since destroyed by fire. Now the eurythmy room is to be found in a brand new block. Here we were able to construct a stage with our prop of a “sail-cum-rock-cum-waterfall” behind which the eurythmist changes. The lighting, though simple, was sufficient to enhance the programme, warmly received by both the children and the adult audience—A.S.
March 18th was an eagerly awaited date in the Devon School’s calendar with a trio of visitors (Maren Stott, Geoffrey Norris and Alan Stott) performing their programme “Water Islands”. Classes 7-10 were able to experience a shortened version in the afternoon, skilfully introduced by all three performers who put the pieces in a good context and tuned the audience well.
The mixture of atmospheric pieces with splashes of humour proved infectious. “The Song of the Loch Ness Monster” by Edwin Morgan was a big hit, evoking much merriment. It was also very valuable to spend a quarter of an hour at the end of the show listening to the questions put by the young audience. These were very perceptive, going to the heart of the music, the eurythmical movements and the poems. The trio’s answers seemed deeply satisfying for the students.
The evening presentation attracted a good sized & very appreciative audience. There was much wonderment at the way the programme unfolded so seamlessly & movingly, with none of the customary breaks between pieces. It was a truly deep artistic experience that will not be quickly forgotten. It is rare to experience three such fine artists at the height of their powers.
Christopher Cooper
(Main organiser & cultural mandate holder)
Eurythmy West Midlands
For further information on performances please contact:
The Secretary, 10 Kohima Drive, Stourbridge, DY8 3SA, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1384-442 563