Moving Roots was a collective of arts organisations including Battersea Arts Centre (London), Restoke (Stoke-on-Trent), Wigan Old Courts (Wigan), Jumped Up Theatre (Peterborough) and Common Wealth (Cardiff).
The aim was to collaborate with local people and artists to explore new ways to co-create live performances and create as many diverse opportunities as possible. The project is centred around three performances and the social change that these performances might invoke. The network drew to a close in May 2023 but you can find info, film and photos from the two shows we hosted as part of moving roots - What Do You See? (The PappyShow) and Epic Fail (Kid Carpet).
What Do You See?
For the final Moving Roots project we worked with The PappyShow who recreated their show ‘What Do You See?’ with four local performers alongside the existing company.
What Do You See? is a performance weaving words, song & movement that asks us all to consider the question - when you look at someone, What Do You See?
This version of the show was performed on the 9th & 10th December 2022 in the Ballroom, Fenton Town Hall.
Read Moving Roots local writer Alliyah Dawud’s response to the show HERE
What Do You See? Stoke-on-Trent. By the PappyShow, hosted by Restoke as part of Moving Roots. Film by Anderson West.
Epic Fail
Epic Fail was the second co-created production to tour with Moving Roots.
What if failure was a virtue, to be cherished like success is?
If it was, would we all feel better?
Created and performed by Ed Patrick, AKA Kid Carpet, with year 5 pupils from Our Lady’s Catholic Academy, throughout a 2-week residency exploring engineering, clowning, failure, wellbeing and fizzy milk!!
Epic Fail was performed in July 2022 in the Ballroom, Fenton Town Hall.
You can read Moving Roots Writer (Stoke-on-Trent) Alliyah Dawud’s writing in response to Epic Fail, HERE
Power Up Fenton!
Artist Blythe Taylor led a project in response to Epic Fail for children and families in Fenton during summer and Autumn 2022.
“Inspired by the Chindogu workshops during the first Epic Fail residency, I would like to invite both children and adults to re-imagine a new way of producing Fenton towns power. Through a series of creative workshops, we will re-imagine how our homes are powered. Creating a large-scale blueprint of our inventions in which others will be invited to develop, change or scrap!”
In the midst of a cost of living crisis in which we’re all paying more than ever to fuel our homes through gas and coal, Blythe will explore the subject of alternative energies, what alternatives are there and how will Fenton town be powered in near future - most importantly who is designing this technology?
About Blythe
Blythe is a freelance artist based in Stoke-on-Trent. She has worked with film, ceramics and printmaking to explore political activism and themes of revolt. She has a particular interest in the climate crisis and how we begin to build collective alternatives to ‘business as usual’. She is inspired by the historical social unrest in the British countryside and its relevance to today’s struggles.
EPIC FAIL PHOTOS
Jenny Harper
Film by: Anderson West
Creative facilitator: Blythe Taylor
Dramaturg: Vic Llewellyn
Costume & props: Natalie Otto
Stage Manager: Tracey Booth
Lighting & Sound: Barry Smith
