Cat Gerrard
The Fantasist
Fundraising for Theatre Temoin
Story
Latest news - The Fantasist has been on for a week at The Blue Elephant Theatre and has had some great reviews and a nomination for an Off West End award!
“Astonishingly powerful...If you ever needed proof that puppet shows are a genre that deserve to be taken seriously by adult audiences, then come and view this production.”
~ Josey De Rossi , Fringe Review ★★★★★
“By turns disturbing, farcical, threatening and amusing…an expertly composed and entertaining representation of the turmoil associated with mental illness, sketched out in bold, physical strokes that take us on a journey into the mind of the eponymous Fantasist.”
~ Alyn Griffiths, Scene
“This is a highly professional production…obligatory viewing for anyone involved in writing and producing plays so that they might better understand their craft. Don’t miss it.”
~ Fabian Acker, London Festival Fringe
~ Josey De Rossi , Fringe Review ★★★★★
“By turns disturbing, farcical, threatening and amusing…an expertly composed and entertaining representation of the turmoil associated with mental illness, sketched out in bold, physical strokes that take us on a journey into the mind of the eponymous Fantasist.”
~ Alyn Griffiths, Scene
“This is a highly professional production…obligatory viewing for anyone involved in writing and producing plays so that they might better understand their craft. Don’t miss it.”
~ Fabian Acker, London Festival Fringe
But we still need your help!
International ensemble Theatre Témoin (with French Cie. Traversière) is dedicated to creating and performing new, exciting and socially engaging work - from Borderline, a farcical take on the French immigration system, to Ni Ibya Buri Wese, performed in Rwanda in commemoration of the genocide.
Our latest project tackles the taboo of mental health head on. Using an evocative blend of physical theatre, puppetry and original music, The Fantasist tells the story of a woman's internal struggle against the swirl of extreme moods in a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of bipolar disorder.
Despite numerous campaigns by organisations at all levels, those with mental health issues still experience considerable stigma and discrimination. Considering that 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems every year and 1.5 million people are regular carers, the mental health taboo needs to be challenged.
We are using puppetry because puppets can do what actors cannot. They can communicate things that actors cannot. Puppets can simultaneously bring dark truths and incredible beauty but, most importantly, they create an incredible connection and complicity with the audience. They alone can tell our story with both power and playfulness.
This project has grown from our dedication to both mental health awareness and puppetry, as well as the personal experience of being a carer. Previously titled Barbe Bleue, it was very well received at the Blue Elephant Theatre in June 2011 and on a subsequent mini-tour, also receiving a ThreeWeeks and The Argus top physical theatre pick at the Brighton Fringe. The next stage of the project is a 3 week run back at the BET in February/March 2012 and a tour of puppetry festivals. In March 2012 we are also beginning puppetry workshops with mental health service users who suffer from bipolar disorder and in April with the BET’s youth group, including vulnerable young adults and carers.
We have applied, unsuccessfully, to a number of grant-making organisations, including the Arts Council. In the current economic climate, cuts to Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) have created a huge hike in competition as these well-establised RFOs compete with charities such as Témoin for the open access programme Grants for the Arts. We are determined to go on with the project regardless, compromising where we can on costs (possible only since the cast is prepared to devise and perform without payment).
However, we need your help for this crucial next step. We need £2000 for essential puppet, set and costume rebuilding, for publicity printing and for payment for the crew. Your donation can help us papier-mache, stitch and sew, print and saw our way towards performance but, more than that, you can directly help us to challenge the taboo surrounding mental health and to bring new skills and ways of communication to children and service users.
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and thankyou for your donation.
More information is available here:
http://www.theatretemoin.com/barbe.html
www.facebook.com/groups/315243150282/?ref=ts
twitter.com/theatre_temoin
Our latest project tackles the taboo of mental health head on. Using an evocative blend of physical theatre, puppetry and original music, The Fantasist tells the story of a woman's internal struggle against the swirl of extreme moods in a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of bipolar disorder.
Despite numerous campaigns by organisations at all levels, those with mental health issues still experience considerable stigma and discrimination. Considering that 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems every year and 1.5 million people are regular carers, the mental health taboo needs to be challenged.
We are using puppetry because puppets can do what actors cannot. They can communicate things that actors cannot. Puppets can simultaneously bring dark truths and incredible beauty but, most importantly, they create an incredible connection and complicity with the audience. They alone can tell our story with both power and playfulness.
This project has grown from our dedication to both mental health awareness and puppetry, as well as the personal experience of being a carer. Previously titled Barbe Bleue, it was very well received at the Blue Elephant Theatre in June 2011 and on a subsequent mini-tour, also receiving a ThreeWeeks and The Argus top physical theatre pick at the Brighton Fringe. The next stage of the project is a 3 week run back at the BET in February/March 2012 and a tour of puppetry festivals. In March 2012 we are also beginning puppetry workshops with mental health service users who suffer from bipolar disorder and in April with the BET’s youth group, including vulnerable young adults and carers.
We have applied, unsuccessfully, to a number of grant-making organisations, including the Arts Council. In the current economic climate, cuts to Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) have created a huge hike in competition as these well-establised RFOs compete with charities such as Témoin for the open access programme Grants for the Arts. We are determined to go on with the project regardless, compromising where we can on costs (possible only since the cast is prepared to devise and perform without payment).
However, we need your help for this crucial next step. We need £2000 for essential puppet, set and costume rebuilding, for publicity printing and for payment for the crew. Your donation can help us papier-mache, stitch and sew, print and saw our way towards performance but, more than that, you can directly help us to challenge the taboo surrounding mental health and to bring new skills and ways of communication to children and service users.
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and thankyou for your donation.
More information is available here:
http://www.theatretemoin.com/barbe.html
www.facebook.com/groups/315243150282/?ref=ts
twitter.com/theatre_temoin