Catriona James's Posts - National Theatre Wales Community2024-03-29T04:59:56ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJameshttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2986193762?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profiles/blog/feed?user=0u3s0if9cbjjt&xn_auth=noAS A TIGER IN THE JUNGLE comes to The Riverfront in Newport. 2-3 MAY 2019tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2019-04-03:3152760:BlogPost:2838792019-04-03T10:55:19.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font size="3">I've spent a brain-melting and body-hardening week rehearsing a circus show called AS A TIGER IN THE JUNGLE in Ballet Cymru's beautiful space in Newport, and am now typing this in Sheffield, where we open the tour tomorrow.</font></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font size="3">I've been on the fringes of the circus community in Cardiff, and I do a lot of physical performance, but to find myself performing in a circus piece is…</font></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font size="3">I've spent a brain-melting and body-hardening week rehearsing a circus show called AS A TIGER IN THE JUNGLE in Ballet Cymru's beautiful space in Newport, and am now typing this in Sheffield, where we open the tour tomorrow.</font></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font size="3">I've been on the fringes of the circus community in Cardiff, and I do a lot of physical performance, but to find myself performing in a circus piece is certainly unexpected. And this show is special. It tells the story of trafficked children, sold into Indian circuses as slaves, and forced to perform for their keep. The story begins with a "once upon a time", but this isn't the distant past; my Nepalese cast members, for whom this is lived experience, are far younger than me.</font></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font size="3">Come see this show. I really mean it. It's a show that should be seen. We're doing an England and Wales tour, and if you're in Cardiff your closest performance is The Riverfront, Newport, 2-3 May 2019. Here's a handy link for you to book tickets right now: <a href="https://tickets.newportlive.co.uk/en-GB/shows/as%20a%20tiger%20in%20the%20jungle/info">https://tickets.newportlive.co.uk/en-GB/shows/as%20a%20tiger%20in%20the%20jungle/info</a></font></span></p>
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<p></p>Solitude/Silence/Self-caretag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-03-20:3152760:BlogPost:2486162016-03-20T21:19:32.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>A bit of post-showing thinking, over at my blog. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/solitudesilenceself-care.html">http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/solitudesilenceself-care.html</a></p>
<p>A bit of post-showing thinking, over at my blog. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/solitudesilenceself-care.html">http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/solitudesilenceself-care.html</a></p>Worse Things Happen **TICKET DEAL**tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-03-07:3152760:BlogPost:2478682016-03-07T19:33:21.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Get £6 tickets to the matinee of Worse Things Happen on Sat 12 March by quoting "MindCymru" online or over the phone. A portion of ticket sales for this performance will be going to Mind Cymru to support their work. <a href="http://www.chapter.org/worse-things-happen">http://www.chapter.org/worse-things-happen</a></p>
<p>Get £6 tickets to the matinee of Worse Things Happen on Sat 12 March by quoting "MindCymru" online or over the phone. A portion of ticket sales for this performance will be going to Mind Cymru to support their work. <a href="http://www.chapter.org/worse-things-happen">http://www.chapter.org/worse-things-happen</a></p>Worse Things Happen - a short promotag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-02-28:3152760:BlogPost:2471222016-02-28T14:59:29.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0FckkCH7Zgs?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0FckkCH7Zgs?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>Good Things Happeningtag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-02-19:3152760:BlogPost:2458802016-02-19T19:43:12.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>My thoughts, after the first three days of rehearsals for my solo show - <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/good-things-happening.html" target="_blank">here at my blog.…</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438073?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438073?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438190?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438190?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>My thoughts, after the first three days of rehearsals for my solo show - <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/good-things-happening.html" target="_blank">here at my blog.</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438073?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438073?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438190?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999438190?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>Worse Things Happentag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-02-16:3152760:BlogPost:2455582016-02-16T17:08:14.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">keen to start work tomorrow on my solo show <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorseThingsHappen?src=hash">#WorseThingsHappen</a> supported by <a href="https://twitter.com/Arts_Wales_">@Arts_Wales_</a> 10-12 March <a href="https://twitter.com/chaptertweets">@chaptertweets</a> <a href="https://t.co/XGb8iTIaEG">pic.twitter.com/XGb8iTIaEG</a></p>
— Catriona James (@catjames)…</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">keen to start work tomorrow on my solo show <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorseThingsHappen?src=hash">#WorseThingsHappen</a> supported by <a href="https://twitter.com/Arts_Wales_">@Arts_Wales_</a> 10-12 March <a href="https://twitter.com/chaptertweets">@chaptertweets</a> <a href="https://t.co/XGb8iTIaEG">pic.twitter.com/XGb8iTIaEG</a></p>
— Catriona James (@catjames) <a href="https://twitter.com/catjames/status/699628983751741440">February 16, 2016</a></blockquote>64 Million Artists Day 5 - a story of losstag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-01-05:3152760:BlogPost:2418122016-01-05T20:50:02.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>"Everything in my life was in motion, and there was nothing to fix on." - <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/64-million-artists-day-5.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>
<p>"Everything in my life was in motion, and there was nothing to fix on." - <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/64-million-artists-day-5.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>64 Million Artists January Challenge Day 2tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-01-02:3152760:BlogPost:2411202016-01-02T11:41:13.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Recycling sculpture <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/64-million-artists-january-challenge.html" target="_blank">over at my blog</a>.</p>
<p>Recycling sculpture <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/64-million-artists-january-challenge.html" target="_blank">over at my blog</a>.</p>One in #64MillionArtiststag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2016-01-01:3152760:BlogPost:2411182016-01-01T14:41:54.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>I'm doing the 64 Million Artists January Challenge. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/one-in-64millionartists.html" target="_blank">I may or may not blog consistently about it here.</a></p>
<p>I'm doing the 64 Million Artists January Challenge. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/one-in-64millionartists.html" target="_blank">I may or may not blog consistently about it here.</a></p>Scratch showing at The Other Roomtag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-09-30:3152760:BlogPost:2362122015-09-30T21:15:04.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>I'm going to be trying out material related to my failure project - which is now called Worse Things Happen - at The Other Room this coming Monday 5 October 2015. </p>
<p>More information here: <a href="http://www.otherroomtheatre.com/en/blog/announcing-the-your-room-programme/">http://www.otherroomtheatre.com/en/blog/announcing-the-your-room-programme/</a></p>
<p>There'll be a chaired feedback session afterwards, and I would welcome contributions as it is fairly early in the…</p>
<p>I'm going to be trying out material related to my failure project - which is now called Worse Things Happen - at The Other Room this coming Monday 5 October 2015. </p>
<p>More information here: <a href="http://www.otherroomtheatre.com/en/blog/announcing-the-your-room-programme/">http://www.otherroomtheatre.com/en/blog/announcing-the-your-room-programme/</a></p>
<p>There'll be a chaired feedback session afterwards, and I would welcome contributions as it is fairly early in the process.</p>
<p>Hope to see you there!</p>Falling/Failing: some photos from my failure project.tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-09-02:3152760:BlogPost:2332662015-09-02T11:07:07.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p><a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/fallingfailing-some-photos-from-my.html" target="_blank">Visit my blog</a> if you'd like to see a few photos from my failure project rehearsal and development.</p>
<p><a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/fallingfailing-some-photos-from-my.html" target="_blank">Visit my blog</a> if you'd like to see a few photos from my failure project rehearsal and development.</p>Failure Project Day Ten: Tonight We Flytag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-14:3152760:BlogPost:2324812015-08-14T20:44:06.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Last post for a bit as the research and development wraps up. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-ten-tonight-we-fly.html" target="_blank">Over at my blog!</a></p>
<p>Last post for a bit as the research and development wraps up. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-ten-tonight-we-fly.html" target="_blank">Over at my blog!</a></p>Failure Project Day Nine: Making Friendstag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-13:3152760:BlogPost:2328062015-08-13T18:33:25.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Making friends. Like, actually making them. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-nine-making-friends.html" target="_blank">Over at my blog!</a></p>
<p>Making friends. Like, actually making them. <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-nine-making-friends.html" target="_blank">Over at my blog!</a></p>Failure Project Day Eight: Danse Macabretag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-12:3152760:BlogPost:2324682015-08-12T18:39:53.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Skin and bones, skipping for joy and the Dance of Death, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-eight-danse-macabre.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>
<p>Skin and bones, skipping for joy and the Dance of Death, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-eight-danse-macabre.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>Failure Project Day Seven: Gliding Through The Sea of Silent Euphoriatag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-11:3152760:BlogPost:2325852015-08-11T18:06:36.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Social anxiety, dressing like a gold sausage, and how there's a TED talk for every situation - <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-seven-gliding.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>
<p>Social anxiety, dressing like a gold sausage, and how there's a TED talk for every situation - <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-seven-gliding.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>Failure Project Day Six: What I Mean When I Talk About Failuretag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-10:3152760:BlogPost:2327232015-08-10T18:43:45.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Thought as I head into my second week, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-six-what-i-mean.html" target="_blank">over at my blog</a>.</p>
<p>Thought as I head into my second week, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-six-what-i-mean.html" target="_blank">over at my blog</a>.</p>Failure Project Day Five: We Want to See You Failtag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-07:3152760:BlogPost:2323972015-08-07T23:00:31.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Some thoughts at the end of the first week, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-five-we-want-to-see.html" target="_blank">over at my blog</a>. Have a good weekend!</p>
<p>thanks, Catriona</p>
<p>Some thoughts at the end of the first week, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-five-we-want-to-see.html" target="_blank">over at my blog</a>. Have a good weekend!</p>
<p>thanks, Catriona</p>Failure Project Day Four: Unquantifiable Failurestag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-06:3152760:BlogPost:2323932015-08-06T20:11:54.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Restraints, constraints and the weight of expectations, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-four-unquantifiable.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>
<p>Restraints, constraints and the weight of expectations, <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-four-unquantifiable.html" target="_blank">over at my blog.</a></p>Failure Project Day Three: Be the Best Version of Yourselftag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-05:3152760:BlogPost:2324062015-08-05T17:25:56.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>Costumes, clowning and dancing failure <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-three-be-best.html" target="_blank">on the link</a>!</p>
<p>Costumes, clowning and dancing failure <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-three-be-best.html" target="_blank">on the link</a>!</p>Failure Project Day Two: was that as hard as you expected?tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-04:3152760:BlogPost:2322972015-08-04T17:33:57.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
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<p>Second day in the rehearsal room exploring failure... <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-two-was-that-as.html" target="_blank">tired legs and post-match interviews here.</a></p>
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<p>thanks, Catriona</p>
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<p>Second day in the rehearsal room exploring failure... <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-two-was-that-as.html" target="_blank">tired legs and post-match interviews here.</a></p>
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<p>thanks, Catriona</p>Failure Project Day one: I Am Not Beyoncé.tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2015-08-03:3152760:BlogPost:2322892015-08-03T18:00:00.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>I'm doing two weeks research and development on failure, and I'll be writing about my work over at <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-one-more-beyonce.html" target="_blank">my blog, on this link.</a> I hope you're interested in following the process!</p>
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<p>Thanks, Catriona</p>
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<p>supported by:…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999430687?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999430687?profile=original" width="290"></img></a></p>
<p>I'm doing two weeks research and development on failure, and I'll be writing about my work over at <a href="http://nowherefamiliar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/failure-project-day-one-more-beyonce.html" target="_blank">my blog, on this link.</a> I hope you're interested in following the process!</p>
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<p>Thanks, Catriona</p>
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<p>supported by:</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999430687?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999430687?profile=original" width="290" class="align-full"/></a></p>Some of us are prisoners, and the rest of us are guards...tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2014-08-29:3152760:BlogPost:2047062014-08-29T18:00:00.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999413786?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999413786?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> I'm currently in rehearsals for Mark Jenkin's play Downtown Paradise, with Michael Kelligan/Welsh Fargo Stage Co. We have a run at </span><a href="http://www.chapter.org/downtown-paradise" style="font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Chapter from 10-13 September</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> and then performances at the …</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999413786?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2999413786?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a>I'm currently in rehearsals for Mark Jenkin's play Downtown Paradise, with Michael Kelligan/Welsh Fargo Stage Co. We have a run at </span><a href="http://www.chapter.org/downtown-paradise" target="_blank" style="font-size: 13px;">Chapter from 10-13 September</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> and then performances at the </span><a href="http://www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk/performances.php?id=902" target="_blank" style="font-size: 13px;">Taliesin in Swansea (18 September)</a><span style="font-size: 13px;">, the </span><a href="https://nccsec.newport.gov.uk/tickets/en-GB/shows/downtown%20paradise/info" target="_blank" style="font-size: 13px;">Riverfront in Newport (25 September)</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/gwy_doc.asp?cat=5006&doc=17783&Language=1&p=1&c=1" target="_blank" style="font-size: 13px;">Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli (4 October).</a></p>
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<p>It's the story of a Black Panther activist in prison in the US in the late 1960s, and the lawyer fighting to free him. It's based on true events - a man called George Jackson and his lawyer Fay Stender (he was a radical icon - Bob Dylan even wrote a song about Jackson, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZu-EofFo40" target="_blank">sung here by JP Robinson</a>). Have you been reading about the shooting of Michael Brown by a policeman in Ferguson, Missouri? What's really struck me is how little the world appears to have moved on since the time represented in this play.</p>
<p>Come and see the play, and let me know what you think. </p>After.tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2014-08-13:3152760:BlogPost:2035252014-08-13T20:30:00.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p class="p1"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: helvetica;">About half-way through Summer Camp, after a day which had been in every way - I don’t use this word lightly - <i>perfect</i>, I experienced the corresponding crash, the coming-down-to-earth. Nothing specific was wrong. I hadn’t fallen out with anyone. The sun was still shining (for two weeks! in Pembrokeshire!). The ocean was still there. I had a day filled with activities with people I liked and admired.…</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: helvetica;">About half-way through Summer Camp, after a day which had been in every way - I don’t use this word lightly - <i>perfect</i>, I experienced the corresponding crash, the coming-down-to-earth. Nothing specific was wrong. I hadn’t fallen out with anyone. The sun was still shining (for two weeks! in Pembrokeshire!). The ocean was still there. I had a day filled with activities with people I liked and admired.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: helvetica;">But I was tired, emotionally and physically. I’d had a <i>perfect</i> day, only the day before, without even trying. Perfect. These don’t come often in my life - do they come often in anyone’s? With that taste in my mouth, I was determined to push through my tiredness, determined not to waste a second. And so I did a lot that day, the day-after-perfection. I had conversations about failure, the topic of a project that I am working on. I dressed in a bright pink leotard and tutu (always dress better and brighter than you feel) and walked off a jetty into the sea while being filmed. I spent an hour dancing, moving, with a new friend; a quiet hour that left me feeling humbled by what had been shared. I spent 10 minutes having my heart broken by the raw openness in another artist’s one-to-one piece.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: helvetica;">And in the middle of this complicated day, I sat down in my room and recorded a “message in a bottle” for myself. I keep a journal, but I had the sense that I would need emotion and nuances, the low tiredness of my voice, and the sounds of seagulls in the background - much more than words. I haven’t listened to that recording yet. I’m saving it, perhaps for a hard, dark day in February. I think it will be a reminder of the perfection that lies in glorious sunshine, and the sweet intimacy of performing, and new friendships, and good food. And it will also be a reminder of all that rushes in to the empty space left when those highs of happiness slip away (because I don’t think anyone can sustain those highs for long). I learn so much from the latter. I learned so much that day <i>after</i>: finding connections, finding play, finding the art in the exhaustion, and the slight throbbing headache, and the sense of obligation to others. And I think that’s a lesson that may sustain me more as I negotiate my life with the experience of Summer Camp behind me.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="font-size-3">I am very grateful for the experience of both the perfection and the after. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica;"><span class="font-size-3">Ma</span>ssive thanks to all who made Summer Camp 2014 happen - Simon Coates, fellow Campers, and all the wonderful NTW team who were there or who popped over to West Wales for a visit. I’d do it all again in a flash.</span></p>My Failure Projecttag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2014-07-14:3152760:BlogPost:2011422014-07-14T16:41:30.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p><span>I am interested in failure: mostly in my attitude towards failure and how this attitude affects my behaviour. So I am planning to make a one-woman show about failure. I am right at the very beginning of this project, and in addition to figuring out my thoughts on the subject, I would like to hear what other people think. </span><br></br><span><br></br></span><span>If you are interested in helping, please fill out <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TTMRV8P" target="_blank">this…</a></span></p>
<p><span>I am interested in failure: mostly in my attitude towards failure and how this attitude affects my behaviour. So I am planning to make a one-woman show about failure. I am right at the very beginning of this project, and in addition to figuring out my thoughts on the subject, I would like to hear what other people think. </span><br/><span><br/></span><span>If you are interested in helping, please fill out <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TTMRV8P" target="_blank">this survey</a> on your own relationship with failure. </span><span>I'm fortunate to have some time coming up when I will be able to think about this project almost exclusively, so if you are able to respond within the next 3 weeks, that will be particularly helpful (but replies after 3 weeks will not be too late). </span><span>It's entirely anonymous - I won't know which response is yours. I hope this means you can be honest and open in your answers.</span><br/><span><br/></span><span>It's early days, so I don't yet know what shape this show will take. But there will likely be storytelling, and movement and, I hope, lots of laughter.</span><br/><span><br/></span><span>See you when we get there!</span><br/><span><br/></span><span>thanks, Catriona </span></p>Summercamp!tag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2014-06-20:3152760:BlogPost:1985592014-06-20T16:06:56.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
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</p>fundraising for Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Clubtag:community.nationaltheatrewales.org,2012-06-11:3152760:BlogPost:1246862012-06-11T10:16:39.000ZCatriona Jameshttps://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profile/CatrionaJames
<p>As some of you might know, I also perform in cabaret as one half of <a href="http://www.peeknboo.co.uk/">Peek & Boo</a>, in parallel to my work as a Serious Actor. I have been involved over the last few years with the <a href="http://www.marybijoucabaret.com/">Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club</a>, the brain child of George Orange and a number of our circus performer friends here in Cardiff. I perform a musical act with my cabaret partner Becky Dell, a classically-trained pianist. We…</p>
<p>As some of you might know, I also perform in cabaret as one half of <a href="http://www.peeknboo.co.uk/">Peek & Boo</a>, in parallel to my work as a Serious Actor. I have been involved over the last few years with the <a href="http://www.marybijoucabaret.com/">Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club</a>, the brain child of George Orange and a number of our circus performer friends here in Cardiff. I perform a musical act with my cabaret partner Becky Dell, a classically-trained pianist. We write comic songs, and rude songs, and some serious ones as well, and I get to indulge my love/terror of clowning...<br/> <br/> Although we started out running cabaret nights in church halls, last year we were offered the chance to perform at the Wales Millennium Centre. We created a show called "The Port of Amsterdam", based on the Jacques Brel song as well as Cardiff's marine history (the theme was my idea!!) and we sold out completely. That was two nights at almost 200 people per night. It was one of the highlights of my year.<br/> <br/> This year we are back, for three nights in July. The show is called Revolution Cubana. A cabaret themed around revolution seemed appropriate in these days of protests in the street in every major capital in the world, and the Occupy movement, and the Arab Spring... and the list goes on. We anticipate selling out again, even with the extra night. Becky and I are already working on new pieces for the night - we've just finished a few days' intensive rehearsing/creating and have made something EPIC. <a href="http://www.wmc.org.uk/Productions/2012-2013/blysh/RevolutionCubana/?view=Standard">More information about the show here</a> (including how to buy tickets... SOON! They WILL sell out...)<br/> <br/> We do, however, need to raise some money for Mary Bijou Cabaret. We're reluctant to turn to Arts Council funding to raise the money we need to plan shows for the next year or so. I think the cabaret is something that could be commercially viable and self-supporting; there's plenty of more experimental art out there that deserves arts subsidies. Like any business, however, we need investors to give us the initial boost in the right direction. So we have decided to go down the route of "crowd-sourcing" funding; that is, asking those we know, and anyone they might know, if they are interested in supporting us.<br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.wefund.com/project/mary-bijou-cabaret-social-club">Please have a look at our WeFund page.</a><br/> <br/> We've put a lot of time and effort into our pitch, and we've tried to come up with tempting rewards for your support. Obviously, some of them are not applicable if you don't live close by, but if there's something else you want please suggest it to us and we'll see what we can do. We don't expect money for nothing! Equally, there is no support that is "too small" for us; we appreciate it all.<br/> <br/> I do hope that someday you all be able to come to a Mary Bijou show and enjoy the spectacle from a table at the front. But if you can't, I hope it's not too cheeky to ask you for the price of an admission ticket anyway.</p>