Gravity & Levity

A friend of mine has a theory about self-prophesising company names and since I think she may have a point I’m wondering what possessed me to call this show shift.

It does seem that no sooner have we pinned down dates, contracts, spaces, people than they well - shift, constantly and perpetually. Whilst I know that this is actually always the case with virtually every creative endeavour it does leave me pondering on whether the next production should be called Dead Cert or Easy Money or some such. Anyway, I digress already…

shift came into being approximately 18 months ago following discussions between myself and Mish Weaver (designer on shift and previous collaborator on Taking Flight) as to how we (actually read she) might create a design led environment into which all of the shift rep would work.

Since then, we’ve been accumulating a fantastic collaborative team, artistic and administrative, who are both brave and foolish enough to want to be a part of this adventure!

Back in April 2007 we had our first practical R&D week at The Circus Space with each of the choreographers, Charlotte, Charlie and Luke & Steve.

Mish and I plus a whole heap of planks, ropes and scaff poles continued researching ideas throughout the summer. Rehearsals began late last year and we are now well and truly stuck into the biggest chunk of the rehearsal period. Actually we’ve almost finished the first piece of rep (a duet for myself and Scott) with Charlie Linehan.

So far, bruised and challenged but happy ….