Winter Sparkle

Today I had the privilege of coming to a family session of Bamboozle's Winter Sparkle. It was the installation we had helped prepare back in December when we were working at Bamboozle's Burnmoor St Studios.

Five families attended the session. As seems to be the custom, an opening circle was created next to the igloo installation and a welcoming name song was sung to everyone in the circle, including the artists, carers, pmld participants and their siblings. We were then invited into the igloo, and after an introductory song the siblings were invited to explore the different areas before going to another room to make a special gift for their brother/sister. The parents and pmld children remained in the igloo space where there were distinct inviting spaces each having a particular character to explore. There was a "spa tent" where participants could lush on furs and have hand and foot massages, an icicle igloo with icy lights, silver shiny things and a cold breeze, a bear's tummy cave, which was warm and red and cosy, a larg tong drum on which participants could lay, while musician scats played rythmically (this was a big hit!!!). Additionally participants were individually serenaded with live violin. A number of large bean bags and cushions were placed within the space which enable some participants to come out of their chairs and be moved around the space quite easily. Bamboozle also has it's own wheel chair hoist. For those who were not able to leave their chairs that day - there were icicle and bear's tummy hanging leaf installation that they could sit under with similar effect to being inside one of the caves.

A wonderful appearance by the ice maiden character gave the installation another theatrical dimension, as she visited each participant in turn -her performance was very embodied and expressive although there was no text.

The siblings re-entered the space and presented their gift each in turn and the show closed with a spectacular snow fall. ( I had previously spent two days cutting up all manner of things to create this snow....)

It was a gorgeous experience, relaxed, chatty, beautiful, sensual, aural, ritualistic. I had a lovely time chatting with some of the


Note to Sensorium - get a wheel chair hoist and large beanbags and cushions. Think about effects that can be enjoyed at chair height. Explore the "family" dimension and possibilities of this work back in Australia.

Jilly the Jellyfish performs up a storm

Today I was lucky enough to accompany a fantastic Bamboozle crew to 4 performances of Jilly the Jellyfish to pmld kids in a Northampton Special Needs school.

I was impressed by the speed of the "get up" - about an hour to assemble Jelly fish, costumes and props.

The session began with a name song in a circle outside of the jellyfish (re-inforcing that notion of airlock between "normal reality" and the magic of the performance space that we had observed with Oily Cart.

The children were then asked who would like to "lead the way in" - which always elicited an enthusiastic volunteer.

The performance began with a simple introductory song "Swimming, swaying under the sea" - the children were encouraged to enjoy the sensory and moving qualities available inside the tent - including marvellous jellyfish attached to slinkies which achieved some great moves and which the children could set swinging themselves.

Jilly the Jellyfish then emerged in a lovely surprise from a camouflage pile of seaweed and introduced herself to each child.

Meanwhile the other performer slipped on an anenome puppet

 the puppet had a very playful quality and could interact with children from closer or further, it was curious and able to build a relationship with each individual according to their comfort level and communication styles. It certainly was excellent at engaging. A second anenome puppet appeared from outside the tent and this was again a lovely surprise for those inside the tent.

Then followed the exciting event of the storm - achieved by the high powered air blower, which was directed at each child in turn while the following was sung - The storm blew x away heave away haul away.

The children loved this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Following the storm was a blackout prefigured and spoken about and a more contemplative mood while Jellyfish lit by black light danced slowly to each audience member before dancing off.

Then an end song - Jilly the Jellyfish followed by a goodbye song where the children exited being serenaded by name.

Very simple, very effective - a deliberate choice on Bamboozle's part to return to a pared back format for pmld audience. The show lasted just over half and hour.

The performers (including musician Skats) all said that they love this kind of work. Skats mused that he would do it full time if he could - that he found it the most satisfying of all his work. What is it about it that is satisfying - I wanted to hear his answer (because this is also how I feel) - ...

He said perhaps it's because you get to connect with people that are hard to connect with and that you feel you make a difference, that this is most human. He said he can also enjoy playing music at a gig and feeling like you are in the zone, connecting with mainstream audience, but there was something about the other connection (with pmld or SEN children) that felt more satisfying. Perhaps the difference is that the ego is less present in this work I suggested to him - Hmm - yes - perhaps that's it ... it's like you don't need the applause to feel good.