IF THESE SPASMS COULD SPEAK (EDINBURGH FRINGE 2013)
Robert Softley in association with The Arches presents
If These Spasms Could Speak (Edinburgh Fringe 2013)
At the Pleasance Courtyard
Wed 31 Jul - Mon 26 Aug 2013 | 5.45pm (1 hour) | £8/£7 conc/£6 preview
“We know you want to look, to stare even. It’s OK. You’re allowed.”
Robert Softley returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with his sensational one-man show, If These Spasms Could Speak – a hilarious yet moving insight into the day-to-day reality of being disabled.
Drawing upon real stories from other disabled people as well as Robert’s own experiences, the show looks at how their bodies impact the way they live their lives, and how they’re seen by others. Whether sad, funny, touching or surprising, each story offers an enlightening insight into what it really means to be disabled.
If These Spasms Could Speak was one of the highlights of the Arches’ Behaviour festival in 2012, performing to sell out audiences and receiving critical acclaim. It is presented at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe in association with The Arches as part of the prestigious Made in Scotland showcase.
If These Spasms Could Speak runs from Wednesday 31st July to Monday 26th August at the Pleasance Courtyard. Book tickets online or call 0131 556 6550.
About Robert Softley
The co-creator of National Theatre of Scotland’s critically acclaimed Girl X and artistic director of acclaimed theatre company Birds of Paradise, Robert Softley is one of Scotland’s foremost disabled writers and performers. With over ten years of experience in diverse and varied roles, he has become an established figure in the Scottish arts scene, whether it be as a disability rights activist, actor, performer, writer and artistic director, or as an advocate of equality of access to the arts for disabled people as both artist or audience member.
Contact us:
Access Requests
______________
See information and events listings for:
Theatre, Performance and Dance
Creative Learning
Visual Arts
“Where can you see tomorrow’s work today? The answer is The Arches.”
The Guardian
Through theatre, performance, visual art, dance and creative learning the Arches’ artistic programme celebrates the brave and the new.
Producing and presenting risk-taking work from local and international artists and companies, the building has boasted performances over the past two years from Derevo, The TEAM and Taylor Mac, hosted the National Review of Live Art and New Territories festivals and seen blistering performances from boundary-pushing artists and companies such as John Moran, Adrian Howells, Ontroerend Goed and Quarantine as part of 2010’s BEHAVIOUR festival, our annual celebration of the live experience.
The Arches is also Scotland’s leading provider of support for emergent artists and performance practitioners, providing a year-long programme of opportunities including Artist in Residence programmes and our two annual awards, Platform 18: New Directions and the Brick Award, as well as showcasing raw work from homegrown talent such as Nic Green and Rob Drummond in Arches LIVE, our annual festival of brave new work.
Our dedicated Creative Learning programme offers even further-reaching opportunities for development across a broad range of social groups, with events ranging from urban music production course Tigerstyle and the newly launched Arches Community Choir, to mentoring schemes, professional development projects and off-site performance work with diverse social groups.
______________
Words from Jackie Wylie, The Arches’ Artistic Director, following the tragic death of Adrian Howells:
“All at The Arches are devastated by the loss of Adrian Howells this week. He was our Artist in Residence and The Arches was his creative home. But more than that, he was a dear friend and companion in life to many of us here.
So many would say that there truly was no one like him, who personified love, generosity and the deepest type of empathy and desire to understand those lucky enough to have met him. With great humour he was able to create an instant connection with anyone he encountered. He was able to translate this desire to nurture and connect into his performance practice and in doing so leaves behind not only an incredible and influential body of work but a multitude of audience members across the world who have in some way been transformed by these encounters.
He supported, encouraged and was at the heart of an entire community of artists in Glasgow who will miss him terribly.”