Today I participated and did what we said we’d do. We decided to promote our show without using Facebook or other social media. That we would print cards, and make ourselves actually talk to people about what we are doing. We’re asking you to invite us to your place, to your home, and that’s fairly intimate. So it felt only just that we also take some risk and physically ask for the invite. This involves what I sometimes think I am most interested in; vulnerability. How to be it, how to invite it, and why we are so dead inside without it.
I wore this
and you both wore yours, and we ventured into a local queer event. We tried to talk to all sorts of folk, not just the ones we feel comfortable with, flirted with or similar to. Drag queens, butch dykes, hard femmes, soft young gay boys, bois, shy soft femmes, trans* women. And just accepted what happened with each person. Scary, and sure, we dressed up. I was gonna just wear jeans, but then, come on… I chose a gold sequin top and a matching gold sequin scarf, and a feather headpiece. Just to feel relaxed. I’ve realised through practice that really we’re like dogs, it’s all about the training. We can train ourselves into a context where certain things are safe and normal, and that’s a really important part of creating for me. All myths have some point at which the protagonist moves from world to another, where different rules apply. And this is no different. Just like in the studio I need a cup of tea and certain music, when I perform, I need to wear something different. It’s like it makes the air thicker and more permissive. It says yes.
And it’s not about acting. It’s just about stepping through and welcoming what’s there.
This is what we said, or something like it;
[GENERAL BASIC SPIEL FROM WHICH TO AD-LIB WHEN TALKING TO PEEPS.]
Hi, I’m with Collected Queers. We’re a troupe of performance artists.
We’re doing a Fringe show called ‘Open Home Exercise’, for queer domestic spaces. Like, it could be your place!
It’s improvised in response to your space, so it will change each time. It might be balletic, glittery, we might crawl around your floor, or build a hut in the lounge. We’re trying to find creative ways to express queer identity without the need to consider straight spaces when we perform. It’s been super fun so far…
It costs nothing, it’s a gift. We expect it to be joyful, playful, and possibly a bit healing. If you want to invite us to come round, just send us an email – this card has the details – and we’ll be in touch.
[GIVE THEM A CARD.]
And it felt pretty good. No Facebook to hide behind.
Sian Torrington Artist 