We have had the pleasure of hosting Kate McCoy and the team at small performances adventures in our Hayloft Studio this month undertaking research and development sessions. This ever-evolving blog documents the group’s ongoing exciting artistic process as they create a participatory performance on personalised rituals.
What is your connection to rituals? Are you, as an individual or group, wanting to discuss rituals in a low pressure environment? Get in touch to be a part of the community-orientated project.
Improving Mental Health Collectively
The Seed Commission for the Spire was the starting point for their project on ‘Terminal Uniqueness’. They were creating personalized rituals for individual audience members to explore the idea of improving mental health collectively. This is because in the pandemic, everyone feels like there are lacking stability and the group felt the need for a non-religious secular rituals that brings everyone together. Now, the project is in its research and development stages before it becomes a participatory show. This group specializes in helping people in vulnerable community groups.
The group are have been in our studios creating videos for the project to get the word out. When talking to Kate, she says that it was a pleasure to use our Hayloft Studio, saying it was a treat to work in such a well looked after space.
‘Terminal Uniqueness’
Kate McCoy has described the ongoing project by small performances adventures as a “performance that creates personalised rituals for individual audience members.” She says “our aim is to create something that is connecting, powerful and at times funny which is secular rather than religious.”
In the lockdowns last year, the group launched an online engagement ‘Terminal Uniqueness’ on Facebook, for example one week you had to photograph three yellow objects from your house. Each week was a different colour and this page really blow up into an international group of people sharing this experience. It showed the communal elements of creating rituals in times of lockdown with alternative methods of engagement. It created hope and togetherness. Have a look at their group here
The plan is for this piece to develop and then eventually to be shown at Brighton Fringe.
Want to get involved?
We urge you to get involved as the group as “looking to develop the project and our ideas in partnership with a range of community groups.”
Join their Facebook Group, follow them on Instagram or visit their website here. Or visit their Terminal Uniqueness Facebook Group here.
Be sure to contact us to hire out our studio for your next project. On our website you can see our availability and rates card.
