“Northern Soul is a bit about northern soul, it’s also a bit about pigeons, but mainly it’s about me - Victoria Melody”
Northern Soul is a one-woman show about Victoria Melody’s attempts at joining in. Her unusual ethnographic approach to art practise has found her living with pigeon fanciers for a year and more recently learning to northern soul dance in stranger’s living rooms.
Victoria immerses herself into other peoples worlds and examines national characteristics and regional phenomena, focusing on the extraordinary in the everyday. An idiosyncratic treasure trove of films, photos, dance and paraphernalia illuminate Victoria’s journey in this comedic, engaging and hopeful performance.
Performer & Deviser Victoria Melody Director Ursula Martinez Choreographer Janine Fletcher Multi media Louise Purnell Technician Greg Mickelborough
Produced by Farnham Maltings Supported by The Basement THE ARTIST
Victoria Melody studied her post-graduate in fine art at Chelsea College of Art in 2001. Since 2001 Victoria Melody has been creating humorous and thought-provoking work that appeals to a wide audience. Projects range from touring theatrical works to performance interventions and video in- stallations.
Victoria has presented her work nationally and internationally at venues including Artsway, New Forest; Centre for Contemporary Art, Russia; Millais Gallery, Southampton; and Arts Claim Impulse Gallery, Berlin.
“The veracity of her work is both charming and disconcerting, boundaries are crossed, and issues are raised. She asks questions that the rest of us don’t and creates personal observations that are both poignant and funny and throws them out for public consideration and debate.” Bridget Cussack, Curator at Millais Gallery
The Rotherham Pigeon Family WHAT IT THE NORTHERN SOUL SCENE?
Northern soul is the term used in the UK for a type of African American soul music that was popularised in Northern England from the mid 1960s onwards. The scene still continues today with its original members now in their 50s still wearing the same fashions and dancing the athletic style that went on to influence disco and break dance.
WHAT IS A PIGEON FANCIER?
A pigeon fancier is the term used for somebody who keeps and races pigeons. A pigeon race is the sport of releasing specifically trained racing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance. BIOGRAPHIES
Director - Ursula Martinez
Ursula Martinez studied theatre at Lancaster University and began her career in experimental theatre, working with companies such as Forced Entertainment and The Glee Club. Martinez then combined her experimental theatre background with her cabaret experience. Together with collaborator Mark Whitelaw she produced A Family Outing, a highly original, autobiographical theatre show starring herself and her parents, which was a huge success at the 1998 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Now an established international artist, regularly supported by the British Council, Martinez continues to produce live performance, both solo and collaborative, for theatre, cabaret, site-specific, installation and nightclub. Her latest piece, Office Party, is a collaboration with writer/ comedian Christopher Green, which premiered at The Barbican in December 2007.
Choreographer — Janine Fletcher
Janine Fletcher is a choreographer, devisor and performer. Over the last 8 years her artistic practise has developed through a creative dialogue with theatre practitioners, dancers, live artists, comedians, video artists, aerialists and innovators in contemporary cabaret performance. She is currently director of The Two Wrongies and a freelance choreographer and performer.
Multi media — Louise Purnell
Since 2003 Louise Purnell has worked as a freelance camera operator and self-shooting documentary director, during which time she has worked for most major broadcasters and production companies including BBC, CH4, ITV, SKY, Endemol, Tiger Aspect and Ricochet. She specializes in observational camera work and loves finding new ways to tell stories in film.
Technician — Greg Mickelborough
Greg has worked as a technician, stage manager, and production manager for touring companies, festivals, and theatres, including BBC Proms, The Two Wrongies, Bryony Kimmings, and has most recently production managed Band- Bazi’s tour of the UK and India. Greg was the former Venue and Technical Manager of The Basement, works very closely with the Nightingale Theatre, and is the Production and Stage Manager for Festibelly music festival. He lives in Brighton, runs marathons, and listens to opera. PRESS QUOTES
Original and inspirational 5*****
Victoria Melody chose those two most exclusive of interests as the subjects for this truly engaging, and often hilarious, show. Beginning with stories of her misfit childhood, she choose to ingratiate herself into the world of homing pigeons and presented a respectfully mischievous, outsider’s video montage of her subjects. The title comes from her hen night at a Clee- thorpes soul weekender and her subsequent quest to learn how to dance in the living rooms of several champions. The show’s finale drew huge cheers as Victoria talc’d the floor and delivered a no-holes-barred dance display. Steve Clements, The Latest
Surreal, funny and thoughtful. **** ThreeWeeks
Melody’s work is fresh and lively. The interaction between the artist and the audience is one that is complicit and vital to the work. There is also an apparent trust and respect between artist and audience which allows the work to remain honest. Rosie Shirley, a-n magazine
QUOTES FROM PROGRAMMERS
Victoria Melody’s show was a delight — a playful romp through family, friendship, pigeon fancying and Northern Soul music! Charming and very fun- ny, it’s a look at the outsider in all of us and our underlying collective humanity. Barney Jeavons, Artistic Director, West End Centre, Aldershot
Victoria Melody’s charming look at the twin passions of Northern Soul and Pigeon Fancying was full of humour and heart, choosing to be affectionate where many would have been cynical and cruel for cheap laughs. This made for a far more enlightening and funny show that culminated with a genuine feel good climax. John Luther, Artistic Director, South Street Arts Centre, Reading
AUDIENCE QUOTES
Thank you for a brilliant night last night at South Street. It was a nostalgic laugh a minute tinged with sadness. And, I have to mention that when the smell of Brut filled the air I was back up North, aged 15, dancing me little legs off! Leslee Hopper
Thanks so much for a great evening. Really enjoyed it from start to finish. Wonderful rich storytelling and imagery and of course “chock full of stomp- ers” ...Classic. Thanks again. Steve & Karen
Just wanted to report to you about yet another great night at the Westie. Saw Northern Soul last night and it was brilliant. Completely different, have no idea how to describe it, very original and quirky. Loved it. Please do pass on my thanks to Barney for putting something so unique on. Vicky Mason INFORMATION
Northern Soul is a one-woman show; it has a very simple technical set up and incorporates films, dance, storytelling and DJ’ing.
General The show is 60 minutes with no interval. The company are 2 on the road. There is some strong language.
A stage area of min. 7m wide x 5m depth is required, full black box masking is preferred, legs/wings are not essential for entrances as once Vic is on stage she remains there.
The set consists of the projection screen flown or free-standing upstage, 1 chair, a 2m square of lino, a large chest of drawers on wheels containing record decks with a mixer and some loose props on stage right.
It is available to tour in Autumn 2012. Contact NAME for more information:
[email protected] 01234 567890
AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Full technical rider Lighting plan Risk assessment DVD of trailer & full length show High res & low res images EDUCATIONAL WORK
Victoria works in a variety of educational contexts from running short film making courses to creating large scale performance events with students. Past projects have included working with Cultural Hub, Kube Gallery and schools in Dorset. She has received ‘The Community Arts Leader Award’ for workshops in South London.
Victoria runs workshops to accompany shows, and regularly runs courses at Phoenix Brighton. She can create bespoke training days and workshops for students, teachers and other arts professionals.
Victoria lectures at a variety of institutions and conferences. Universi- ties include Southampton Solent, Brighton and Paris. Areas of expertise include performance and visual art.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
As an after show party some venues have organised a northern soul night with authentic DJs from the scene. These parties have proved very popular and are a pleasant and interesting addition to the show. They provide a social area for the post show conversations and an opportunity to mix with people from the northern soul scene and to witness some of that legendary dancing.
If you are interested in hosting a northern soul after show party, or con- necting with a local night already in existence then please contact us to see if this is possible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: NAME [email protected] 01234 567890 www.domain.co.uk www.company.com