What Will Happen to the Cat? –Research and Development Workshop – a co-created show by Rebecca Manson Jones and Lisa Muten from an idea by Lisa Muten. Produced by Spare Tyre – funded by ACE project grant.
Synopsis
The story follows Jo and her Father, Ted, who has dementia. Ted has been abandoned on the doorstep by his new wife’s family, with his only remaining belongings in a blue plastic bag– on Christmas Eve. Once Jo has him safe at her home, she pieces together the story of how newly-widowed Ted was targeted by a cuckoo family, who befriended him, alienated him from Jo, persuaded him to marry their mother (without telling Jo). They then sold off his assets and spent all his money. At the start of the action, Jo is shocked to discover Ted has £438.11 left to his name.
The events of 2017 are set against Ted’s occasionally comical professional adventures behind the Iron Curtain as a businessman, making friends and doing deals. He seems to cope in the present by referring back with humour and wry commentary to his tense encounters at border crossings, breakdowns on mountain passes, and giving government agents the slip. Ted although confused, is protected by his memories and provides a poignant and philosophical perspective to Jo’s travails with bureaucracy, often asking after his cat and the cricket score. Jo fights and fails to get justice. In a system that wants but is powerless to help, she finally wins the biggest prize, a proper reunion and reconciliation with her father.
Dates: 29-31 October (Brixton House) and Tuesday 5th November (Hoxton Hall)
Fee £200 per day.
We are looking for a skilled stage manager, with strong technical experience, to support the process with three performers devising multiple roles. The SM will manage our touring sound system, digital video projector and OHP equipment. The set up will be pre-prepared and tested by our freelance Production Manager, Crin Claxton.
The director will be supported by an access worker who will also be doing some live captioning as we explore the potential for integrated captioning in the storytelling. There will be a mini get-in on Tuesday 29th October with assistance from the full company, plus get out on Thursday pm. Equipment use for the single day on 4th November is tbc. Driving is an advantage but not essential.
There will be about 8 -10 people in the room at any one time. This is early stage R&D with no sharing of the work expected. We want someone who is good at reacting to the moment, flexible in approach and inclusive in attitude.
We invite everyone in the room to send an access statement in advance or to have a confidential conversation with the director about any access requirements. We are working with Wellbeing in the Arts to support the company given the sensitive material we are dealing with. The story is based on real experiences and we are sensitive that exploring dementia can be challenging for people.
Please email a CV, a little information about you and your interest in this project (no more than 1 page) to info@sparetyre.org by 10am 21st October 2024. We’ll be holding Zoom and in person meetings on an ongoing basis