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The Lost Grannies

by BeautifulMess Theatre

physical-theatre-and-circus, site-specific-and-immersive

2 larger than life grans: tragi-comic full mask walkabout exploring aging populations in playful interactive ways!

about the production

The Lost Grannies is an interactive tragi-comic walkabout performance. Small in scale but with a big impact, public spaces are interrupted by two colourful old ladies, disorientated and in need of assistance. Arresting visual imagery and full-mask choreography animate the roaming grannies as they accost passers-by, looking for their home...or somewhere to make a new one... Navigating busy streets, engaging incidental audiences in direction-deducing-good-old-times-reminiscing-pavement-dancing, these inquisitive grannies are easily distracted from their quest by any passing activity! Audiences are drawn in by the nostalgically comic duo as they attempt domestic routines in public locations and charm you into helping them!

about the artist

BeautifulMess create interactive, socially-relevant, celebratory shows in public places. We inhabit unlikely spaces, re-imagine discarded things and listen to neglected voices. We mix bold design, dynamic physicality and multi-sensory images into silly, surreal synergies of shared and significant stories. Live music, contemporary clown, puppetry, mask and satire combine to create striking and accessible performance which is rooted in public engagement, creating fresh lens’ through which to see our world, balancing farce & poignancy… Based in Brixton, London, BeautifulMess have been commissioned by the Arts Council (2013-15) to create “fresh, uncensored theatre...truly for EVERYONE” attracting diverse audiences with its “magical, surreal, uplifting, comic, poignant… treat on the street” BeautifulMess have also been commissioned internationally (India, South Africa) to work in multiple communities creating celebratory, inclusive and site-based performance. BeautifulMess weave delightful tales that connect people in the now, disrupt our unquestioned notions of ‘truth’ and inspire spontaneous moments of collective creativity and wonder.

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Small scale walkabout show
Created for outdoor day time/early evening performance, not suitable for substantial rain, day light needed for mask visibility

Performance space roaming preferably through busy (not too crowded) areas, with potential option to settle on a space in which to construct a ‘home’ - very versatile- adaptable to space

Running time: flexible, max 30 mins walkabout

No set music but usually the masks enjoy the music around them to dance to

Need changing area near performance space to emerge from/ mask/de-mask.

Created to tour by car (adaptable to fly).

family / non-traditional theatre audiences (outdoor performance)

“My favourite Grannies! Beautiful stuff from BeautifulMess! Every festival needs these grannies! Careful they are not so innocent!”

Maria Santos, director Brixton Come Together Festival.

"So beautiful, thank you for bringing your magical Grannies to our festival"

Sébastien Goderniaux, street theatre programmer, Esperanzah! Festival, Belgium.

“Really moving, you just want to play with them!”

Audience Feedback

highly accessible due to outdoor performance & multi-sensory, non-verbal languages. Can interact in bespoke ways.

As experienced participatory arts practitioners we offer a range of activities.
We are able to create bespoke workshops weaving physical theatre, puppetry, music and outdoor play to compliment the show.
We are experts in facilitating multi-sensory workshops with adults with Learning Disability & have experience working with elderly participants too.

1day £738 (up to 3 x 30min show)
2 days £1270

plus accommodation/ transport (petrol only) / food

this is negotiable with regards to additional shows in surrounding overlooked municipal spaces- developing community connections.

or via www.foolsparadise.co.uk/companies/beautifulmess/lostgrannies/