A relaxed space and atmosphere, not a relaxed performance
In a full Squeeze Box take over of a building, we aim to offer a hands-on making experience. This maybe at the beginning of the performance or at the conclusion, and is designed to:
Explore the themes of care, identity, disability and what happens when these corner stones of humanity are taken away
Allow individuals to get thoughts and feeling out of their heads, into their bodies and out into the world
Normalise the concept of how some folk need to be doing something with their hands in order to engage fully with performance
Embed creativity and the spirit of ‘we are all artists’ and have something to say, express and contribute from the very beginning
“In creative spaces, I am always doing something, writing, moving or creating with my hands...so why do we expect the audience to sit still?”
Within the live experience, Squeeze Box directly addresses the reality of social care cuts, unapologetically speaking to the essence of what it is like to be squeezed into a box – leaving behind identity, self-worth & spirit. Therefore, Squeeze Box is not a completely relaxed performance, yet has many relaxed aspects incorporated into the work. The creativity embodies care, companionship and access, determined to showcase beyond this one dimensional view of disability. By putting these values at the heart of the space, the work is enhanced massively. Therefore, access measures are not an addition, they are essential, informing the work at every stage, including:
an audience welcome which foregrounds the ‘rules’ of the space with an offer to take a lanyard to which indicates the level of interaction the individual feels comfortable with
dedicated audience access worker. this trained individuals goes on a journey with the audience, floating between spaces and audience groups. they carry access equipment like headphones, and central contact, with not in character for anyone to reach out for help
artist/performer presence in the welcoming space from onset - gently introducing the idea of questions and working together to negotiate space. Audience members can position themselves wherever they want including a chill out space, sitting on bean bags, standing or even lying
Access kit available at all times with fidget toys, ear defenders and opportunities to doodle/write/draw
Creative enablers who have been embedded in the process
Signs, support dog stations, a separate space, doors left ajar/audience informed that they can come and go as they please etc
Squeeze Box is a field review of disability theory, with conversation workshops, material to touch, projections, sounds, objects, texts…. and our main research tool, performance!
The make offer came directly from a mini workshop-series of the theme of identity, self-expression, telling your own narrative, disability as self-identity and a tool to start conversation about what is disabling about being disabled.
