Apr 05 2013: WENDY HOUSTOUN IS BACK - WITH 50 ACTS!
ONE remarkable woman, one extraordinary piece of theatre…Wendy Houstoun is back on stage with 50 Acts!
50 ACTS is a spirited retaliation against ageism, involving manifestos, songs, apologies and errors, random acts, small dances and big ideas, ghostly appearances, invisibility, stupidity, inexplicable feats and unexpected turns, techno idiocy and much, much more.
And at its centre is writer and performer Wendy Houstoun, who brings her own brand of radicalism to the stage in just 60 minutes or so, one hour that is a declaration of intent and a commitment to action, combining movement with text, and meaning with humour, sometimes dark - and sometimes not…
50 Acts stems from Wendy’s exploration of ideas over the past few years, as she considers the position she finds herself in at 50 plus - an established artist and maker of work in a culture dominated by the new and the emerging.
“I have, by critics and friends, variously been described as louche, rebellious, eccentric, unlikely, a ghost, a fighter, honest, irritating, boring, likeable, warm, daring, brave, vapid, silly, empty, experienced, clever, cerebral, casual, bossy, vulnerable, versatile, witty, courageous, insincere, powerful, a female Bob Dylan, a young Lynn Seymour, a brilliant renaissance woman and a complete amateur,” says Wendy.
And it is all those variations on the person and performer she is that she brings to the stage in this exhilarating and critically acclaimed piece that reflects her life as a model performer and maker for a generation of artists, bringing a wealth of experience from her own work alongside her collaborations with artists such as the late Nigel Charnock, Lloyd Newson (DV8), Rose English, Gary Stevens as well as Tim Etchells, Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion.
Written and Performed By Wendy Houstoun, with Lighting Design by Nigel Edwards, 50 Acts is made with the support of Dance4, Yorkshire Dance, The Nightingale Theatre, Artsadmin and Arts Council England.
Ends
What the critics say:
• “Lasting just under an hour, the piece is by turns hilarious, touching, charming and wise. It marks its creator as one of the most forthright and gifted independent performers of her generation.” - Donald Hutera, Dance Magazine
• “Houstoun – on the top of her form” - Allen Robertson, Times online
• **** - The Guardian
50 ACTS SPRING 2013 – UK DATES
APRIL 2013
Sat 13 April*
UNIVERSITY HALL, FINDHORN.
* Double bill with Liz Aggiss
www.bodysurfscotland.co.uk
Thurs 18 April
TALIESIN ARTS CENTRE
www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
Tues 23 April
JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
www.artscentre.je
Sat 27 April
DEDA (DERBY)
www.deda.uk.com
MAY 2013
Wed 15 May
MAC (BELFAST)
www.themaclive.com
Wed 22 May
LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE (LBT)
www.thelbt.org
More National & International dates to be announced shortly.
