Resonance
Aim
Touring a new 60 minute concert performance consisting of 7 musicians, 2 dancers, 3 concerts and 2 workshops from 3rd-8th June 2018.
Who are we?
We are Shapeshifter Productions, a small performing arts charity based in East London, made up of a core team of 3 passionate women. We've spent the last 11 years delivering arts activities and performances to local residents and now we're branching out!
We want to deliver a tour of Resonance, a concert performance composed by Alison Jones, along with a series of workshops for a wider audience.
A bold new step in concert performance,composed and choreographed by women.
Welcome to Resonance, a concert performance of original music, performed by 7 musicians and 2 dancers, composed by Alison Jones. Inspired by legends of female warriors, from a time when honour and elemental forces were the powers that influenced lives. A tour of 3 concerts will journey through the South West, complimented by 2 workshops for local disadvantaged women, exploring self esteem and confidence through music, drama and dance.
How you can support us
We are now working to complete the show performed by world class artists; 7 musicians and 2 performers. Having secured funding from Arts Council England, West Dorset District Council, South Somerset District Council and Corsham Town Council, Resonance will journey across South West England from the 6th - 8th June 2018:
- Wednesday 6th June at The Poly in Falmouth; book your ticket: https://bit.ly/2wq8sSA
- Thursday 7th June at The Lyric in Bridport; book your ticket: https://bit.ly/2rGJLwp
- Friday 8th June at Pound Arts in Corsham; book your ticket: https://bit.ly/2K1JsmK
In order to go ahead, we need to fill a final gap in the funding to allow us to bring the piece to fruition and finally premiere it! Your contribution will allow us to secure bookings, promote it to promoters, and take it out on the road.
If you have a look at the "perks", we're offering VIP seats, downloads, signed programmes, signed CDs, instrumental lessons and an opportunity to meet the artists backstage!
Please help us reach our final goal, any contribution willbe hugely appreciated, and don't forget to spread the word - without you we cannot make this happen.
The show
Resonance introduces a brand new style of performance, blending haunting music and exhilarating dance into an unforgettable evening. The original concert pieces are composed by Alison Jones and performed live by Alison on violin and vocals, together with six musicians on a variety of instruments, including flute, guitar and clàrsach (Celtic harp).
A fusion of flamenco, classical, Arabic and Scottish disciplines, the composition is inspired by the legend of a conquering young Celt, who encounters a tribe of formidable warrior women and learns from them the value of love, respect and equality.
What makes Resonance especially dynamic is the mirroring of the hero’s journey in a thrilling series of dance pieces, choreographed by dancer and martial arts European champion Cecily Fay. Two dancers play out the narrative on stage in a combination of dance, martial arts and acrobatics.
Resonance is so much more than a concert, giving audiences a unique and engaging theatre experience.
A bit more about the artistic team:
Alison Jones, Composer, Musical Director, Violin, Vocals
Alison is creator of Resonance and will also be directing and performing in it. Her extensive work includes performing internationally for two years to sell out arenas as featured solo violinist with Irish dance spectacular Spirit of the Dance; seven years with The Well Oiled Sisters, whose popular schedule included touring with Morrissey; appearing regularly around the world at WOMAD festivals; playing Edinburgh, PRIDE, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth Arts Festivals. The band are reforming to celebrate 20 years and will be performing at Rhythm Tree Festival, Isle of Wight, London’s iconic 100 Club, Larmer Tree Festival and WOMAD 2018. Alison founded Shapeshifter Productions in 2007, which gained charitable status in 2011. She created, produced and performed her outdoor spectacular WILDFIRE!at St Andrews, Homecoming Scotland Finale 2009. Alison created, produced and performed her outdoor spectacular WILDFIRE! at St Andrews, Homecoming Scotland Finale 2009; shortlisted for Radio 4 Artist in Residence (composer); commissioned by Strung Out to compose Express Symphony, supported by BBC Performing Arts Fund and ACE; has written numerous arrangements for Walthamstow Acoustic Massive. Alison founded Shapeshifter Productions in 2007, which gained charitable status in 2011. As Artistic Director, Alison is focussed on promoting the aims of her charity, whose vision is to create and deliver original, world class, arts productions, and projects that actively engage local communities. Alison has been nominated Cultural Star of Waltham Forest, 2018.
Cecily Fay, Co-director, Performer, Choreographer.
Cecily was a child star, dancing all the major roles with English National Ballet, nationally & internationally, appearing at venues such as New York Metropolitan Opera House, Kennedy Centre Washington, Royal Festival Hall & London Coliseum, receiving critical acclaim both in UK& USA. Introduced to Tai Chi at London Contemporary Dance School, 1991, she began studying Silat Melayu, becoming the double European Champion in Pencak Silat, winning "armed" & "unarmed" Gold Medals,specialising in Sword Form. Now recognised as one of the foremost Pencak Silat Seni performers in the world, Cecily starred in the martial arts/steampunk feature film Flower Of Sarnia. Her band The Morrighan, signed to Serious Records in the 90s, had hit records & toured extensively. Cecily has performed in theatre, video games, film and TV, including Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, Zing Zillas-Cbeebies, Gladiator Girl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chronicles of Narnia, Snow White and the Huntsman; The Huntsman:Winter's War, Star Wars, Episode 8.
Hattie Webb: Celtic Harp, Vocals
Hattie had the privilege to tour and perform with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on their 40th anniversary international tour. Hattie has previously collaborated with Sting, Gotye, Glen Hansard, Steve Martin, Edie Brickell, Rick Rubin, The Avett Brothers & Natalie Maines and is featured on five of Leonard Cohen’s albums. In their band ‘The Webb Sisters’, Hattie and her sister Charley have released three albums, receiving ‘Single and Record of the Week’ on iTunes and BBC Radio Two. Their song ‘Baroque Thoughts’ won The International Music Award for ‘Best Adult Contemporary Song’ and was produced by multiple Grammy Award winner Peter Asher. The Webb Sisters were chosen by Leonard Cohen to join his band on his international tour, performing over 400 concerts around the world to 4 million people. Hattie has played for HRH Queen Elizabeth II and The Spanish Royal Family at The Prince of Asturias Awards. In celebration of her first solo album ‘To The Bone’ release, a live music event was held at St James's Piccadilly in London on Friday 19th May 2017 with sound engineer Marcel van Limbeek (Tori Amos). Leonard Cohen called it “Flawless, uplifting and utterly original”.
John Crawford: Piano/Keyboard
IMA nominated musician John Crawford was born in London of English/Spanish Parents. His father played Blues piano, and this is the first thing he learnt to play. His mother would introduce him to Latin music of all kinds, and he has gone on to perform at Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Getxo Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the 606 club, and Royal Albert Hall amongst others. His 2012 release "Ulia River of Time" has been nominated in the USA by the Independent Music Awards for best album in the Jazz category. John’s extensive and varied work covers jazz (Snowboy, Luna Cohen, Emily Saunders, Guida da Palma, Shantijazzworld, Liliana Chachian, Gustavo Marques, Jandira Silva, Mr Hermano, Orquesta La Clave, Roberto Pla, Robin Jones, Samara and Viramundo), latin (percussion legends Airto Moreira and Frankie Morales), pop (Bjork, Tanita Tikarem, Lewis Taylor, Us3, The Braxtons, Andy Williams, Kirsty McColl, Rui Velos, Babyface, Dina Carroll, Gina Foster and Beverly Skeete) and dance (Heather Cornell, Andrew Nemr, Ana Dueñas Leon, Max Pollack, Junior Laniyan and Tobias Tak). John was also a founder member of the popular band Grupo X, and a member of the Pop/Jazz crossover project ISQ.
Trevor Kentish: Percussion
Trevor is a professional percussionist and teacher, performingboth nationally and internationally. He has studied percussion in Brazil, Cubaand Djembe in Gambia West Africa, and with Master Drummer Seneke Sillah alsofrom the Gambia. His work includes projects as diverse as; West end musicals,Thriller Live (Michael Jackson's music), Jazz fusion with Xantone Blacq (Thelate Amy Winehouse's Keyboard player) Billy Ocean and Mbilla Arts (Gambiandance project) and accompanying Poets such as Adisa. Trevor has also workedwith Afro-Brazilian percussionist group The London Afroblok at the closingceremony on The 2004 Commonwealth games in Canada; Hugh Masakela; Manu Dibango;The Rebirth Brass Band, Glastonbury and Ethiopian jazz legend, Mulatu Astatkein Oslo, Norway.
Jerome Silsby: Guitar, Banjo
Jerome is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, songwriter & producer drawing inspiration from acoustic & electronicmusics around the world. His first musical love is the guitar, which he started learning at the age of 8 in a former residence of the composer Elgar. He derives his playing style from folk, flamenco, Arabic, jazz & classical influences. He has a masters degree in music from Newcastle University. He has performed at numerous venues throughout the UK including the Royal Opera House, The Barbican & LSO St Luke’s London, Zion Arts Centre & The Contact Theatre Manchester & various festivals including Glastonbury, Standon Calling & Colourscape. Jerome has also performed as a dancer &percussionist to millions of viewers on Indonesian national tv as part of an international collaboration sponsored by the Indonesian ministry of culture. Currently he is also writing & performing as ‘Venezuelan Alien’ & arranging for a new band project ‘Firetide’ in addition to library music & community music work.
Ruth Goller: Double Bass
Ruth (originally from Bressanone-Italy) is based in London and plays electric and double bass! After studying music in the UK ('The London Music School" and BA Jazz at Middlesex University), she now performs regularly with leading UK bands, such as Acoustic Ladyland, Melt Yourself Down, Andreya Triana, Oriole, Pat Walden, World Sanguine Report, The Golden Age of Steam, Bug Prentice, The Sefiroth Ensemble, Kamao Quintett, The Moss Project, Let Spin, Gufo and many more. Outside the UK, Ruth has toured and worked with Malien singer Rokia Traore, renowned Serbian pianist and composer Bojan Z, Iranian Sufi- master and musician Davood Azad, Somali singer AarManta and Mim Suleiman. Ruth is very active in the London Music scene and her interest in musical variety is vast (from improvised music, Jazz, Punk, Rock, Hip- Hop, Reggae, electronic music, traditional Balkan music, to Brazilian and African music). She also has been writing monthly columns for the Bass Guitar Magazine and teaches electric bass at Kent University.
Keith Bray: Flutes/Whistles/Pipes
Keith Bray was trained in classical music at the Leeds College of Music/Huddersfield University Music Department/Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Goldsmiths University Music Department (M.Mus.Degree). He has worked extensively for Horse and Bamboo Theatre Company(a founder member), Journeywomen Dance Theatre Company, Quintessence 2, The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company, Wayang-Wayang Chinese Company(performances in Singapore and Kuala Lumpa) and Theatre of Public Works in Israel for the old Dartington Theatre Department, etc. His main instruments are flutes/saxes/Piano and has a wide range of influences especially in world music styles. With a special interest in Raga and Tala Indian melodic and rhythmic techniques. Has also worked extensively with Rock and Jazz groups and currently working on a project with guitarist John Klein from Siouxie and the Banshees as flutist/saxophonist.
Luis Alvarez: Lighting/Sound Designer
Luis started working as Technical Manager for the LOSTTheatre in London 2010 where he had the chance to design both lighting andsound for a large amount of shows including Jerusalem (by Jez Butterworth),Hospital Food (by Eugene O'Hare), Tomorrow I'll Be Happy (by Jonathan Harvey),Gargantua (by Carl Grose) or Market Boy (by David Elridge). He also operatedcomedy (including shows from Alan Davies, Richard Herring, Russell Kane, JackDee, Russell Howard...), cabaret (Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer, EastEnd Cabaret, MarcelLucont...) and several jazz & flamenco gigs. In 2013 he started working asdesigner for other theatre companies focusing in other styles includingpuppetry, physical theatre, dance and greek tragedies. His designs have beenseen in venues such as the National Theatre Shed, Soho Theatre, TrycicleTheatre and The Little Angel Theatre. In 2015 he became freelance and ispresently collaborating with Around The Glove (Puppet theatre company),Limb2Limb Theatre (Physical Theatre) and Vertebra Theatre (Puppetry &Visual Theatre) among others. As sound engineer he is currently collaboratingwith the band Alma.
This project successfully funded on 22nd May 2018