The Room

Aim

The creation of a new live art solo from briggsy - The Room will weave together stories from local Lancashire LGBTQ+ communities.

About 'The Room'

A visually arresting and socially relevant piece of work for young audiences, The Room will challenge traditionally perceived notions of gender identity and sexual orientation. Drawing from both my own and others' experiences of ‘coming out’ and 'dealing with it', the small-scale solo performance work will combine dance, theatre and performance enhancing technologies to an original score by Lee Affen and Charlotte Barber.

Alongside creation of the work I will also explore a new 'Queer in residence' performance and education package for schools.

Between March and May 2017 I will work with a collective of highly skilled artists and mentors to bring this work to life and road test it in Lancaster, Preston, Burnley and Salford (further performances of the work TBC).

My project supporters/partners include: Salford University, Lancashire LGBT, Ludus Dance, Burnley College, UCLan University & Maelstrom Theatre.

My artistic collaborators include: David Forrest (film), Lee Affen (music producer), Charlotte Barber (vocalist and producer), Mike Smith (set designer/builder), Gary Clarke (choreographic mentor) & Lindsey Brocklebank (artistic/creative mentor).

Background

At 15 I knew that I was different from most of the other boys in my school. I can’t remember when it dawned on me that I fancied boys, but looking back I think it was probably PE class! 

Even though I wasn’t out, they called me puff and sissy and I used to spend most of my time at home in my room.  For 3 years I isolated myself from my family, friends and society. I withdrew, became despondent and depressed.  In my mind I built this massive un-scalable brick wall - I was frightened.  What if they stopped loving me?  What if they threw me out?  Where would I go?   Who would help me?

I can’t remember what changed or when I decided to come out, but at 18 I did. I didn’t do it face to face, as I was too scared for that. Instead I wrote a letter (I cringe when I read it now - see below) and left it for my mum to find.  After all that worrying it turned out I was panicking for no reason.  My mum, dad and brother were fine with it.

Unfortunately, other young LGBTQ+ teens have or will not have had the same experience.

Whilst significant progress has been made, many people identifying as LGBTQ+ within their communities still face discrimination and hatred.  Having never really seen myself as an activist, as an out gay man, I feel I have a duty to use my artistic practice to not only speak up for those that do not have a voice, but also help them find the support they need.

My Credentials 

I graduated in 2005 from Leeds University with a degree in dance, and later gained my PGCE (Cert Ed) from UCLan University.  Through the roles I have held within the arts since 2006, I have honed my skills as a performer, practitioner, arts manager, producer, fundraiser, mentor and maker. With much of my previous work being participatory in nature, I have specialised in developing programmes for, by and with young people. I am interested in creating accessible work for diverse audiences.

I have worked alongside makers such as Gary Clarke, Adele Thompson and TC Howard. I have worked for the companies Qdos Creates, EEE-MoTion Dance Theatre, Karla Shacklock Dance and continue to perform for Maelstrom Theatre.

Currently Creative Director for Ludus Dance I have had the opportunity to design a number of high profile products.  Producing my first full-length solo Land of the Giants in 2015, I have performed it in Lancaster, Edinburgh (Fringe), Burnley and Manchester (Emergency Festival). In 2016 I created an outdoor solo work (Bernesto the Great) and a duet (LOL Moments) for Maelstrom Theatre, commissioned by Preston City Council for the ENCOUNTER festival.

How you can help me...

Having recently been successful with my Arts Council Grants for the Arts application, I am seeking further financial investment from local donors that want to support the development of LGBTQ+ youth focussed work across Lancashire.  

My partners have graciously agreed to give me worker time, space and some equipment hire and I am also giving some of my own time and personal savings towards development.

 All money raised from this campaign will go to:

• Buying additional set and props
• Paying the artists (music and film)
• Time towards visiting young LGBTQ+ groups across Lancashire to gather stories and footage
• A Contribution towards access costs for rurally isolated young people

 I am keen to start this journey and explore my queer body of work.

This project successfully funded on 6th March 2017