Be Everything

One of the best and worst things about making your own work, is that you end up having to do everything and be everybody, I mean, until you're Beyonce. While I am sometimes able to outsource some of the more expert jobs, for the most part I am my own costume designer, sound designer, set designer, make up artist, producer and videographer, to name just a few. Last week I added another string to my bow, and bought a remote for my camera, which means I can now take photos of myself.  *I FEEL SO ALONE*

Here are some of the best shots, promoting my show The Adventures of the Bearded Lady which was at Camden People's Theatre last week. Click on them to scroll through.

Yes It's Funny Joe Wicks Spoof for BBC3

It's always a pleasure to work with Studio Yes (who run the Yes It's Funny Youtube channel). This time was especially great because as well as researching and throwing around ideas for the script, I helped with the shoot - whipping up this delicious recipe. 

Can't Blame a Man for Trying - short film by Kyle Shephard

A while ago I got asked to help a mate out with some dog walking, and I thought it was a bit odd but I agreed. Little did I know he was filming the whole thing!

What a great result, thanks Kyle Shephard for capturing the entire baffling encounter...

Strong Asian Mothers - Hard To Find

I few weeks ago I had the pleasure of performing in the incredible music video for Strong Asian Mothers. Not only that, but I fulfilled a lifetime dream of flying a space ship. Sadly I wasn't very good and I got shot down.

Ham Paradiso

A while back Adam Morley, Dulcimer Cowling and I concocted the brand Ham Paradiso. Adam and I then filmed this episode which we hoped to be the first of many. Despite not having made a second episode yet, 3 years later, we still believe Ham Paradiso has the potential to go global. Please enjoy.

Episode 1 - Deborah interviews Stephen: just another day at the office for the staff of Ham Paradiso. 

Created by & Starring Adam Morley and Theodora van der Beek
Directed by Adam Morley
Music by Strong Asian Mothers
Hands and Arty Eye by Dulcimer Cowling

Egg is back!

I've got a couple more Egg dates in March (3rd and 4th) at Camden People's Theatre. Here is a trailer for the show, I hope you like it...

Strong Asian Mothers music video - Don't Let Go

Bless the creative whirlwind that is Amer Chadha Patel, who rounded up some of his friends, gave us party hats and beer and then tried to direct us in his band's new music video, a cover of the En Vogue classic: Don't Let Go.

Art Direction for Shut Up & Sit Down Game Review

The lads at Shut Up & Sit Down are at it again with their review of an expansion pack for their favourite game of 2015: Mysterium. Set in the 1920s, a band of mystics gather together to try and solve several murders. Summoning up a ghost, who can only communicate to them through mysterious dream symbols, they must uncover the truth...

This time I was tasked with setting a chilling scene in my authentically accurate living room: I gathered together all the most appropriate artefacts, and painted Matt's hair with flour to transform him into the ghost... 

Strong Asian Mothers with 50 Strong Choir

One hazy hungover Sunday I made my way over to a large warehouse in East London and had my face painted blue and joined a 50 strong choir for my favourite band Strong Asian Mothers. 

Shelter Campaign with Studio Yes

We spent a very cold day in an almost uninhabited tower block in Stratford to make this video for Shelter. It would be a lot funnier if it weren't based on the experiences of real Londoners.

Egg - Photographs from the live performance

Ecstatic with these photos from my performance of Egg at Camden People's Theatre by Thomas Hensher, 

http://www.thomashensher.com/

Summer Loving with the RSPLB

The RSPLB had a very successful summer, matchmaking at Wilderness, Somersault and Citadel festivals. Here is our newly released film, courtesy of Joseph Wilson.

Egg Mug

My egg show is coming up and I've designed a beautiful mug to go with it, check out the realistic yolky centre! 

The show is on March 5th at Camden People's Theatre, buy tickets here: 

Wraparound Mugs by Vistaprint

Raveyard - Halloween at Waterloo Vaults

Raveyard returned for Halloween this year, but this time I wasn't a zombie...

As revellers arrived they were informed that they had just passed away and would meet St Peter who would make the final judgement call on where they were to be sent for their afterlife. Hell was the place to be, with a programme of appropriately loud and sinful music. Purgatory was an endless queue filled with so much smoke you couldn't see your feet, let alone an escape route. 

Representing Heaven as Gwendolyn, a lovely old lady who died peacefully in her sleep some time ago, I was joined by Petunia and Esmerelda who were in the same age bracket. Surrounded by deck chairs and clouds, and Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights' on repeat, we welcomed in the newly dead with open arms and a plate of Custard Creams (which we'd made ourselves only that morning!) Some of them did not, sadly, adhere to the strict scent code, and were plastered in the fancy Lidl perfume 'Suddenly Madame Glamour'. We all had a wonderful time regaling them with tales of our misspent/uneventful youth, though many of them did seem rather keen to leave. Unfortunately no one stayed for the recorder recital or the lecture on the way of God. What a shame! The youth are so fickle these days *sigh*.

16 Singers - a show for babies up to 18 months old

Last month I was excited to be one of the 16 in a show for babies - 16 Singers.

Dance Umbrella describe it as: 

'A special experience, created by Katherine Morley for babies aged 0 – 18 months and their grownups, it cleverly captures the attention of tiny spectators using breath, rhythms and song, and by blending movement with an intricate, moving set.

Director Katherine Morley has brought together a team of artists passionate about creating work for children. Paul Rissmann, described by The Herald newspaper in Scotland as “the Pied Piper of classical music”, has written an uplifting score sung by the performers as they move amongst the babies. Choreographer Rosie Heafford, best known for her collaboration in the hit Dad Dancing, adds gentle patterns of movement in and around the delicately woven sculpture created by Sophia Clist, of Theatre-Rites fame.

With its very young audience at its heart, 16 Singers is a rare opportunity to share a beautifully crafted performance with your baby.'

Until the babies arrived in the audience it was hard to see how it would work, but I was surprised to find their level of engagement throughout was consistently high. There were certain moments in the show which were always completely silent, and it was exhilarating to be entertaining such a unique audience. There isn't much (if any) theatre for humans so young, and children's theatre in general often attempts to be interactive and force a reaction - Morley's idea is to treat the babies as spectators, producing a work that would develop their capacity BE entertained rather than engage in an activity. The theory behind the work was evident in the success of the show - a consistent comment from parents was that they had never seen their child sit so still for so long!

Life Drawing Model at Winterwell Festival

I've always wanted to try out life modelling, and this weekend lent the opportunity - drawing instructor Mia Rivka Gubbay invited me to Winterwell festival in Cambridgeshire, with the added proviso that if I wanted to earn some money I could take my clothes off and let drunk people draw me. Without really thinking about it, I said yes.

Nearer the time, I began to get anxious about what I'd agreed to. What was 'normal' pubic hair? What if I started my period in the middle? What if I saw someone I knew? ... If I'd let the worries take over, I realised, I'd waste the experience, so I gave my bikini line a brief, inefficient wax and decided that:

a) If I didn't know what 'normal' pubic hair looked like it wouldn't matter, and maybe no one did: I should just have it how I liked it.

b) If I started my period it would be embarrassing but worth it for the story I'd be able to tell afterwards.

c) If someone I knew saw me they'd probably just be impressed by my huge balls.

So, I did it. I practised the moment when I took off my robe, so it wouldn't be awkward, and pretended I was completely at ease, and after the first few moments, I actually was. Then, after about 10 more moments, holding poses became uncomfortable, an exercise in mind over matter: you become very aware of your muscles, posture and breathing. Halfway through the first hour and a half, I also managed to convince myself that I HAD started my period - I could feel liquid gushing down my leg and over my ankle.  I desperately tried to communicate with Mia telepathically - I'd already made her swear she'd get people out if she saw any blood. To her credit, she did ask if I was okay. But I wasn't sure about using the code word we'd worked out. If I used it once on a false alarm I wouldn't be able to use it again. So I just carried on and hoped for the best. Which is lucky, because it was all in my mind.

We had 2 sessions of 1 and a half hours each, and they were both very interesting experiences. I'm glad I did it, and glad that it was a less formal environment than an average class. The students were a mixture of people who'd done it before and those who hadn't, drunk and sober, men and women. One drunk man kept us entertained by lecturing us on Geography. Most of the 'good' drawings were taken away by the artists, but they let me keep the rest. But actually some of those drawings are my favourites. Luckily I made friends with my body long ago, otherwise I may have had some issues with some of their proportions!  (I know I have a small head but.... really?)

Mia's blog describes some of the work she does:  http://imaginationandskepticism.tumblr.com/

Pawn in Star Wars Game Review - Shut Up & Sit Down

Shut Up & Sit Down are a board game review body with 4 bodies (there's 4 of them). Which means they know all the best games and how to play them. Which is fun when you get to play them too. Which is why I was very happy to be invited to try out the new Star Wars Game with one of the bodies.

I thought I was just there to play a game, but for about 10 mins in the 13 hour game playing day, Matt turned his camera on and captured some invaluable footage of us to use in his video. So, that's what I've been doing...