Travelling With Thomas, the emergent folk musical from the combined creative forces of musician/composer Laurel Swift and designer Lizzie Watts, enters its second year of development with a series of interactive, online showcases. Telling the legendary tale of Thomas the Rhymer, these online showcases are the result of weeks of socially-distanced virtual collaboration between folk musicians Paul Sartin (Bellowhead, Faustus) and Dave Delarre (Eliza Carthy, Mawkin), musical theatre vocalist Laura Vyas, and innovative dancers Jasmine Lam, Juliette Tellier and Ryheim Scott, exploring the dance element of the musical for the first time. Audiences are invited to embark on a magical journey as a brand new folk musical is created in front of them, with chances to reflect and feed back on the work in real time
Originally there was a short tour planned with performances at Cecil Sharp House, Exeter Phoenix, Warwick Arts Centre and Sidmouth Folk Festival, but given the circumstances they have chosen to do four back-to-back performances online. The showcases on this occasion bring in the dance element to the musical for the first time, working with dancers specialising in a mix of styles, with music provided by Paul Sartin and Dave Delarre.
Laurel Swift is an inspiring instigator of creative new projects and performances rooted in the folk arts. She has choreographed and devised national touring dance productions for Morris Offspring, co-created and performed Under Her Skin with Debs Newbold, and advised theatre and film companies on using folk music and dance material. As a musician, Laurel regularly performs with her acts including Ben Moss, Gadarene and The Gloworms while Bristol based artist Lizzie Watts graduated from the Norwich School of Art and Design in 2010. A multi-disciplined creative with a diverse portfolio, she is a self-employed designer/maker specialising in art for performance.
Telling the legendary tale of Thomas the Rhymer, these online showcases are the result of weeks of socially-distanced virtual collaboration between the musicians musicians Paul and Dave, the musical theatre vocalist Laura and the dancers Jasmine Lam, Juliette Tellier and Ryheim Scott, exploring the dance element of the musical for the first time. Audiences are invited to embark on a magical journey as a brand new folk musical is created in front of them, with chances to reflect and feed back on the work in real time.
Here’s a short trailer:
Performance dates are:
Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
Thursday 25 June, 11.30pm
Friday 26 June, 7.30pm
Saturday 27 June, 4pm
The performances will be available to watch via Zoom—tickets are available to purchase at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/travelling-with-thomas-tickets-104669238510
For more information visit: http://www.travellingwiththomas.co.uk/
