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Storytime for the Hungry
directed by Rachel Baker and produced by Ralph Upton with Claire O'Loughlin

in partnership with New Crossways Community Centre and supported by Creative Communities
performed by Joel Baxendale, Simon Haren, Gareth Hobbs and Claire O'Loughlin

"Best Outdoor," NZ Fringe 2010.

Picture

Free performances.
Possible free porridge.
An exploration of clowning, a street theatre project, and a free workshop performance. 
The performances were at Polehill reserve, by 225 Aro St, at 7pm, 1-3 March 2010.

What they thought:

"The players uniformly hit the mark, which is necessary when your set consists of a scraggly lawn. As cook and unelected clown leader Toilette, Claire O’loughlin holds the piece together. Her rag-tag minions consist of Simon Haren’s accurately named Giggles; Joel Baxendales’ musically inclined stud-muffin Ever Ready; and Gareth Hobbs’ adorably thin skinned Juillio. Their perfectly timed interactions provided an hour’s sustenance in a hollow, pitiless world...So in the words of a fellow audience member, “That’s like the first time I’ve found clowns funny!” 
Salient

"Go along and have a sweet as time, and if you know any children then take them with you. You will be charmed and cheered and potentially fed." 
Theatreview

Director's Note

As a very small girl dragged along to the Arts Festival I remember been enthralled and similtanously wrought with laughter as I watched two russian clowns pull a rope from off stage. That was all but it was magic and I wanted it. My curiosity was in that moment born, but apart from an incredible but far too short clown workshop with John Bolton three years ago, this is my first delve into clown.
 
In pitching this  project to the company it seemed fitting for Binge Culture to use clown as a way to try on new shoes for size, however ridiculous. Our purpose was to explore new territory, get back into the rehearsal room and build basic performance skills without the expectations of a big show. It seemed like a decadent request. Let us play for a month. However putting on a red nose and coming onto stage simply to be funny can feel alot like feeding your ego to a bunch of tigers. It requires brutal honesty, boldness and complete trust in your other players. I thank Claire, Joel, Gareth and Simon for riding the beast like soldiers, Ralph for his full hearted support of this project and Jo Randerson for her wonderfull mentorship.
 
So this porridge and it's accompaniments is a offering ,a response to a month of trying to make each other laugh.  Bon Appetit!

-Rachel
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