The Clay Connection in association with Supple Productions

presents

LIVES OF CLAY
Three women and a potter's wheel
 

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If clay could talk, what would it say? Stories of women from ancient myth and modern life are brought vividly to life through thrilling classical Indian dance, original music and.... half a ton of clay. 

Vidya Thirunarayan combines her expertise in Bharata Natyam dance with her skill as a potter in a unique theatrical event, directed by Tim Supple.

Internationally renowned as a Bharata Natyam dancer, Vidya Thirunarayan is also a prominent ceramicist, and in 2015 began combining these skills in performance. Through dancing with clay and throwing pots on stage she found a new way to tell stories rich with drama and emotion.  

Prajapati, Sanskrit for potter, represents both the supreme creator and the lowest of the low; a duality that has inspired this intriguing new work.  

 Lives of Clay is a vivid and vital theatre experience, full of heart and made of mud. 

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Creative team:

Conceived and Performed by Vidya Thirunarayan

Director: Tim Supple

Director of Choreography: Debbie Fionn Barr

Text: Vayu Naidu

Composer: Barry Ganberg

Sound Design: Alan Burgess

Designer: Julie Belinda Landau

Production Manager: James Ball

Tour and Company Stage Manager: Anna Weatherston

Film and photography: Zoe Manders

Producer: Lisa Wolfe

National Tour dates

Brighton festival – 14 &15 May

https://brightonfestival.org/whats-on/a-weekend-without-walls-st-anns-well-gardens-4680/

Norwich & Norfolk festival - 21 & 22 May

https://nnfestival.org.uk/whats-on/garden-party-2/

Salisbury International Arts festival – 29 May

https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/festival/lives-of-clay/

Timber festival,Burton upon Trent – 1 July

https://timberfestival.org.uk/

Hat Fair, Winchester – 3 July

https://www.hatfair.co.uk/info/festival

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Southampton Mela - 16 July

https://artasia.org.uk/mela-festival/

Ensemble festival, London – 23 July

https://certainblacks.com/#

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Kensington and Chelsea festival, London - 24 July

Stockton International Riverside festival, Stockton-on-Tees – 5 & 6 Aug

https://sirf.co.uk/

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Shaw House, Newbury- 18 September

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Funding, commissioning, and partner credits:

Lives of Clay (2022) is supported by Without Walls, commissioned by Brighton Festival, Certain Blacks and 101 Outdoor Arts, with additional support from Arts Asia and funding from Arts Council England. Produced in association with Supple productions at 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space. With thanks to University of Chichester, Rudolf Steiner House and Farnham Maltings.

Special thanks to Chris Fogg, Geetha Sridhar, Lee Hart, Marie- Gabriella Rotie and  Keith Waite for their creative contributions to the Research workshops leading to this production.

For more information on the production  please contact
Lisa Wolfe  at wolfework1@aol.com

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Images captured on tour

A short film from the R&D