The Clay Connection in association with Supple Productions
presents
LIVES OF CLAY
Three women and a potter's wheel
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.
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
Tour dates 2023
Thrive Festival, Dartington 30 April https://www.dartington.org/event/lives-of-clay-the-clay-connection/
Redcar Festival 26 & 27 August
Freedom Festival, Hull 2 & 3 September
Inside Out Festival, Dorset 16 & 17 September
Tour of India 2023
TATA litfest , NCPA ,Mumbai 28 & 29th Oct
Serendipity Festival, Goa 15, 16, 17, 18th Dec
Spaces, Chennai 6th & 7th Jan 2024 ( at Sun rise and Sun set)
Related Academic presentations
Approaches to Indian dance-pottery performance
23 May, University of Chichester
Making connections : body, dance, and clay in Indian dance - pottery Performance
New Mobilities 'on the Turn?'- Conference hosted by Society of Dance Research and The Place, 8 Sept, London
National Tour 2022
Brighton festival – 14 &15 May
Norwich & Norfolk festival - 21 & 22 May
Salisbury International Arts festival – 29 May
Timber festival,Burton upon Trent – 1 July
Hat Fair, Winchester – 3 July
Southampton Mela - 16 July
Ensemble festival, London – 23 July
Kensington and Chelsea festival, London - 24 July
Stockton International Riverside festival, Stockton-on-Tees – 5 & 6 Aug
Shaw House, Newbury- 18 September
Lives of Clay information pack
For more information on the production please contact
Lisa Wolfe at wolfework1@aol.com
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.
