Photo credits: Fake Trash Photography
Time speaks to Viola in this steampunk inspired act. Featuring a riddle and the climactic reveal of spinning clock faces, this performance brings elegance, power and theatrical wit.
Intrigued by how the mechanics of this act were put together? Keep reading.
I . Creative consultation
Having signed up to perform a solo at Lady Wildflower’s annual student showcase (though I’d never performed burlesque before), step one in the process was PANIC. Thankfully, Lady Wildflower’s wisdom guided me through our first consultation. I shared all the crazy, inspired, wacky ideas I’ve ever had. Asked to pick one, I decided to burlesque as ‘time’.
Because tackling the dimension which sets the boundaries for our entire human existence felt like the obvious choice.
II. Research
Aside from ‘get over yourself’, the best advice I was given was ‘treat it like a research project.’ Immediately, the noughties teenager within me seized the excuse to put together a terrible Powerpoint presentation, filled with animations and endless photos of clocks. But the gears of the act improved when I indulged my fascination of Steampunk (a sub-genre of science fiction which reimagines the Victorian era with futuristic inventions).
Before I could say ‘pocketwatch’, I was glueing cogs onto a top hat.
III. Choreography
Ah. As a child of the 90s, I’ve watched enough video tapes of The Spice Girls to feel born to choreograph a routine. Having earmarked Allie X’s Staying Power as the accompanying soundtrack, I began with breaking the song down into musical sections to work out at what point gloves were to come off and hips were to thrust! Notepad and headphones at the ready! In the tuneful words of Steps, it was time to begin and count me in … 5,6,7,8!
This was an extremely sweaty task to complete during summer. Do not recommend.
IV . Costume
I have no costume experience (apart from making a drawstring bag in Textiles at high school). In a frenzy I threw myself at the shop assistants in Leon’s fabric shop, Chorlton. Having purchased the perfectly patterned material, I dyed it with Rit in a large bucket in the garden (like some sort of swamp witch), before cutting each clockface out and sewing it into my costume.
The spinning clock face bra reveal? Mini lampshade frames sewn into a Playful Promises bullet bra – complete with fidget spinners. I can only apologise to the staff in Hobby Craft.
All in all, I had a bloody brilliant time. Life’s too short not to add in a dose of quirky creativity and share it with the world! After the show it was time for cuppa tea and a good sit down. Photo credits: Photoniti
🔈The Clockwork Riddle – a piece of performance poetry I wrote for this project – opens this act. Special thanks to Jay for helping me bring it to life. Listen to it here!
Contains strong language.
The Life Crisis 