The Lyric Theatre Bridport very generously offered us a week long residency, entirely for free, the week of the 21st of September 2020. After six months of next to no work and of hardly having seen one another, let alone worked together, this residency was more than a generous offer, it was a real gift. It allowed us to get back into a space together and experiment. It re-initiated a process which is extremely difficult to re-engage when there is only a domestic space to work in and when a global pandemic has almost completely shut down all forms of performance and encouragement and made seeing and talking to one another very difficult.
Coming away from this week we have realised just how crucial a space to ‘play’ in is. Without 3D space, we find it impossible to generate new work. Living in London, the opportunities for residencies that are affordable, let alone free, are few and far between.
We love the Lyric and everyone who works there. We appreciate their support and encouragement and the sense of ease with which we were allowed to use the building (from top to toe) and come and go as we pleased.
The Lyric has also ended up being incorporated into our work completely, not just used as a rehearsal space, but as a set, location and inspiration!