And some of you may be interested in this:
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Date: 04 August 2006 20:00 +0100
From: Carran Waterfield <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: (Triangle) Memory, Museums, and the Pollard Trail
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4 August 2006 (Page 1 of 2)
PRESS: Amanda Kay. mobile 07896 495540; email [log in to unmask]
Memory, museums and the Pollard Trail
The remarkable story of a clown who lost his memory during the Blitz is
being told in a unique history trail in Coventry this summer.
It's the story of Irving Pollard - Chico the Clown - who was born into a
circus family and who lived in the Hillfields area of the city. Pollard was
so traumatized by the Blitz which destroyed his workshop containing his
collection of puppets that he faced years of silence without a voice or
memory. It was only by carving a new puppet he found that he was finally
able to communicate with friends and relatives.
Drawing upon original artefacts, archives and ephemera from the Pollard
Collection at The Herbert, Triangle Performance Company has developed a
unique approach to presenting Pollard's story, a story that moves outside
of the museum and into community locations associated with Irving and his
life. Memorabilia from the collection will be displayed at 16 venues in
Hillfields, including Pollard’s former 1930s sweetshop, now owned by a
Kurdish family. By exposing the museum's collection in such a radical way
to a community that is considered by many to be 'difficult', Triangle and
The Herbert are fiercely resisting the pressure to conform.
In fact, the Pollard Trail is very relevant to the experience of many
living in Hillfields: “The themes of memory, loss and recovery are
important to people living in and around this area of Coventry”, says Kurt
Zarniko, one of the clown curators, “The area is in a process of huge
redevelopment and this trail brings the drama of true historical events
together with modern myths about Hillfields. Also, the issue of trauma as a
result of war will find resonance in an area which is now home to many who
have fled persecution."
Moving museum artefacts into the community isn't the only ground-breaking
device employed by Triangle. Using a combination of theatre performance,
site-specific activities, oral history and interpretation by quixotic clown
curators, Triangle has taken living history a step further. It has
succeeded in producing an imaginative means of enabling people to discover
the past whilst seeing how the past relates to the present. The outcome is
an entertaining and informative story set amidst the unpredictability of
everyday life.
Such is the importance of the project it has attracted the attention of
Manchester University and is a major case study in the university's
Performance, Learning and Heritage research project. It also has the
support of Brian Pollard, Irving's only surviving nephew: "I'm delighted my
uncle is being remembered in this way. I am proud to be part of this unique
portrayal of an extraordinary man."
Participants on the Pollard Trail can dip in and out of the activities. The
trail can be joined at any time and lasts from half an hour to all day. A
timetable of events will be published daily.
ENDS
EDITORIAL INFORMATION
10-20 August 11am-5pm (Sundays 12-4)
Monday 14th Free to Hillfields Residents
Tuesday ? Wednesday: ‘Pay what you can’
Thursday ? Sunday: £5, £3 (conc.), £2 (Hillfields residents)
Download a map at www.cmpsoc.kk5.org
PRESS EVENT: Saturday, 10 August 2006, 3pm at The Swanswell Pub, Cox
Street, Hillfields.
For further information and to arrange a photo opportunity, contact Amanda
Kay on 07896 495540 or email [log in to unmask]
TRIANGLE
Established by performer-writer-director Carran Waterfield in 1988,
Triangle has been in residence at The Herbert since November 2000. Under
Carran's artistic direction the company has been making cutting-edge
performance work and since 1997 Carran Waterfield has been in collaboration
with Performance Artist, Richard Talbot. Together they have developed a
substantial body of work.
Triangle creates original experimental work which brings museological
practices into dialogue with performance and live art. This ranges from
experimental methods of harvesting oral histories, work that explores the
significance of heritage to young people, to radical responses to
historical sites and their contemporary users. Triangle is a winner of the
Museums and Heritage Award 2005 and the Roots and Wings Award 2005 as well
as the Edinburgh Fringe First Award.
www.triangletheatre.co.uk 024 7678 5170
The Pollard Trail
The amazing recovery of the clown who lost his memory!
www.cmpsoc.kk5.org
10 - 20 August.
Trail opens daily 11am-5pm (Sunday 12am-4pm).
Max charge £5.00
Starts at The Herbert, Jordan Well, Coventry.
www.theherbert.org
For sale: Sam Charon, your CMP Soc guide
Buy Sam Now on e-bay!
http://search.ebay.co.uk/sam-charon_W0QQfromZR41QQsatitleZsamQ2echaron
Presented by The CMP Soc
in association with
Triangle
www.triangletheatre.co.uk
Supported by
Arts Council England, Renaissance in the Regions, The Herbert, and in
association with Coventry Transport Museum
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----------------------
Dr A A Piccini
Research Councils Academic Fellow
Department of Drama: Theatre, Film, Television
University of Bristol
Cantocks Close, Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1UP
T: +44 0117 954 5449
E: [log in to unmask]
W: www.bristol.ac.uk/drama/staff_research/angela_piccini/angela_piccini.html
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