Spare thoughts
Arti Prashar - Artistic Director of Spare Tyre.
You can read this in blog form, by clicking here.
July 2010
I was having a bit of a beautifying sess the other day - lying half naked chatting to the beautician as you do. What wonders they are - listening to you moaning and groaning whilst holding some of your deepest secrets! The double effect of cleansing both mind and body.
We got on to the subject of poetry and censorship.
We talked about a woman who had found a gift – the gift of words, the gift to write beautiful powerful poetry in Urdu and Punjabi. We talked of how she had been invited to prestigious events, had written a book of verse, appeared on TV, radio and had produced a CD. But to her family friends and community she was just an ordinary woman.
One day she sought the permission of her religious leader so she didn’t have to be so secretive about her other life, so that she could express her self openly. But sadly her religious leader said no to her writing poetry, no to reciting it in public, no to selling her book……..
All sorts of issues came hurtling into my mind at that moment:
Why do women allow men to control their lives?
Why are women still of lower status to men?
Why are we all so afraid? Afraid of others that might be slightly different or express a different point of view.
Why? When open communication is so vital to the future survival of humanity?
Why are we so eager to suppress the voices of women – make them invisible ………..a head of steam was rising…
I had to stop my mind - I came here to feel and be beautiful – I’m potentially leaving with a stressed frown – mask is cracking fast!
And relax…breathe - all’s fine with the world.
June 2010
I have no idea where the last couple of months have gone.
I looked up and it was nearly July, and I was hunting for my summer clothes. The World Cup was making a vuvuzela noise, the cricket was making congo noise and the Wimbledon hood seductively came over Centre Court on day one - not for rain but for a tennis match that went on ‘til 11pm.
I was bemoaning the tense stop of a match, players sleeping on it and knowing the next day would be anyone’s game and then the next day another match went to final set 50 something games all and stopped for the night!
Actually I do really know where time has flown: we opened a show early May called Safe – any venues interested? And then another late May I’m an Artist, let me in! (again, anyone interested in booking it?) and have been in detox recovering ever since!
And then we all held our breath waiting for the balanced government to start its round of cuts bringing with it discord. Hey ho one day we will get equilibrium.
April 2010
I’ve been a bit off balance recently - some might say that’s nothing unusual…
With all news reports talking of a balanced parliament it’s not surprising that balance is on my brain. The thing that popped into my head after balanced parliament was: is there balance in press coverage when it comes to the arts.
I don’t think so.I stopped subscribing to Time Out after they produced their 40 years of existence edition.
It left me feeling quite sad - I took a deep breath and thought wow that’s not the London I recognise from the last 30 years, those are not my heros or mentors. I was left feeling well and truly alienated. Why have they omitted the vibrant talented multi ethnic artists that were at the cutting edge of arts and culture in London, no Britain?I was really excited by the thought of 40 years of London art and culture captured in one edition – this hub of cultures from every corner of the world - street, classical, young, pink, old, extreme, risk, protest, sexy….. – 30 years of which I have been a part. TO was edgey, cutting edge, fringe, to have TO was to be in the know about the next great artists happening in an out of the way part of London.
Why has it all gone wrong? Here at Spare Tyre we have been trying to get our shows reviewed – the press are just not biting – they only offer very pathetic excuses: we only review professionals – but we are, what no celebs? – no these performers who are salt of the earth, sorry you need to do a 3 week run at least – well if venues would talk to us, book us, we would, can’t you give us a sensational story about one of the cast – well if you came to see the show you’d see its all about them and their issues that you could then write about……..
So do we have to resort to using terms like ‘cripping up’ or ‘wrinkleys’ to get attention?It is respectable press like Stage and Guardian not wanting to review community theatre. Why not?
So to press and media I say just as our politicians are having to re-think and adjust to a ‘balanced’ parliament perhaps its time they did the same and took a more ‘balanced’ attitude when reviewing the arts.
It’s about giving fair representation to us all.
Living in hope………..
March 2010
I ended up at an event run by the National Campaign for the Arts to debate the state of the Arts and their need in any civilised society.
I was transported back to the days of my school assembly. And yes mine was a grammer school for gals!
On the stage sat Chair of Governors Joan Bakewell (also advisor to the government on the elderly – horrible term that, elderly, much prefer older people), Headmistress Margaret Hodge MP, Head of Arts Mr Don Foster MP and school boy Ed Vaizey MP.
I tried to break out of the nightmare unfolding before me when all debate focussed on Youth Arts, the free theatre tickets scheme, free museums and galleries, unions and other new initiatives for young people and education. I’m stifling a scream just writing this.
Fleetingly Head of Arts Mr Don Foster mentioned how valued arts are in mental health, prisons, hospitals, community and social care settings. The rest was all bickering and points scoring. If these are the politicians who are fighting our corner in the House of Commons - then Gawd help us all.
Headmistress Hodge declared that it was up to us, the arts makers, producers, providers, creatives to shout loudly and have our case heard. Rum really, ‘cos when we do said don’t waste money on a free ticket scheme no-one listened, when we said don’t put money into a new arts and education initiative but do an audit and then support those trying to deliver this work no-one listened, when we say you cannot just focus on Youth Arts in the next few years because for the first time ever in our nation’s history we have a majority aging population, and a population with increased disabilities are you listening?
Isn’t it odd that government should think that education and arts are only needed by young people and older people need only health and care?
Where is the fair in that?
January 2010
There is a lot of talk about the worth and value of the Arts and whether or not they really do have the power to change the world.
I have personally known experienced and valued the power of the Arts. I have first hand experience of witnessing life-changing moments not only in myself but in others too.
I was very disappointed recently when I attended a workshop and heard panellists who should be advocating for the Arts, since they represent them, saying ‘arts cannot change the world’. How I so so so disagree.
I can understand that you might believe that a night out is not going to change your life. It might provoke you but change the world? But who knows it might have been the first time you have experienced a live performance and even if it is not, as long as it’s got an emotional truth about it, it will resonate, it should move something within you.
And if you actually participate in making Art the impact on your emotional, intellectual wellbeing is immeasurable. I have stayed in the Arts only because at the tender age of 20 I understood the impact of empathy, the impact of censorship and free speech, the power of unheard voices being listened to through theatre, dance, photos, film, music.
Most of my creative life has been in the joyful pursuit of engaging and enabling people, watching as they came out of depression, found their voice, their self worth, self esteem, self confidence so that they were able to simply hold their head up and look into someone’s eyes without averting their gaze. That’s the Arts effecting change.
I have watched people make their owns decisions and demand choices, I have watched them stay on in the Arts or find their direction in a job or further education. That’s the power of the Arts.
All of us who work in community, applied, participatory or educational Arts know and understand its potential to impact on society.
It enables difficulties and issues to be raised and discussed openly, it can generate momentum that challenges provision and legislation.
We at Spare Tyre are constantly walking that tightrope of Arts and Advocacy. The Arts acts as a catalyst, stimulus, mirror and in science these are all causes of change.
December 2009
‘Tis the season to be jolly tra la la la la la la…………and we at Spare Tyre are very jolly. We have shaken free the Ghost of Past, Spirits of Present are lifted and the Spectre of Future looks positively – well positive.
As I write snow flurries fall in Oval, South London and from our office windows you can see the expanse of sky and in the distance clouds heavy with snow. Sadly it won’t settle.
Over the past few weeks we have been involved in much open and frank chat with our artists in HotPots and inc.Theatre Ensemble, and our freelance artists and volunteers – our Spare Tyre Associates.
We have asked them to consider what we do, how we do it and are there things we need to consider when mulling over the future? Obviously we can’t respond to every thought and demand, but it’s our way of saying we really value you, your thoughts and your engagement with us. We want you to come along on the next part of our journey and be as excited as we are about the future of Spare Tyre. Their response has warmed the cockles and sent a glow through our collective core staff team. Love is in the air…..
HotPots (artists 60+) did a cracking presentation of Trojan Women and 2 Blokes on Friday 11 December. As you can imagine not full of much cheer but it was timely and resonated powerfully the hurt, pain and futility of war as those we love are cruelluy taken from us. Will we ever learn from history literature and art? Answers on a post-it ……….. mulled wine was supped and mince pies munched! All very civilised.
On Tuesday 15 we were at Waterman’s Art Centre putting on a showcase of design – Off the Washing Line. Bags, hats, T-shirts made by people with learning disabilities. If you weren’t there you missed a treat of artistic talent! It was sheer delight watching shapes weave colour print being proudly paraded down the catwalk. ‘Tis the season to be jolly!
November 2009
……….red brown sienna rust golden yellow isn’t Autumn beautiful? A turn in the season that says slow down, keep warm, store up for winter – but do we listen? How out of touch with nature we are as we continue to ignore all signs of change and carry on our 24 -7 lifestyles. And then the rains came and it was shocking to see how unstable the bridges were that have stood since the 19th century, they came tumbling down all across Cumbria. Nothing is forever I suppose.
Stop in the name of love – think it all over. A little Supreme moment there!
We’re all having to re-think what we do and how we do it against a backdrop of extreme uncertainty. Schrodinger's Cat pops to mind – alive, dead, macro, micro, where does it begin end or meet? How do we stop the rain overflow joining the drains – stop people paving their gardens? Don’t build on land that soaks up water? Old themes with a new perspective.
Recently I’ve been experiencing a lot of that - old themes with a new perspective in spaces across London. Much of it has challenged me, provoked strong reactions like I love, I hate, mmm interesting – very fallopian tube, wow smear more red stuff on the old walls – very wild, very now, very funky, good god a Black kid that’s not into drugs and guns – blow me down – but is sensible and educated! Exquisite epic words, spoken with passion from the formidable mouths of Black South African poets – it was an honour to witness. As you might have guessed it’s been an emotional few weeks.
And then there’s all this suggestion that Parliament might get hung – oh how exciting – so bored bored bored with going blue red blue, blue red – let’s have a rainbow coloured Parliament! Now that will keep the winter blues away!
October 2009
This writing thoughts unscripted uncensored is actually quite fun……..one day I’m going to say something that is going to get me into trouble – so what’s new?
At present I’m angry, yes angry because its all getting so silly, and difficult, as all around us bunker mentality seeps into the Arts. No sharing, no exchange, that’s my thought, my idea, my pot of money, I’m the best one to talk to - and I thought we were all a bunch of old sharing caring socialists? We all want the same don’t we? to be cohesive, bridge communities, provide access to other worlds? Make theatre, dance, music, film……
But then we have to tick this box, collect that data, justify, innovative, participate, great art for all……….evaluate, scientific proof, evaluate.
And then suddenly the latest ‘new’ thing is to be part of networks, hubs, forums, mingle, rub shoulders with - but if I signed up to them all I’d never have time to make the theatre - unless the new idea is that I did it during the night?
I just want to create, collaborate, encourage individuals/communities to tell their unheard stories and share them as widely as is possible. Why is it so hard?
September 2009
So where were we? Ah yes……. I remember Waiting for Audience.
Veni vidi ……
they came, they saw and critiqued. Opposing responses and much debate about the ugliness that was presented – where is the cuddly fluffy community musical we have come to expect from older people and people with learning disabilities? Well it’s moved on! Removing all stereotypical notions for now anyway.
But what interests me in this debate that I’m having with myself is that we have 2 masters and I lean towards the master that creates the work rather then the master that comes to observe the work. And there lies the challenge - how to maintain an honesty and a truth without alienating audiences - because verbatim dialogue will always move and disturb.
Feeble Minds - our last EPIC production (in all senses) not laugh out loud funny but giggle under your breath funny, tempting and teasing your senses so you’re edged into a different world of sight, sound, smell, taste, in the hope that Master 2 would be touched by the voices of Master 1 on stage.
A Master 1 story: “ The play, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens, was quite topical in a way in that it talked about greed and lust and people wanting lots of money. I think it was quite educational as well because we had a range of actors with different disabilities – it showed that you can’t put people in boxes.”
In all this chitter chatter we mustn’t forget our greatest achievement. We took a huge risk and built a bridge between two apparently very disparate communities, often isolated individuals, with low self esteem but with a wealth of knowledge, creativity and emotion. This project broke down barriers, refused to ghettoise and created an environment where it was possible for all involved to be a part of learning; creating young old, disabled non disabled, professional non professional relationships, engaging with different cultures and religions, all presented cheek by jowl. Community theatre in action……..
