SIZE OF COMPANY
2 on the road

SCALE OF VENUE
Small-scale

PERMANENT STAFF
Artistic Director/Performer
Guy Dartnell

Administrative Manager
Colin Watkeys

ARTISTIC POLICY
Guy Dartnell is an international award-winning solo and collaborative artist whose work crosses the realms of theatre, music, dance, circus and film. His solo work is often personal and semi-autobiographical, mixing a disarmingly conversational style of delivery with a highly dynamic synthesis of voice, movement, improvisation and imagery. He has recently moved into film work, both narrative and dance-for-the camera, and is also co-director with Tom Morris of Oogly Boogly and associate artist with Improbable, BAC and the Merlin Theatre Frome.

REVIEW EXTRACTS
‘Dartnell is remarkably human and has a knack for irreverent storytelling unmarred by excessive pretence, artifice or bitter irony.’ The Oregonian (Travels with My Virginity)

‘A daringly inventive piece of theatre that arrives on the fringe like a blast of fresh air.’ Time Out (Would Say Something)

‘Funny and perceptive… It has a quirky appeal that defies all labels.’ The Guardian (Unsung)

CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
Something Or Nothing A “performance-lecture” on spirituality, religion and identity, mixing text, voice, movement, chalk, blackboards and video in a scrapbook style of performance. (Length tbc, 1 on stage, 2 on the road, some strong language.)

Travels With My Virginity Rite-of-passage cum road-movie storytelling theatre directed by Improbable’s Lee Simpson. Based on the true story of Dartnell’s desperate attempt, aged 19, to lose his virginity by hitchhiking across France. (85 mins, 1 on stage, 2 on the road, some strong language.)

Physical-Music Short films using split frame edited video to capture and manipulate performers’ vocal-movement phrases into a rhythmical/musical structure. (6 mins each.)

Unsung A mixture of storytelling, lecture, live music, voice and movement, this show explores what it is to grow up with music and to discover one’s voice. (90 mins, 2 on stage, 3 on the road, some strong language.)

Oogly Boogly Improvisational event for infant babies and their parents/carers. (3 x 45 mins per day, number on the road varies.)

WRAP-AROUND
Workshops/masterclasses in voice/movement integration and improvisation for professionals, students and public aged 18+ years. Post-show talks, seminars and lecture demonstrations on the background and nature of all Dartnell’s work. Residencies and mentoring projects for artists. Oogly Boogly workshops are offered by the company, exploring the improvisational techniques used with the infants in the show.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2007 France (Oogly Boogly), Ireland (Travels With My Virginity/Oogly Boogly)
2006 Portugal (Oogly Boogly)
2005 Australia, Netherlands, Sweden (Oogly Boogly), USA (Travels With My Virginity)

TOURING AVAILABILITY
Travels With My Virginity/Unsung/Oogly Boogly available from January 2008
Something Or Nothing from late summer 2008