At FarGoSpace, the empty warehouse we’ve been curating, Ludic Rooms are busy getting stuff ready to welcome you at the weekend. There are circuit-bending workshops on Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by an informal interactive family-friendly exhibition (think light, sound, video, analogue & digital) in the afternoon and evening. More details on our FARGOSPACE blog.

At The Herbert, the superb ‘homecoming’ exhibition by Coventry-born and Turner Prize nominated artist George Shaw continues. It features paintings of the Tile Hill that Shaw remembers, done in his trademark luminous Humbrol enamels, as well as new watercolours revisiting those locations. In a way though, the most interesting part is the room featuring his early art-school drawings. A must-see.

So our run of Capsule at Warwick Arts Centre is over and all the bits are packed away. It’s been a short but hugely enjoyable fortnight and we’d like to say an enormous thank you to all our lovely audiences, and to those who also user-tested the Difference Engine. And of course to the team at Warwick for making us so welcome!

It’s tricky to make comments or post pictures about a show that hinges on a surprise/twist without giving the game away, but we’ll try and do that and post some stuff up here next week.

Here’s a few from Twitter:

@HollyCParkerx: @birdmail You didn’t disappoint – what a FANTASTIC twist. Definitely unlike anything I’ve seen before. Fab fab fab and ridiculously charming. Very endearing.

@Cathryn_G: Capsule is something fresh – unusual and much appreciated – I want to see it again now to appreciate nuances that passed me by.

@Philippa_Cross: @birdmail I SO loved that 🙂

We’d now like to take Capsule out and about a bit, so fingers crossed you’ll be able to take a trip in it yourself soon at a venue near you…

We’ve been squirrelled away at Warwick Arts Centre for a week and a bit now, re-acquainting ourselves with this 30minute show we made almost a year ago. And in getting to know it again, we’re remembering what it is we like about it and why we wanted to do it again (which is, frankly, quite a relief…)

It’s been fascinating – and tricky – to rework though, because it was originally made as an experiment. We had a space (http://fargospace.posterous.com); a month; a 3m x 3m x 2m walk-in ex-teapot to recycle; and a hunch that something made mostly out of sound happening around – and mostly out of sight of – the audience would make for an interesting piece.

The space was an empty warehouse. It was (very) cold and had/s a lovely – and very particular – atmosphere which shaped the piece in a particular way. Now we’re in the newest space at WAC, the Helen Martin Studio, and the contrast couldn’t be more marked.

We *think* we’ve translated Capsule into something that works in, for & with this space. On Thursday I guess we’ll find out whether the audiences agree with us…

[There is a very small handful of tickets left – ring Warwick box office to find out when/where they are: 024 7652 4524] **SOLD OUT**

Next up for the Birds is 2 weeks at Warwick Arts Centre (starting on the 10th) to re-work CAPSULE which some of you will have seen in the freezing cold at FarGoSpace last year.

The shows at WAC are booking up fast, so get a ticket while you can…a nifty bit of programming means you can see Frantic Assembly on the same night.

We’re also trialling the tweaked version of the Difference Engine if you’d like to test that and feedback to us about what you think.

September’s resident artist in FarGo Space, curated by Talking Birds, is Cormac Faulkner who will be showing his piece ‘The Beacon Light Requiem’ on September 29th. [Details below]

The Beacon Light Requiem by Cormac Faulkner
29 September · 19:30 – 21:00
Unit 4, FarGo Creative Village, Far Gosford Street, Coventry CV1 5ED
(this is near the top of Far Gosford Street in a mini industrial estate – unit 4 is at the back)

A light in the dark times, a beacon of inspiration and innovation, the incandescent light bulb is due to be phased out at the end of 2011 in the UK. The incandescent lightbulb has a very particular light and is a thing of beauty in its design. I wish to invite you to an exaltation of this wonderful object – a ceremony of sound and vision illuminated by the Swan/Edison lightbulb.

“Genius will burn lower, and a good bit cooler. The world will be dimmer.” Ann Wroe: obituaries editor, The Economist

The exhibition will be synchronised with the sunset/twilight and dusk on the 29th September and will feature a light and sound installation by sound artist Cormac Faulkner and a film by artist Diana Hobson.

This is a FREE event and refreshments will be available. Feel free to come and go as you please between 7:30 and 9pm

http://sonicgraffiti.co.uk/

The Whale at Mintfest

The Whale had a great time at Mintfest in Kendal over the weekend. Our aluminium leviathan was programmed as part of the Garden of Delights – a park-full of marvellous sideshows, many of them on wheels. There was a wonderful atmosphere and it was really well curated. It was also very, very busy – even on the lake-district-drizzly Saturday night the place was heaving…

Accordingly, the queues for the Whale were so long we had to bite the bullet and turn our “submersive theatre experience for one adventurer at a time (or two if you’re shy)” into a family-load at a time to avoid turning too many people away – it’s an interesting conundrum with a show made for small audiences: with an enormous queue rapidly building up, do you cram in more people per show (assuming, of course, it is safe to do so) or do you turn people away? Having discussed this with others who make shows for small numbers, I don’t think I’ve actually come across anyone who is hardline enough to stick to the original audience number and turn people away (yet!)…so, yes, we caved in and almost 500 people saw the show over the two evenings. We’re now thinking it is worth creating another show for the Whale; tailored to more than one-adventurer-at-a-time and made especially with these busy festival settings in mind…watch this space.

September: FarGo Space Programme

“A light in the dark times, a beacon of inspiration and innovation, the incandescent light bulb is due to be phased out at the end of 2011 in the UK. The incandescent lightbulb has a very particular light and is a thing of beauty in its design. I wish to invite you to an exaltation of this wonderful object – a ceremony of sound and vision illuminated by the Swan/Edison lightbulb.” This month, Cormac Faulkner/Sonic Graffiti is in residence – looking forward to seeing his piece. Dates and times that the space will be open to the public tbc.

October: Capsule & The Difference Engine

In October last year, we ourselves were resident at FarGo and we made Capsule. This October, we’re re-working the show for the Helen Martin Studio at Warwick Arts Centre. It’s another piece for small audience numbers (six this time) so it’s worth booking in advance. (There’s also a clever bit of programming from our friends at Warwick, meaning you can see Capsule from Talking Birds & Frantic Assembly’s Lovesong on the same night…)

Anyway, here’s our blurb:

Take your seat inside the Capsule – a theatre auditorium which seats just 6 people – and experience, through sounds heard and actions glimpsed, the performance happening on the outside, all around you. It’s often dark, and you’ll need to rely on your senses as the Capsule takes you on a journey through air, space and sea. Oh, and halfway through there’s a twist, but we can’t say too much about that…

“Glowing from the most enjoyable theatre for years…the biggest theatrical surprise I’ve had…and that is only half way in!” Audience comment

During Capsule, we’ll also be testing the second version of our digital access tool, the Difference Engine, which delivers subtitles and audio description to smartphones and other mobile devices. If your device can connect via wi-fi and you would be interested in testing and fee
ding back on the Difference Engine, please bring your device with you (but keep it turned to silent). Stewards will show you how to use the system before the show, so please arrive early if you intend to participate (handsets are also available to borrow).

Development of Capsule has been supported by the FarGo Space Programme and Warwick Arts Centre.

The Whale is off to Mintfest tomorrow. If you see it on its way up the M6, please toot! And maybe take a picture – and tweet it or post it on Talking Birds’ Whale’s wall if you’re so inclined?

We’re also *very* excited to announce we now have some lovely Whale t-shirts for sale – fancy one? Have a look-buy here.

Highly Sprung have been resident at Unit 4 this month and current events have apparently moved the young people they are working with to chuck their plans out of the window, and instead make an audiotour inspired by the riots. Performances will be on Friday 26th & Saturday 27th, details tbc.

The Whale is heading up the M6 to Mintfest the following weekend (if you see it on the motorway, please wave/toot/tweet), and will be ensconced in the Garden of Delights 2nd & 3rd September. Come & say hello? (& maybe even buy a t-shirt?!)

If you are in Edinburgh, keep an eye out for fellow Midlanders The Other Way Works, Kindle Theatre, Foursight Theatre & Untied Artists. Or if, like us, you’re further south, Edgelands looks like it will be worth keeping an eye on from afar.

Who:

Artists/Producers/Events Organisers/etc who can make interesting and productive use of a free empty space (approx 8m x 5m) in Coventry for a month – and, just before their month is up, invite the public in and make something amazing happen there. We’re looking for people/groups who can create something original and wonderful (and perhaps even a bit beautiful) that will make people want to come and experience the Space Programme for themselves. Something that will contribute to building up an understanding and expectation in the wider Coventry unconscious that FarGo is a place where cool things happen.

What:

The Space Programme is an opportunity to make a scene where there isn’t one. Each individual slot is an opportunity to explore how the space could be used/transformed prior to the opening of FarGo, Coventry’s new creative village.

When:

Slots from September 1st 2011 (subject to lease agreement).

Where:

In Unit 4 at FarGo, Far Gosford Street, Coventry.

How:

The Space Programme is curated by Talking Birds and has been running since July 2010. You can find details of projects so far at by clicking here

Successful applicants will be awarded £100 at the start of their residency.

If you are interested in taking part, please send an email of up to 600 words to

janet[at]talkingbirds[dot]co[dot]uk detailing:

– who you are

– what you would do with your month in the Empty Space Module

– what your event might look like

– whether you could go on site at the drop of a hat (September 1st) or need a longer lead in

– links to any online images/info about your past work

Deadline for expressions of interest: August 15th 2011

Here’s some pictures of The Q Enhancement Operatives enhancing people’s Q-ing experience on New Street & in Victoria Square this afternoon:

You can see more pictures in our FB album if you click here.

Or read the story of the Q in Coventry & Birmingham in tweets via our Storify if you click here.

The Q is also available for festival bookings in both show and walkabout formats, contact us by clicking here.

Join The Q in Birmingham

1pm-Chamberlain Square

3pm-New St

6.30pm-Hippodrome Plaza

Q by Q updates @Q_mob

And for the story so far, clicky here.

Three Birds-related things coming up this week:

Tuesday 26th – Pecha Kucha Night Coventry Vol 5 (hosted by JV)

Friday 29th – Trove at FargoSpace 6-9pm

Saturday 30th – The Q in Birmingham as part of Six Summer Saturdays

Hope to see you at one or more!

Pic by Alan van Wijgerden