"...merges storytelling seamlessly into the immersive experience ... excellent, energetic and very considered ... the SS Arcadia was indeed the trip of a lifetime..."
Michael David Jones for Theatre Bristol Online
"...(the) randomness of experience is the best thing here, and is exuberantly handled ... a few take their chance at the Arbitrary Casino. Here, you either win nothing, or a young woman, who is
handcuffed to you for a while..."
Elisabeth Mahoney for The Guardian
"Given Mayfest's 'intimacy' strand, it really shouldn't have come as any surprise that part-way through Stand & Stare's 'SS Arcadia' Venue is handcuffed to an actress, taken into a darkened room and sung to, one-on-one, in German..." ****
Tom Phillips for Venue Magazine
"...five mazy floors of mayhem contained a dazzling array of entertainment and intrigue ... a potent and curious mix ...
powerful and emotive..."
Matt Whittle for Suit Yourself Magazine Online
In May 2010 I was asked to work once again with the team behind 'Stand and Stare' at the Old Boys Club, Nailsworth; this time on a site-specific project based at St. Marks Chambers, College Green, in Bristol. Presented as part of Mayfest, 'SS Arcadia' saw the transformation of a five-storey labyrinth of a building into a steamship which audience members could explore as they pleased, immersing themselves in both the glamour of the cruise, and the seedier and darker aspects of life below deck.
My role was based mainly within the ship's casino, where I played Nina, a croupier's assistant from Central Europe whose duties extended way beyond stacking the chips. With strong overtones of female exploitation and referring to the past of a character we see hiding as a stowaway on the ship, the role allowed me to question the balance of power between man and woman, rich and poor, audience and actor, and to explore how audience members react to being placed in the role of oppressor.
'SS Arcadia is a floating dream town where luxury comes as standard. The life of royalty awaits you with our dazzling array of entertainments, decadent cocktail lounges and devilishly delicious cuisine. Total escapism from the outside world is our utmost priority, so spoil yourself and set sail with us, leaving all your worries behind...'
Stand & Stare Collective invite you to enter their immersive world of bizarre, wonderful and sometimes dark truths about love, light entertainment and the state of humanity. Set in a secret location in central Bristol, SS Arcadia layers theatre, art, music, dance, food and even hairdressing. Directed by Rob Tannion (Stan Won't Dance, DV8, Complicite) and with a cast of international performers, this is Stand & Stare's major Bristol debut.
