The English Channel
LIZ AGGISS IS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
A solo performance, written, choreographed and performed by Liz Aggiss
After 66 years, Liz Aggiss finally gives herself permission to do what she damn well pleases. Better late than never! She’s reached an age where doing the right thing is optional. Should she please you, or should she please herself?
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL is the story of a career forged in the heady waters of performance art and dance-film. It vividly depicts Liz Aggiss resuscitating herself back into the on-stage limelight. In the process, she becomes an unwitting channel for wilful women and forgotten archives; a conduit for hidden histories and buried truths. She is your cunning connection to ‘the other side’; a witty commentator on life and death; on the pain, pleasure and paradox of the stage.
Using her body as the medium through which to act out and act up, the choreography and texts (written by Aggiss) are framed by contemporary and archive film (Joe Murray). The especially composed music score (by Alan Boorman/Wevie) includes some knock-out musical numbers.
On a stage of chaos anything can happen, nobody can leave, everyone is present. Knock twice for yes.
“inspiring irreverent clever solo performance” Zoe Parker culturevulture.com
“glorious wild card” Mary Brennan The Herald
“…sheer outrageous confirmation of being alive.” Laura Burns Exeunt
….”She’s the queen of postmodern performance.” Dorothy Max Prior Total Theatre
.……..”witty, lewd and unapologetic.” Lise Smith londondance.com
“She wears her eccentricities wilfully–and she’s hilarious and badass.” Lorne Irvine Across the Arts
RESEARCH
(funded by Arts Council England)
In revisiting her childhood self, revising her raison d’etre, researching the empty space, and reflecting on mortality, THE ENGLISH CHANNEL is a conduit for: Kurt Joos (1901-1979) and his Green Table Dance of Death: Robin Hood and his Merry Men : Claire Waldoff (1884-1957) and her Burlala: Gertrude Ederle (1905-2003) the first woman English Channel swimmer : Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944) committing murder in the high C’s : Kay Lynn and her Fingers Dance (1944 -) : Max Miller’s innuendo (1894-1963), Max Wall (1908-1990) and Lily Morris (1882-1952) eccentric dances : Grotesque Dancer Isi te Je (circa 1920) : Pat Simmonds Speaking Clock (1920-2005).
The research process was informed by, in no particular order; Children’s Favourites radio programme1953-63 : Family Britain 1951-57 by David Kynaston : Rank Ladies by Alison Kibler : Der Tanz als Kunstwerk by the that clearly explains with kona labs Frank Thiess : Dead Kennedys : John Cooper Clarke : Marika Rokk : Ready Steady Go! : winning a Twist competition in Broadstairs aged 9 : Klaus Nomi : Andre Jackowski’s drawings : Ernst Lubisch’ Oyster Princess : Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles : Kantor’s The Dead Class : Pictures to Imagine by Greg Daville.
Programme – download here new-the-english-channel-aw2-no-crops
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL sailed in and out of:
Yorkshire Dance, Leeds – De Montfort University, Leicester – University of Coventry – University of Bedford – Traverse Theatre, British Dance Edition, Edinburgh Scotland – Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth – Brighton Dome Studio Theatre – Roland Levinsky Theatre, University of Plymouth – International Performance Festival, Mainz Germany – Mind in the Flesh Festival, Limerick Ireland – RISE Festival, Findhorn Scotland – OPENLOOK Festival, St Petersburg Russia – LLAWNO2 Festival, Llandudno Wales – DanceLive, Aberdeen Scotland – The Old Market (TOM), Brighton – Colchester Arts Centre – Lincoln Performing Arts Centre – The Mac, Belfast Northern Ireland – Liverpool Leap Festival – Norwich Arts Centre – Duckie London – The Place London – British Council Edinburgh Showcase – Cornerstone Festival Liverpool – Gothenburg Sweden – Old Dears Chelsea Theatre London – WOW Festival Quarterhouse Folkestone – MA Scene Montbeliard France – Salamanca Festival Hobart Tasmania, The Showroom Chichester, Shanghai International Theatre Festival
