Last month, Vamos Theatre had the honour of collaborating with Hijinx Theatre in Cardiff, delivering a 5-day residency for their Academy students, and what a way to kickstart 2025!
I’m definitely feeling the post show blues and was sad to leave the gorgeous city of Cardiff and the Norwegian Church Arts Centre after 5 days of working with clown Joanna Holden and Vamos Theatre’s Creative Producer Honor Hoskins.
Within the first 10 minutes of meeting the participants, I knew we were in for a thrilling week. Their playfulness and willingness to be vulnerable from the get-go was truly inspirational, and the rehearsal room was instantly filled with joy.
We spent 4 days developing mask theatre and clowning skills through games and exercises that led to playful, cheeky discoveries – I don’t think I have belly laughed so much! Joey and Honor have been an incredible energy to work alongside and I have definitely left feeling creatively refreshed. I can think of worse ways to start the new year!
On the final day, families, friends, and carers were invited to an informal sharing to see what the participants had got up to during the week. Little were they to know they would be joining us to play, as the participants led us in our iconic ‘Vamos Central Dance Warmup’, before sharing devised scenes and playing a game of keepy-uppy with 2 giant balloons.
It was an emotional end to the week as we said goodbye to the participants, whose journeys, compared to the beginning of the week, were astounding. A huge thank you must also be given to the Hijinx team. Without their support, willingness to play alongside participants, and genuine, kind energy, the week would not have been what it was. A particular thanks for dealing with mine and Joey’s many brain fogs during the week!
And just to top it all off, as if the week wasn’t incredible enough, guess who managed to pay a little visit to Barry and say hi to the Gavin & Stacey house?!!!
Aadil