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You faciliated workshops with our groups of young adults with learning disabilities, sensory needs and complex communication, at Sense in Birmingham. We had asked you to try to address the tricky subject of consent and the right to choice! which you tackled so well through a mix of play and role play. Behind those lovely masks your intuitive responses to each person’s expressions and actions - (sometimes very subtle and and barely perceptible), were fantastic. At the end of each workshop in which you had both put your emotional and physical heart and soul into the stories, the games and the spontaneous responses - you still went away to adjust and fine tune what you planned for the next day in order to make it even more person centred and pertinent to each participant. We cannot wait to work with you again.
ReplyHi Tracy, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such beautiful and perceptive feedback; I would expect no less, having you in the room was a complete joy! This project was daunting and a complete leap of faith at the start, but by the end we were very sorry to leave as it felt like the work was only getting started. Working with two very different groups gave us so much insight into the value and depth of the work on many different levels. We are very much looking forward to coming back and playing again! See you soon. xx
ReplyNever heard of you before; staying in Taunton for a few days with friends so was looking for theatre entertainment. Tourist Info came up with you. Went along not knowing what to expect and wow what a great experience. All in our 70s and had front row seats at Tacci-Morris Arts Centre. Enthralled was the word we all used to express our delight at your performance. Will certainly be looking out for your productions in/near South Devon. Boy on the Roof was so expressive and non-verbal communication so important. Thank you. Wendy
ReplyHello
ReplyBoy on the roof was mind boggling. I’ve never seen anything like it before and I can barely imagine how artistically and technically difficult it must be to pull off. It must be exhausting working in such a different dynamic. Sometimes simple good cartoons or comic strips can capture the essence of something (political or emotional) and I think this is what you created. A 4 dimensional cartoon strip (3d actors and continuous time) I am amazed and will never forget your show in frome. This is physical theatre and mask work at an exceptional standard. How much if our communication is body language non verbal?
I know I’m going on a bit but it’s like you lifted the lid on a different way of looking at the world. A rare treat and exactly what creative arts should do. Easily 11/10 thank you all involved. Completely remarkable.
Thank you for bringing Boy on the Roof to Shoreditch Town Hall. Our daughter (11) was initially nervous of being in a new space but was captivated by the show. She’s a committed footballer (and Liverpool fan), and has very close relationships with Grandparents, so the details and characters really struck her I think. She said she found it “exciting and intriguing” and loved the moments of tracking through different houses, seeing lives in tiny moments, “like the dance party”, which made her laugh. Martin and I (who saw Dead Good at Jackson’s Lane and have long been fans of the Vamos team) were delighted to be in such a heartfelt, honest, detailed and inventive world, where relationship and connection are explored with such kindness and humour. The portrayal of loss was both heartbreaking and gentle; a reminder to observe people’s gestures and bids for connection in a world that can feel isolated and lonely. This is essential and accessible theatre. I found it deeply moving, tender and hopeful. I work with children considered neurodivergent and in education in outdoor settings and am thinking of how to incorporate mask work into my practice after seeing your work.
It also highlighted how much we are battered with words that can feel both confusing, contradictory and sometimes a pressure or a wounding. Body awareness and non verbal communication needs so much more nurturing in education, as it is intimately connected to our feelings, our hearts and ultimately enriching our experience of aliveness. Your work reflected this and as such, is essential. I hope for an additional tour so I can bring students or wider family members. Thank you to all the Vamos Team.
ReplyEverything about the show was just brilliant. And my daughter (who wasn’t sure about coming) loved it - and the announcment at the start about being able to stim made such a difference. thank you
ReplyThat's briliant to hear Peter. We want everyone to feel comfortable seeing Boy on the Roof so it's great to get your feedback.
ReplyWhat a fantastic evening seeing Boy on the Roof at the New Wolsey. We didn’t know what to expect but were completely blown away. Good luck with the rest of the tour.
ReplyThanks for coming Sue! Hope to see you on the next tour.
ReplyJust seen Boy on the Roof at the New Wolsey.
ReplyGreat show and we ‘saw’ our grandson we brought up a few years ago!
We were given a comment form but no pens to complete it!
One comment was that the text messages were difficult, sometimes impossible, to read. They needed to be projected lower on the set as we were having to duck down to read them and be brighter or the lighting needed reducing to improve readability, Alternatively consider installing a screen in portrait mode and display it on that! Clearly you are already doing that on two of the windows. It could be standalone and made to look like an outsize phone SR or SL.
Hopefully helpful suggestions.
Really enjoyed the show though.
Hi Robin, really glad to hear that you enjoyed the show at the New Wolsey. I've passed on your suggestions to the team, which I'm sure will be useful to know. Thanks again for coming!
ReplyThank you for bringing such a beautiful piece of theatre to Ipswich! And an even bigger thank you to Gavin for inviting the young adult I support onto the stage for a picture. You made his night! What a mesmerising piece. A must see!
ReplyThank you Barry, Gavin will be very glad to hear that you both had a good night. Thanks for coming to see us at Ipswich.
ReplyWhat an absolutely extraordinary show! You’re and amazing acting had the audience, laughing and crying last night in Shrewsbury. Thank you so much!
ReplySo great to hear you enjoyed the show, Sheena. Thank you for coming and for your positive feedback! Please do spread the word if you can.
ReplySaw Boy on the Roof last night at Shoreditch Town Hall with a friend and our 2 neurodivergent Year 10 boys; they declared it the best piece of theatre they’ve seen. My friend and I found it profoundly moving and the boys were amused to see little details of their lives portrayed with great authenticity on stage. Both boys, usually wary of talking to new people, engaged Honor in intense conversation post show and enjoyed sharing their thoughts and ideas about the piece and neurodiversity in general. The play is a must for all - a touching and hopeful story of people, isolated by difference, brought together by a fundamental need for connection and understanding.
ReplyHi Diana, that is brilliant to hear and especially that your two boys enjoyed the show - we are honoured! Your final line sums up what the show means for us, so thank you
ReplyGood luck with the new tour of ‘Boy’.
ReplyWill you be returning to Inverness? I see it’s been wiped from your map?!
Hi Ned, not wiped I promise!! The map defaults to include only the area the tour covers and we'd much prefer it to go further north. Boy on the Roof is currently booking to tour again Spring 2025, and we are working to try and get a wider tour, and to come north of the border too. We'll keep your posted- and meanwhile, thanks for the good luck.
ReplyWow, what a fantastic production. We bought our 2 teens with us & we all loved it, it was so relatable. Our daughter who is autistic really appreciated permission to stim!! It was emotionally moving in so many ways. Thank you to the Wonderfully talented performers.
ReplyThank you Helen, I'm so glad you all enjoyed the show and especially that your daughter felt more comfortable - that means a lot. Thanks so much for your support
ReplyI loved your show last night at the Arena Theatre. It was clever and funny and I couldn’t believe nobody spoke!! I wanted to see it again as soon as it was over.
ReplyThank you for being part of our first preview audience, Jess, and finding time to comment. So glad you enjoyed the show!
ReplyWe saw your new show Boy On The Roof last night at the Arena theatre and thought it was fantastic. We’ve seen Vamos shows before and this was the best yet. So great to see you live again. Thank you!
ReplyIt has been great to be back! This was the first preview of our first new show for two years, so a really special moment. The audience at the Arena were fantastic, so thank you!
ReplyWe look forward to welcoming you back to Wales in the future
ReplyThank you Laurence! And we're looking forward to being there too...we hope it won't be too long. All the best
ReplyWonderful performance by the Vamos theatre .Everyone from Basecamp Touchbase pears was excited for the event .All participants engaged and had a lot of fun. Never seen so many smiles!
ReplyThank you so much, James, we truly loved meeting everyone at Basecamp TouchBase Pears - thank you for being so welcoming! Hope to visit you again before too long.
ReplyWell, what can we say except - Fantastic ! - Wonderful! - Entertaining! - and Kindness personified!
ReplyWe were fortunate enough to recently book Vamos to come along to Wellesbourne in September 2023 and put on a performance for the lovely people who usually come along to our dementia cafes in South Warwickshire.
To witness the joy and pleasure shown in people’s faces was just wonderful and the interaction between the actors and audience was really, truly emotional to watch.
The professionalism and kindness of the two lovely ladies in the Vamos troupe was amazing.
See you again - soon!
Paul and Heather - talkdementia
Thank you for having us! It was a real joy to come to Wellesbourne and to meet everyone - thanks for looking after us so well. We hope we'll be able to visit again before too long. All the best.
ReplyI was lucky enough to see Vamos perform Sharing Joy at the Headway Worcestershire Wellbeing Centre recently.
I am embarrassed to admit that knew little of Vamos prior to this show and so had no preconceptions or expectations about what I was going to see and experience. The show was truly wonderful. I felt it had three broad threads to it; song and dance, a look at the not too distant past and interaction with the audience. All of this was delivered with great skill, much humour and an almost tangible connection with, and understanding of, the audience.
The song and dance included music and figures from the 40s to the 60s, including Elvis. The not too distant past included a look at how hospital wards were run with an appropriately fierce chief ward nurse and god-like doctor. The longer story, however, was a delightfully ordinary romance. The interaction with the audience was consistent throughout the show. It reached its height with us all dancing on the performance space together.
It is worth noting that for some of the show, the performers wear masks, hence their facial expressions are fixed. Emotion, therefore, has to be conveyed through the actors’ movements and actions. This they did quite brilliantly.
You can probably tell that I was blown away by the show and this theatre group. They have absolutely mastered both the art and craft of performance. That so talented a group of people should dedicate their skills to entertain and include people dealing with a huge variety of physical, emotional and neurological problems says much about the individuals that make up Vamos.
This was a fantastic experience that reminds us of the power of art.
ReplyThank you so much, Joe, I know that the whole company really loved coming to Headway and meeting everyone involved. If you'd like to stay in touch with us, you can always join our mailing list (there's a link at the very top right of this page) and you'll hear about future shows, projects, workshops for health and care staff and more. Thanks again for your lovely comments.
ReplyI’ve been using Using Mask in Drama with my students this term and they have got so much from learning about mask - the main thing I’ve seen is an increase in confidence, particularly with the shyer students. Looking forward to using maskED more in the future, thanks
ReplyThank you, Sue, it's great to hear your students have benefited...hope you can try another module next term.
ReplyWe’re just back from experiencing ”sharing the joy” . We didn’t know what to expect but had a very enjoyable time. What a coincidence it was, that hand washing was part of the show. Myself and my colleagues from Dudley rd infection research laboratory in Birmingham were responsible for todays hand washing technique that you so amusingly put to music and dance!
ReplyI thought it was very jolly and bought back a lot of memories and I loved the appropriate music and activities.
Keep up the good work.
Jean
Hi Jean, we are honoured that you saw the handwashing technique in action!! And thank you so much for your kind words about the show, so glad it was enjoyable.
ReplyWe had the absolute pleasure of enjoying the performance by Vamos at Headway Worcestershire a charity supporting adults with an acquired brain injury (ABI) on Friday 16th June. It was incredible, so inclusive both the team and the clients felt they were part of the play with interactive activities throughout.
ReplyI have never seen everyone so involved and smiling, with laughter throughout…especially at the cheeky bits.
I highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to attend the show to go along. Thank you
Mandie Fitzgerald CEO Headway Worcestershire
Thank you, Mandie, The whole team had a fantastic time at Headway and it was a joy to meet your clients and team. Thank you so much for your feedback which means a lot.
ReplyMe and my mum are very excited that there might be a new show coming soon. Will you be coming to Liverpool?
ReplyHi Sandra, details about the new show are about to be released so you'll know more about it in the next few weeks, and tour dates will be finalised in late summer, so watch this space! We hope you can come and see a performance. Thanks for posting.
ReplyThank you for the workshop. I learnt so much and it helped me feel so much more confident about my physicality on stage.
ReplyHave loved Vamos Theatre’s work for some time and going to a workshop was really exciting. It was pitched well, informative and enlightening, so wasn’t disappopinted at all. Please come back soon.
ReplyHad a brilliant time at the mask workshop. We had never done mask before. The 3 sessions were absolutely fantastic and great fun. Monday mornings will never be the same!
ReplyI’ve been working in a care home for the last two weeks, something completely new to me that I never saw myself doing. This really hit home, especially the gentleness of the hospice staff. These people deserve a lot more recognition.
Lovely work, had my 13 year old transfixed too!
ReplyAbsolutely loved it…….so pleased I was able to watch this on line. I know I would have missed it as it isn’t coming to our local theatre, the Marlowe Canterbury for the next tour. Will miss it so much. Think it is brilliant. Well done all of you. Xxxx
ReplyAbsolutely excellent.
ReplyInteresting on TV after seeing previous shows live.
One of the best shows around can’t wait to see them again
ReplyMasks have arrived and are superior quality as are the resources. The students here are Arabic , using Drama to develop English skills and quality of expression. They have seen the masks and are excited to be having a go . The resources and video footage are equally high standard , clearly from a company well experienced in motivating and directing students towards exactly the right type of practical sessions. There’s also freedom within as a teacher to take and use as you will. Thanks again for the excellent service in getting them over to Oman in such a short space of time as well.
ReplyMassive thanks Bryn, so brilliant to hear how the resources are being used across the world. Enjoying playing and if you get stuck with anything or your students have questions, get in touch!! Honor xx
ReplyHaving read a selection of the comments you have already received from other attendees of Dead Good I am not sure I can even begin to match them. The best thing I can say is ‘All the above and some’.
ReplyThought provoking, humbling and inspiring are just a few of the comments I would thoroughly endorse.
My heartfelt thanks to you all.
Thank you Brian for your kind words - hope to see you again at a future performance.
ReplyI had never heard of Vamos Theatre before booking my ticket last year, so was really looking forward to seeing the play on Feb 28th 2022 at Thearte Severn, Shrewsbury. This storyline was close to my heart and I could relate to every emotions and the humour included too. I am not ashamed to say that I cried and the final scene was spot on, because I could relate to all the emotions, as I went through the same with my wonderful late husband who passed away March 1st 2020. I hope it’s not too long before you return to Theatre Severn again. Your plays are unique and I look forward to bringing a friend with me next time.
ReplyHi Marion, thank you so much for taking time to tell us what you thought about Dead Good. It is extra special to hear your words because of your recent experience, and we'd all like to say thank you for coming out and seeing a show that may have been difficult given the circumstances. We're so glad that you connected with it, and we really look forward to seeing you at a future performance.
ReplyAnother fabulous performance of Vamos Theatre with Dead Good at Severn Theatre last night. Its the 4th show my daughter and I have been to and we’ve loved every single one - we shared that love with a friend last night and I sent my sister with my mum and dad to Winchester a couple of weeks ago. “Brilliant!” from us all, and my parents (in their late 80s) are still talking about it now (mum could apparently barely contain herself with that amaryllis!!)
ReplyAt the Q&A session, you mentioned welcoming ideas for future shows. My suggestion for consideration would be a storyline around the mental health of the farming community who are under financial and sociatal pressure as never before. Its already one of the worst industries for accidents and deaths at work (20 farm workers lost their lives in fatal farm accidents in 2019/2020), and there were a total of 133 suicides registered in England, Wales and Scotland in those working in farming and agricultural related trades plus, in a Farm Safety Foundation (also known as Yellow Wellies) survey Feb 2021, 88% of farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as biggest hidden problem facing farmers today (increased from 82% in 2018). There are some truly great organisations working to help and they would be delighted to partner you to develop a storyline.
But whatever you do, we’ll certainly be there to laugh, weep and enjoy the next show! Thank you for what you do to bring joy.
Hi Stella, thanks so much for posting, and we're really delighted you all enjoyed the show (and the amaryllis!). I've passed on what you've written about the farming community directly to Rachael, our Artistic Director and writer. You highlight some shocking statistics even in a few lines. Thank you for coming to see the show and your ongoing support - we look forward to seeing you at the next one!
ReplyHave seen Dead Good twice now in Worcester ( 2 years apart ) and it is still one of the most powerful pieces of theatre I have ever seen. This is what end of life care should look like. This is how friendship and love and kindness manifest themselves. Thank you to all the cast and crew for bringing our senses alive and engaging our emotions. Thank you for both entertaining ( and you did 😊 ) and educating. With every good wish to all at Vamos xx
ReplyThank you for your lovely comments, Lisa, and your good wishes. It's fantastic that you came to see the show not once but twice - we really appreciate your support!
ReplyGoodness me, where do I start?
ReplyWatched a mesmerising performance of Dead Good, on Tuesday 8th February. A very sensitive subject treated with such empathy, understanding, and pathos. However, sadness was not the overriding emotion. There was happiness, silliness, humour and celebration.
The celebration of life in the face of death and the celebration of life after death.
With the very fine acting skills of the Vamos Theatre ensemble, no words were necessary to convey every emotion in this wonderful production. I have seen other productions by Vamos and in each and every one I could have sworn the masks took on different facial expressions. I know this could not physically have happened but the undoubted skills of the actors, in their portrayals of the characters, made it appear so. Thank you once again, for bringing, what could be construed as difficult subjects, to audiences, with great skill and understanding.
I’m sure many members of the audience, who watched Dead Good, left the theatre, went home and hugged their loved ones…..and didn’t have to say a word. x
Thank you for your thoughts about seeing the show and your kind comments, LJ, it means a lot. Hope to see you at a future show.
ReplySaw Dead Good at Colchester Mercury - loved the play - have tried describing the play to friends - well it’s a mime, with the actors in masks, and about 2 guys who meet in a hospice - Amazing!! Funny, Sad, heartwarming, thought provoking - Thank You
ReplyHi Helen, thanks so much for your comment - and excellent description!! So glad you enjoyed the show.
ReplyWent to the performance of Dead Good at Bury St Edmunds
ReplyVery thought provoking but i think i can say it was the best play i have been too in a very long time.
Keep up the good work
Anyone reading this you must try to go and see it.
Thank you Peter, word of mouth is a really effective way for us to reach new audiences so thank you for giving us such a positive comment.
ReplyWhat a BRILLIANT, thought provoking play.
ReplyAs always sharing laughter and tears with proper snot sobs when taking in the powerful message that comes across.
Everyone who I have spoken to, have the same reaction.
My sister says, ‘Every play Vamos Theatre offer is as emotive.’
Thank you
Thank you so much, Louise. We don't consider a show a success if there isn't any snot involved! Thank you for coming to see the show and supporting us.
ReplyI saw Dead Good at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. A brilliant piece of mask theatre. It was a rollercoaster of emotion as one minute I was laughing then the next in tears. We rarely talk about death but this performance was so confronting and powerful it made us face our own fears. An important and relevant piece of work.
ReplyThank you Tippy...really great to get your kind comments. We are touring until March, so please do tell friends about the show if you can.
ReplyI saw your awe-inspiring mime Dead Good at Bury last night. Not only was it an enriching and hopeful experience, but the mime reminded me why I love theatre. For the last twenty years I have been deaf in my left ear, and going to the theatre has been more about struggling to hear than engaging with the performance. I didn’t even think about that until I left the theatre, and I can’t thank you enough. All best wishes, Helen
ReplyIt's really important to us that our deaf or hard of hearing audiences get a really good theatre experience, so it's fantastic to get your comments. Thank you for coming and supporting us!
ReplyI agree Helen, I have also been partially deaf in one ear for ten years or so and theatre can often be frustrating and quite stressful. I saw Dead Good at MAC and enjoyed every single second. I also enjoyed the music because I could hear it enough and there was no struggle between it and speech. So inclusive and very funny too. Thank you.
ReplyI was at tonights performance of Dead Good in Bury St Edmunds this evening. Never has silence been so full of every emotion. I laughed and cried throughout.
ReplyCongratulations on your thought provoking sensitive performance and thank you for such a poignant subject being treated so openly and well.
Thank you Christine, and for coming out to support us. The audience at Bury were wonderful!
ReplyYesterday I participated in the workshop at Jacksons Lane, the workshop tutor Honor is so nice, I got the methods of how I can use this mask. It’s so helpful. I want to say the workshop is amazing before I have ever seen it. I hope I can join again to learn the advanced technique.
ReplyParticipated in their “behind the mask” workshop in London and absolutely loved every minute! Very insightful and a great way to gain knowledge and experience on an area thats quite hard to break into!
ReplyThis workshop reminded me why I love theatre. I like to create work that is deep and asks questions, but I have recently felt like I’ve lost how to be fun with theatre. This workshop refreshed in my mind the ways to approach devising in ways that make it funny and simple, yet still moving and important.
ReplyThis workshop was engaging and interesting and so enjoyable. I left feeling really inspired.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Rachael /Vamos, and while looking on the website I saw the BSL video with Stephen Collins. What an absolute treat! Theatre that works equally for both Deaf and hearing people has been a passion of mine for a very long time and even when some companies achieve this with their shows, they often forget the other elements that count towards that parity of experience, such as websites.
ReplyHats off to you all!
Honor from Vamos came to our local theatre The Headgate in Colchester for a workshop. I knew I’d love it but also came out of the experience really moved with even more respect for mask performers than before. It is so hard but we were made to feel at ease. Just do it if you get the opportunity.
ReplyHonor ran a great workshop at Headgate theatre. My wife Jo is in a wheelchair and her activities forced us to separate. Good for building a feeling of trust. I found working with masks a liberating experience.
ReplyHad a great time with Honor at the Vamos workshop at Colchester’s Headgate Theatre last week. Most informative, enlightening and well-pitched for a group of mixed abilities. Would highly recommend.
ReplyEarlier in the year I attended some online Vamos mask workshops which were really good. I therefore attended the live workshop lead by Honor on Thursday this week with high expectations. I have to say my expectations were greatly exceeded! Honor was a wonderful facilitator and it was so good to learn how to use body language and non verbal communication in such a fun way. Wearing the masks and feeling our audience’s reaction towards us was really moving. There was a great deal of fun and laughter as well as a considerable amount of poignancy. What became so evident to us all was the power of the mask. I enjoyed the first session so much I signed up for the second one in the afternoon. It was even better!
ReplyI’m now looking forward to seeing a live Vamos show next year and hopefully attending an extended course in masks with Honor.
I had a wonderful day, thankyou Honor, thankyou Vamos, keep up your inspirational work!
Tim Strugnell
Hi Tim, it has been such a honour (excuses the pun) working with you online and now in person. I just loved my day at Headgate Theatre, and it sums up what a real community workshop is all about. To have such a mix of people, backgrounds, passions and ability in the room was truely brilliant. See you in Feb 2022. dates of Dead Good at The Mercury TBC....watch this space. Honorx
ReplyCompleted a Vamos morning workshop with the gloriously potty , kind and skilled Honor on 26 th August
ReplyWould try to insist everyone with an interest in the theatre in the whole country attends one of these .
It was
Uplifting
Challenging
Hilarious
Heartbreaking
Thought provoking
Joyful
Interesting
DOOOOOO IIIIIIIT if you get the chance
Hi Jackie, Thank you so much for your kind words. I absolutely loved running these workshops, you have summed up my feeling about the workshops perfectly. Hopefully we will be back in the area for another workshop soon!
ReplyMy days, my days, my days .. where to even start to thank Vamos!!?!!
ReplyWhat an utterly super, brilliant, fun, heart-warming an uplifting time you gave Haviland Family .. The show was fantastic!
Honestly, I am so moved and so thankful to Vamos .. I was quite emotional watching the faces of my Haviland audience .. they loved it!
Every one of them beaming like Cheshire cats and laughing till they almost popped .. truly, it was a laugh a second.
Please do pass our thanks to the amazingly, inclusive and friendly crew .. they are the right-kind-of-bonkers and we didn’t want them to leave.
I sincerely hope they enjoyed their time in Worthing and they had fun too .. where they get their energy for that performance I’ll never know!
And the soundtrack they used .. Perfection!
Bless you all .. what you’re doing is tremendous and I wish you all the love, luck and success you wholeheartedly deserve.
Every good wish to you all .. .. Eileen
Thank you Eileen and all the family at Haviland. Everyone had a truly wonderful time with you, and really did have fun in Worthing! Thank you for your amazing feedback and hope to see you again before too long.
ReplyWow - What a wonderful bunch of performers, full of energy, laughs and love! Our residents have had a tough year, to say the least; some haven’t seen their families, or left the building in well over a year because of lockdown, which doesn’t leave a lot to smile about… today the fabulous ‘Love Through Double Glazing’ team came to brighten up our year, put huge smiles (and some blushes) on our faces, and to fill the room with genuine belly laughs from both the staff and residents. We had so much fun interacting with the actors, dancing, bouncing balloons and plenty of snuggles with the adorable (and of course talented) show-dog, Nora. We said it already, but we can’t help but say it again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so much for making it happen. Can’t wait to see more in the future!
ReplyI visited my mother today as your show was happening, when she approached me she was singing (how much is the doggie in the window)your show really animated her, with dementia you can’t always see weather the person is engaging with what is going on around them, mum’s reactions showed she was having a great time, she was so much more engaged with me today so thank you
ReplyHi Wendy, it's fantastic that your mum enjoyed the show so much - the performance aims to make connections in ways other than words, so that everyone can relate to it. We're so glad your mum did, and that it has had a positive impact. Thanks so much for posting.
ReplyGreat session very educative and helped with more insight into communication.
ReplyIt was an extremely useful workshop regarding communication in COVID times and so well executed. Full of laughter, fun and not a minute of boredom…i guess it was the only workshop on zoom during which I did not yawn. Thank you for giving us your precious time and making us understand on how to excel in communication.
ReplyWe live in France and we wouldn’t miss any plays from Vamos theater
ReplyJean Louis and I we‘ve watched and listened to you with such a passionate interest !! you can’t imagine ????
We had tears in ours eyes when you made flash backs of your different plays we are SO lucky to have seen
Thank you dearest Rachael, we are so grateful to your immense skill and the bright person you are ????
????❤️????
I have just received an email from the mime festival and I saw your company listed along with familie floez which I am a big fan of. After watching the trailer of your company I couldn’t help but noticing the similarities of vamos theatre with the German company! Honestly, it was a shock.
ReplyI know that mask theatre has been around us for a long time but each one with its own and individual style.
So true, Pablo - we really hope you can join us for the LIMF talk in January to find out more about us - we have our own way of making theatre that's very much rooted in people's real stories, and giving a voice to those who don't always get heard - mask is a great medium for encouraging empathy. Have a great Christmas time and thanks for getting in touch
Reply“Ooh look he’s taking his clothes off” (Love through Double Glazing)
ReplyThanks Joan!! We really hope you enjoyed that moment, as well as the rest of the show. With all best wishes from the Vamos Theatre team x
ReplyVamos Theatre amazing. The joy and laughter they bought to our Residents today with a performance of “Love Through Double Glazing”. Vamos are the tonic the nation needs in these difficult times they should be prescribed on the NHS. Vamos thank you for making our hearts happy and memories to last.
ReplyThank you so much! We had a ball being with you - see you again soon
ReplyDrama Teachers, do not waste another moment bemoaning what to do in lockdown: Teach Mask! Rachael, Honor and Dan helped me devise, write and direct 16 of my high school students (in Connecticut!) in an original production completely done in mask. Having never taught or directed mask before the Vamos team gave me the confidence and tools to move forward with this project. Aside from being a beautiful theatrical art form, mask lends itself to pandemic restrictions: small group scene work, social distancing, and (wait for it) wearing PPE masks without looking at PPE masks all day! I also just attended their teachers’ webinar which was as incredibly valuable as it was affordable. Did I mention my school is in Connecticut? If they can be so helpful to us from 5271 kilometers away, I can only imagine how effective they would be in your own backyard!
ReplyHi Michael, it has been a real pleasure working with you over the last few months, I can't wait for this pandemic to be over and then we can work together in person! So pleased you enjoyed the webinar, we did too. Keep in touch and stay safe.
ReplyI designed a poster and I love Wednesday wave
ReplyBrilliant, Adrian! Thanks for supporting The Wednesday Wave - from everyone at Vamos Theatre
ReplyHow Hard is Waving was wonderful. For me too the best thing I’ve watched during lockdown. It truly moved me to the core, : in the final moments, I cried it was so moving! Just brilliant. Thank you Rachael and the Vamos Theatre Team for the humour, the poignancy and the tender, touching moments throughout.
ReplyMany, many congratulations. Liz
I loved it all. The best entertainment over the whole of lockdown. Thankyou
ReplyThank you, Carole! So glad you enjoyed it x
ReplyLoved the first five days of How Hard is Waving. Captured exactly the difficulties, the heartache, the humour and humanity of lockdown. I look forward to the next 15 and to seeing the story develop. Well done Rachael and company! Well done indeed.
ReplyHow Hard Is Waving by Vamos Theatre - Day One… Nice one… Great start… I love the jam on the hand, I buttered my hand the other day after putting my bread down on the side!
ReplySorry we missed your show at Canterbury.
ReplyHopefully you will come back soon.
So love your work, so hoping you make it through x
ReplyThank you June. I’m sure we will Love Rachael
ReplyThank you June! Keep well and stay safe x
ReplyJust seen Dead Good at Eastleigh and was spellbound by the story and the perfect treatment of the subject matter. I work in a Hospice in Sussex and was concerned about how the subject would appear on the stage. It was full of laughter and a developing relationship between real characters thrown together in a very surreal environment. There was real emotional truth in the performance. Well done Vamos!
ReplyThank you Andy! So great you could see the show...x
ReplyThoroughly enjoyed Dead Good at Hertford Theatre this week. Brilliant production, sensitive topic delivered with wit charm and warmth. Will most definitely be recommending and taking a trip to the crowdfunding page. A taboo subject delivered well - thank you and keep up the good work.
ReplyThank you for coming...and for supporting us with our crowdfunding too - so glad you enjoyed the show!
ReplyWe are big fans of Vamos and had tickets for tonight’s performance at Eastleigh. However, we have decided we should adopt “social distancing” straight away in an effort to contain or delay the spread of Covid-19. We are very sorry we’ll be missing the show tonight but wish you all the best and hope it goes well no matter how small the audience.
ReplyWe're so sorry, Penny, but quite understand...it's going to be a tricky time for everyone over the next few months. The good news is that we will be touring Dead Good again in early 2021, so we hope you can see the show then instead. Thanks for getting in touch...
ReplyI have seen two Vamos theatre shows and have taken part in one of their mask workshops too- they are absolutely brilliant. Fantastic acting and staging, beautifully done. Their shows are well thought out and wonderfully executed, very reflective, powerful and emotional. I look forward to seeing their next show!
ReplyThank you so much for such positive feedback, Zoe! See you at the next one...
ReplyJust back from seeing Dead Good at Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton. My first experience of Vamos, but definitely not the last. An amazing experience!
ReplyThank you Anna! It's great to hear you enjoyed the Vamos experience...see you again at a future show.
ReplyDead Good was, well, to put it simply, dead good! It is very moving, often very funny and delivered by a very talented cast. I saw it this afternoon in Wolverhampton.
ReplyThanks for coming Peter! The cast will really appreciate your comments...
ReplyA wonderful performance at my first ever Vamos experience. Dead Good brings laughter into the life we live. Being familiar with the theme and often chuckling at the dark side in reality it was a relief to see this brought to theatre. Thank you for such a great evening.
ReplyYou're welcome, Amanda - and thanks for coming to see one of our shows for the first time - glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyHave read all the comments from Dead Good audiences. What more is there to say?
ReplyThank you for a wonderful performance.
We stil remember with great fondness the Much ado about Wenlock. We’ve been fans ever since.
Much Ado! We loved that one too - it does feel a long time ago now. Thanks for supporting us since then!
ReplyJust seen Dead Good at Grantham Guildhall, what a brilliant performance, will certainly be keeping an eye out for anything else from Vamos. A thought-provoking piece without one word being spoken, wonderful!
ReplyThank you Val - if you'd like to know about future shows you can always join our mailing list (top right of the header)...really glad you enjoyed the show.
ReplyI’ve just watched another excellent performance by Vamos at Bury st Edmunds theatre royal (Dead Good). It was brilliant. It always amazes me how much emotion they convey by pure body language.
ReplyThank you for coming, Sally. We really enjoyed Bury St Edmunds...
ReplyHaving watched another amazing production by Vamos at the Tacchi Morris art centre, can I say very well done to all of you. We are really looking forward to seeing you later in the year
ReplyThank you for your lovely comments, Janet - great you could see the show.
ReplySuch a moving performance at Shrewsbury. Well done Vamos for still performing when so much of the town was flooded. Your audience knew you would be well worth venturing out for and we were not disappointed.
ReplyThanks Gill - we don't let anything stop us! Great you could make it yourself too. So glad you enjoyed the performance.
ReplyThank you Vamos Theatre for yet another brilliant play “Dead Good” at Theatre Severn on 26th Feb. Perfect handling of a subject we should allow ourselves to celebrate. Perfectly drawn, right down to the clenched toes on curved feet in final act - sadly familiar yet reassuring to see.
ReplyThank you so much.The little details is what mask theatre is all about...so glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDead Good at Severn Theatre was dead good tonight. Too short. I wanted it to go on. It was so thoroughly enjoyable and really funny. Sad, obviously, but thoroughly immersive. I am not dead yet, but I have had a catheter so that scene resonated with me. So funny my sides now hurt. Having been with a loved one at life’s end, the final scene was sensitively done, poignant, but so real and yet somehow it was also lovely and just how I want my end to be when it eventually comes. I loved it.
ReplyI’m so chuffed with all these comments. Thank you so, so much for taking the time to feedback. The whole team reads them and often it’s the highlight of our day. Love Rachael
ReplyI love this comment- so honest and insightful. Thank you so much for coming...even my teenage boy said it was too short...but it was 70 minutes like all our shows!
ReplySaw ‘Dead Good’ in Worcester at the end of Jan. Just brilliant. Captivating theatre. Beautifully executed. Thank you for making our hearts sing and our spirits rise. Life affirming. 😊
ReplyWe love this comment! So beautifully put...thank you so much
ReplyA brilliant workshop in Edinburgh on Saturday. I’d forgotten just how much fun and how powerful full mask can be. X
ReplyThanks for coming to the workshop, Stewart - so great you enjoyed it - Rachael said there was a fantastic bunch of participants taking part.
ReplySaw Dead Good last night (5 Feb 20) .... a most phenomenal piece of theatre….. I was moved to tears after having laughed quite a bit…... simply fantastic…. just what makes theatre so special
ReplyWe agree, Graham! So glad that you enjoyed it, and thanks for your lovely comments.
ReplyI was at Jacksons Lane on the 2nd February to see DEAD GOOD.
ReplyMany, many congratulations to the Vamos Theatre team on another first class production. The subject matter has been handled with immense thought, care, respect and sensitivity, and the result is a show that is just amazing. Moving, tender, funny and thought provoking. I laughed and I cried and I came away feeling how lucky I’d been to see such a beautifully crafted piece of theatre, performed so brilliantly. Thank you very much Vamos Theatre. Good luck with your tour.
Wow, what a wonderful comment, Liz. It's been passed on to the whole team - so great you liked it.
ReplyI was in the Jackson’s Lane, London audience of Dead Good last night, 1st Feb. My expectations were high, as I’ve seen Vamos shows before, and I wasn’t disappointed. The quality of performance, direction, the attention to detail, the music, costumes, lighting, projections all combined to create a magical 70 minutes of pure theatrical delight. The deep, meaningful message is expertly woven through the antics of Bob and Bernard and left me feeling humbled by the power that non-verbal performance, in the right hands, has to engage and move its audience. I want everyone I love to see this show! Well done Vamos, what a dedicated, hard-working and talented team of practitioners you are. Thank you so much for all that you are doing to bring joy and meaning into our crazy world.
ReplyThank you SO much for your gorgeous and beautifully written comment! It's been passed on to the whole team, and it's much appreciated. Thank you for coming!
Reply‘Dead Good’ was dead good! Once again, Vamos Theatre has captured the essence of a subject and, with poignancy and humour, shone a light on an experience that affects us all. It was the highlight of the London Mime Festival.
ReplyThank you so much, Dee, we're humbled! With all the amazing talent at LIMF that's a wonderful thing to hear...many thanks
ReplyWe saw ‘Dead Good’ last night in London and absolutely loved the show! So poignant, funny and moving. All four of us had tears streaming down our faces by the end. As an amateur ex-mime artist it was so exhilarating to see such brilliant technique being easily and masterfully used to such wonderful effect. Just inspiring! Keep it up please, the Mime Festival is so much the better for this display of true corporeal movement!!
ReplyThank you Mike! The cast really loved your comment...we're so glad you enjoyed it (and had a good cry of course)
ReplyThis is the most amazing show. No words spoken yet so much said…. My dad passed away recently and this show was a totally cathartic experience for me. I laughed and I cried and I loved it. Thankyou Vamos for creating the most amazing work. Go and see this!!!!!
ReplyThank you, Helen...it's especially lovely to hear from you as you experienced someone dying so recently. We're so, so pleased that it was impactful for you and grateful for you coming. Please spread the word...
ReplyI saw your play last Friday 25th January and was totally transported and riveted. I was particularly fascinated by the single mask expression being relevant to whatever the actions were communicating. This was due to the skill and concentration of the perfomers and emphasised that words are only part of our means of comunication. Excellent play by all your team. Gordon
ReplyThank you Gordon, that's much appreciated
ReplyAnother brilliant performance from Vamos. I want to encourage everyone to experience your work. It’s an inspiration! Good luck with the tour.
ReplyWould you consider revisiting ‘Much Ado About Wenlock’ in the future?
HI Gay, thank you for your kind comments...great to hear - and also that you've been supporting us since Much Ado! Sadly, it's pretty unlikely we'll re-visit it, because it was so much a show of its time marking the Olympic Games. Perhaps we'll revisit it the next time the UK hosts the Games :0)
ReplySaw Dead Good at the Swan Theatre. What a funny, sad, uplifting, heart wrenching performance. So good! I have seen many Vamos productions and they are always brilliant and to the point of the subject. Well done all of you, looking forward to your next production. ????
ReplyThanks Liz, and especially for being such a loyal supporter...so glad you enjoyed the show.
ReplyA superb experience of theatre at it most powerful at Swan last night. We were drawn into the characters so well that we really understood their character and cared about them. We understood their true caring that goes on in hospice services. We laughed. I particularly enjoyed the slapstick of some scenes. And then….the so beautifully played death, the love, the last struggling breaths, and then the deepest calm. I’m afraid I’m the one who let a loud uncontrollable sob out! And the brilliant end (no spoiler here).
ReplyDead Good must be seen. Thank you Vamos.
I’ve had emails and conversations with many people apologising for the same uncontrollable sob- I don’t think you’d be singled out Lucy! I was overwhelmed by the communal emotion, it was extraordinary as I’ve never experienced it before. Off to London now to open with our co-commissioners at the London International Mime Festival…wish us luck xx
ReplyI saw “Dead Good” yesterday, the first time I’ve seen Vamos perform, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially with the theme of the play. During the first 2 minutes I still wasn’t sure - I’d forgotten you do a speechless performance - and I wondered if I was going to follow a 70 min wordless play. Within 5 minutes I was totally absorbed. I laughed. I cried. I was totally drawn in. A thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking evening. Thank you.
ReplyThanks Maggie! It's great to hear when people are converted to mask theatre...great you could come, and please spread the word
ReplyToday (24th January 2020) I saw VamosTheatre ‘s latest show ‘Dead Good’ at The Swan Theatre, Worcester.
This was a gorgeously humbling and exhilerating show! It feels relevant to everyone, zooming in on the final steps of life in all its colour. The performers were so articulate and playful even behind the great masks they wore which limited their sight—I can definitely imagine walking past characters - people - like those they portrayed in everyday life, making the story all the more gripping. I haven’t heard so many sniffles and sobs in the audience (as well as a few of my own) and it was such a celebration to have witnessed every moment, whether it be outrageously hysterical or bitterly upsetting.
And a shout-out to the technical team—what they did with this set and show was so surprising, clever and made my eyes shine !
Vamos are touring currently, so if you are in any of the cities they’re taking ‘Dead Good’ to, see if you can book a ticket and embrace life’s bitter-sweet highs and lows alongside them ! ????
ReplyThank you so much Danielle, especially for your comments about the technical side of the show: it's often forgotten and the technical team will be really happy to hear how you like it! Thanks for coming...
ReplyDead Good - Preview at Swan, Worcester 23rd January
Thanks for a brilliant show. I’ve seen all except Much Ado About Wenlock and they’ve been absorbing, thought-provoking, entertaining, emotional…..but this took the emotions (and relevance) to another level. Clearly draining on the cast and audience alike. The Q&A session afterwards was highly informative, a shame it had to end so soon. The productions would lose some depth in the process but have you considered filming them for screening to a wider audience?
ReplyThank you for coming Dave, and for your lovely comments. We do use films of our shows for educational settings - and it may be something we look into doing more generally. Watch this space...
ReplyThank you so much for the performance of 'Dead Good' last night. It is a truly inspiring piece to watch that opens up the 'taboo' of talking and accepting death. I bought a group of 50 secondary students worrying that I was going to be faced with comments like 'we didn't like it' and 'why, just why sir!' All of my students thoroughly enjoyed it and it has opened their eyes to a new genre of theater and the devising process. Also, thank you so much for the time you took for the post performance talk. Our students got a lot from it and are starting to understand the devising process and how much time/effort and dedication is needed to create a truly exception show.
ReplyLast night took 6 people to see “Dead Good”....3 of us all having experienced in last 18months our husbands hospice interventions and untimely deaths.
ReplyWhat a performance…..let me give some words….Moving….humour in the reminder to live well….before dieing well…..not one word uttered but such a story told in the movements, shrugs….looks…...silence…..it was great….absolutely great….....something I can relate too…..and take away its message…..to think and ponder on…..to share with others on similar journeys…...it was bitter sweet…...and yet so important . Performers did a great job and were wonderful. Can not recommend it too highly to anyone…...and I will be spreading the word….well done Vamos…..it’s something you could watch over and over again and come away with something new each time…....Shefali
Thank you so much for coming to our opening preview Shefali. It was so exciting to see you there and incredible the link with the friends that you brought with you- I’m still reeling from it and told both Pete and Nick about the connection. They were very touched. Love Rachael
ReplyJust seen Dead Good tonight at Swan Theatre Worcester, wow!! Fabulous another brilliant production. Thank you Vamos for presenting us with difficult subjects and finding brilliant ways to making us face up to them. Keep up the great work. Wishing you huge success for the tour.
ReplyThank you Janet, I'll pass that along to the whole team. Great you could come!
ReplyThank you for the fantastic work that you do with my son who attends Vamos Central, and for giving the young people the opportunity to perform in public.
ReplyHi Rachel, you are so welcome. Running this group is a pleasure and a joy. Officially the highlight of every week!
ReplyWe would love you to come back to Whitby, North Yorks, as the first show was brilliant, but have never been able to find another close enough to attend.
ReplyLove to see you next year.
Best wishes
Joyce
Hi Joyce, I've passed your comment on to Claire who does our tour booking and we'll definitely try. So glad you enjoyed the show you saw - have a merry Christmas!
ReplyHello Joyce, we'd certainly like to make it up to Whitby or somewhere else nearby. We'll keep trying and in the meantime do make sure you're on our mailing list to keep up to date with tour plans. If there is a particular venue you think we'd be perfect for, do let us know. It sometimes also helps if our audiences contact a venue directly to let them know that you'd like to see Vamos Theatre as part of their programme ;) Sending Christmas Wishes to you. Claire
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