Theatre
A Spark and a Beating Heart
Firebird Theatre, a unique theatre company from Bristol comprising 16 actors with disabilities, celebrate 25 years of making theatre together with this new show created using their own personal histories. A Spark and a Beating Heart tells the story of each of the performer’s lives, intertwined with the myth of the Firebird.
Firebird worked with poet Claire Williamson to capture each company member’s story. Ages of company members range from 22 to 70, and their own histories trace society’s changing attitudes towards disability over the past half century. The experience of the youngest members of the company is very different to those nearing retirement (for example, living in a long-stay residential hospital).
For A Spark and a Beating Heart, Firebird have also worked with Adrian Lee, a renowned composer and musician who is also a member of The British Paraorchestra, and Fionn Gill, a performer based in Bristol who works regularly at Bristol Old Vic (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Swallows and Amazons, Coram Boy).
A Spark and a Beating Heart sees the company return to its devising roots, producing a new play that is not based on an existing text. It’s their latest new work, following 2012’s The Breadhorse.
Firebird Theatre said: “We are very excited about showing and sharing our new production. It is important to us that people hear our stories and see us on stage and know a bit more about who we are.”
A Spark and a Beating Heart is produced by MAYK, the organisation behind Mayfest. MAYK have worked with Firebird for over five years, including producing their last show The Breadhorse. MAYK are developing a range of projects with disability artists, including new work by Jo Bannon and The British Paraorchestra, commissioned by Unlimited.
7pm plus Thuir matinee 2pm, £12/£8 concs, at Trinity as part of Bristol Old Vic’s Studio Walkabout season. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk/a-spark-and-a-beating-heart.html
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