A man spins round and round: a whirling dervish with one arm raised; a Mensch-Maschine; a clockwork toy. His image is reflected in the Spiegeltent mirrors all around him, so that the lone figure seems to have a ghostly chorus of identical automata. Shadows are cast onto the roof of the tent, another chorus of […]

Each June, the BE (Birmingham European) Festival curates a week of original short performances from around the continent in a format that combines sharing art and food between artists and audiences at the mac theatre. Best of BE FESTIVAL, now touring, comprises three of the best new works from the festival as selected by audiences […]

This first foray by Jess Thom into performance making scooped the 2014 Total Theatre Emerging Artist award at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe. The show develops from her successful work in blogging and publishing that has made her alter ego, Touretteshero, a much loved spokesperson for the illness. And it’s an illness that, despite its fascinating […]

iPhone users and ‘Other’ phone users are separated upon entry into the ever enchanting Spiegeltent that has been packing them in on London’s Southbank all summer. Head-to-toe in gold sequins, Miss Behave charmingly barks orders at us, gently ribbing everyone and getting us in the mood for the conflict ahead. Gameshow is an anarchic delight, […]

Dorothy Max Prior goes to Fierce Festival in Birmingham and finds a city re-imagined A speaking garden, a deconstructed car, a nail bar, and a sit-down meal with a bunch of pre-teen boys. Passive consumption not an option – we’re here to engage, to interact. The opening weekend of Fierce Festival 2014 took its audience […]