May 2016
Through Cultural Shift, ARC and Little Cog’s partnership has meant new opportunities for disabled artists and companies to be supported to develop work at ARC. Alison Carr is a prolific disabled writer based in Bishop Auckland. Little Cog has worked with Alison on a number of occasions on Arts Council England supported projects. Dust of the Street’s Shining was the latest project.
It was the first one woman show Alison had written and she wanted to be challenged and push her writing into new areas. Bob Beagrie, who has also collaborated with Alison on a number of projects, came on board as Director and Dramaturg.
Alison was thrilled to work with Bob, with Jacqueline Phillips playing Una, with Little Cog project managing, and with ARC’s technical team supporting. She said that it made such a difference to her to feel that her work was valued and understood. It can be isolating to be a writer at the best of times but disabled people face increased isolation and many barriers to support, development opportunities, attitudinal discrimination and cultural misunderstanding.
He said of working on the project – “Working on Dust of the Street’s Shining’ has been a wonderful process. I have enjoyed seeing Alison’s raw notes and rough ideas develop through writing, collaboration and psychological investigation of character and behaviour to create this stunning lyrical and highly emotive script; then to work with the actor Jacqueline Phillips to bring it to life, and finding hidden nuances and unexpected layers and connections within it. It has been a rewarding experience and one I am proud to have been involved in. I want as many people to see this as possible. It is funny and tragic and hypnotic”.
Dust of the Street’s Shining was performed at both ARC and Bishop Auckland Town Hall Theatre to enthusiastic audiences impressed with the writing and Jackie Phillips’ expert and beautifully nuanced performance.
“She was absolutely captivating to watch” audience feedback, ARC Stockton