Would you like to perform in York’s city centre this summer?
Lead an audience on a musical tour of York?
Hunt for musicians?
Participate in a new work blending music, movement, theatre and satire?
Performers of any instrument/voice are invited to take part in CARNIVORE, a musical tour of York. CARNIVORE will be devised collaboratively, directed by me and composer/performer Victoria Bernath. It will be performed on Sunday 11th May, part of the York Spring Festival.
What is CARNIVORE?
A band of brazen, contemporary Minstrels leads an audience on a hunt for the ‘out-of-date’ Troubadours that have begun busking round the historic sites of their city. En route to their own performance, the Minstrels decide to search these sites with the aim of stopping the Troubadours in their unacceptable behaviour – at all costs. The hunt intensifies as the Troubadours begin to plan their own coup…
Old and new musics will clash in a celebration of the history and community of York.
Performers are required for the following roles:
The Minstrels (5 roles available) – a band led by Ringleader Violist Vic Bernath. Inspired by the carnivalesque caricatures of commedia dell-arte & pantomime, these characters will be grotesquely savage & rugged, idiotic & slapdash, loud & brash. Performers will be required to speak, sing and play an instrument whilst chaperoning the audience on the tour. Minstrel roles would suit anyone who has some acting experience, or is willing to throw themselves into trying music-theatre.
The Troubadours (unlimited roles available) – planted busking musicians who will devise their character together and with James & Vic. The Troubadours will base their characters on their instrument: they will be able to play and improvise with any repertoire they like, on any instrument they like! The musical hunt takes in 5 historic sites: at least one Troubadour will be encountered at each. Performers may either apply as a soloist or as a group/band (e.g. any kind of duo, trio, quartet…).
Things to Note
– This is a site-specific performance which will take place outside.
– You must be able to cope with performing outside for up to an hour without electricity or any supplementary equipment (e.g. chair, stand).
– You will be busking in close contact with the public for the duration of this performance.
– All musical material and theatrical direction will be developed with James and Vic.
This performance would be ideal for anyone who wants to try something a bit different, or would love to explore improvising on standard repertoire outside!
If you would like to be involved, please write to James at jw637[at]york[dot]ac[dot]uk.
For more information, please visit:
www.york.ac.uk/concerts/programme/carnivore
www.yorkspringfestival.co.uk and Twitter: @YSFNM
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
James & Vic