GENERATIONS: Cast and Creatives Q & A
RICHARD HEADON Creative Producer, Writer, Director, Performer
CLICK HERE for a longer interview with Richard about the creative process behind GENERATIONS.
Give us a brief biography
As Co-Artistic Director of Desperate Men (1995-present) Richard has performed, written, devised and directed numerous shows & outdoor theatre shows including Slapstick & Slaughter, The Nativity Cycle, Dancing Bear Cheese, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Rick, Dick & Vic.
In this time he has also co-created some of the most complex large scale projects including Bristol Loves Tides (2015-17) (Bristol-European Green Capital),The Wye Valley River Festival (2014-2020), Battle for the Winds (London Cultural Olympiad 2012) & The Severn Project (2006-2009).
Other performance/direction work includes- The Light Princess, Tobacco Factory, An Oak Tree with Tim Crouch, There be Monsters (Fabularium), Splash (Extraordinary Bodies) and Sequins & Sawdust (Cirque Bijou). He has also hosted numerous circus performances as well as tutoring and directing at Circomedia & National Centre for Circus Arts.
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
I’d like them to be entertained and surprised but also reflect on what’s going on in their own lives and hopefully remember it on a cold winter’s night.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
Coming out of it with any credibility
What gives you hope for the future?
The younger generations. They know what they have to do. Let’s give them the permissions to get on with it and fundamentally change the political systems
What do you think your generation does best?
Bask in nostalgia
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
Rebel Rebel – David Bowie
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SOPHIA KNOX-MILLER Assistant Producer, Assistant Director, Performer
Give us a brief biography
Sophia has been producing, directing and performing internationally for more than 15 years (she’s older than she looks…) She is a versatile physical performer with roots in contemporary dance theatre and circus. But underneath it all, she’s really just a clown.
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
This is really hard to answer before having made the show… Generally if people feel emboldened to dance more, think less, be in the present… That’s sort of the driving force behind any performance work I like to make – though not specific to Generations.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
Climate catastrophes.
What gives you hope for the future?
You.
What do you think your generation does best?
Political engagement through memes.
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
Spice Girls – Spice up your life
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RICHIE SMITH Desperate Men Performer
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
‘Wow, what a show! I will go away and pay more attention to other generations – their needs, hopes and aspirations – we all have such a lot in common.’ If there are any perceived differences.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
To stay in touch with the younger generations – our kids and their friends and younger folks in general. Listen, offer advice and assist.
What gives you hope for the future?
The younger generation.
What do you think your generation does best?
No idea – maybe placing a higher value on face to face, non screen personal contact
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
‘One Love’ Bob Marley
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JO KESSELL Desperate Men Performer
Jo Kessell grew up in Cornwall with the political backdrop of nuclear threat, miners’ strikes, high unemployment and battle of the beanfields . Oh and THATCHER.
She mostly closely identifies with the concept of being Generation x (sneary, sulky and distrustful of the establishment! – but feeling vindicated about this attitude at the moment!)
Creatively she was influenced and inspired by theatre companies as Welfare State International, Footsbarn and mummerandada whilst also loving the angrier punkier more urban rebellious styles of such companies as Circus Archaos and Mutoid Waste. The culture of the underdog. Music like the Crass “I ain’t thick it’s just a trick,” … the movement against bounding capitalism.
She was a founding member of Bedlam theatre company of Cornwall (1998) and worked with Kneehigh theatre (1994?) before leaving Cornwall
She first worked with Desperate men in around 1996 and had two grand tours of duty, performing internationally in the lighthouse comic street opera ( 2 years) 1998/1999 and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse 3 years , over the millennium (!) besides ‘making mincemeat out of flimsy reality’ with them in many other hair-brained schemes, provocative actions and eccentric comedy walkabouts .
She admires the work of Leo Bassi and was part of his political action in Bristol organised by the Desperate men in (when)
She worked for over 10 years as Stickleback Plasticus performing stage shows, in cabaret and walkabout street animations internationally
She has marched in protest and support of lots of things – but realises that its illegal now so she will have to resort to theatre, an arena in which ideas can be explored and social commentary made in an inclusive peaceful entertaining comedic and non-combative way.
She feels that street theatre has become partially consumed by ‘the establishment’ recently. its content dictated by mainstream commercial demands- becoming just another commodity and that it has given up its ability to challenge subvert or shock.
She feels street theatre needs rewilding!
She regularly works for and collaborates with companies such as Swank, Frenetic Engineering, Fairplay and Dotcomedy. Most recently she has been the holy cow in ‘Holy Cow!’ with Wassail theatre company.
By her involvement with Desperate Men’s ‘Generations’, she would like to understand what the youth are bringing to the party (!) and hopes to feel more optimistic about the future 🙂
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JON BEEDELL Desperate Men Performer
Give us a brief biography
I have been performing for over 50 years and have been a co-director of Desperate Men for the last four decades. I learnt my craft on tour with bands and theatre companies of many hues, and found a creative and political home performing outdoors for free – what used to be called street theatre – a form that now shelters under the brolly of ‘outdoor arts’. I have created, devised, directed and performed in many shows in the UK, Europe and Portugal. I like to play piano, have occasional rants about the state of the world and evolve tactics to avoid technology, admin and doing funding bids, but am not always very successful. I’d like a job as a wise elder please…
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
I hope they take away a good few belly laughs, some beautiful images, some poignant moments –
and a lot of perturbed thinking…
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
Our guilt – for how we let ourselves squander humanity’s chances of survival – and what we must do about it Now.
What gives you hope for the future?
Children being given free rein for their imaginations and creativity.
Adults recognizing it’s possible to imagine a better future, and building it…
What do you think your generation does best?
Cheerful despair.
Absurdity.
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
Dancing in the Street
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VIC LLEWELLYN Desperate Men Performer
Give us a brief biography
Vic Llewellyn trained as an actor at École Phillipe Gaulier. He has been working in Theatre as a performer, writer and deviser for 30 years and has worked with Desperate Men for 25 of those. He appeared in The Lighthouse, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Rick, Dick, and Vic…. Extreme, The Miracle Show and The Severn Project.
His show The Castle Builder, written and devised with pop star legend Kid Carpet, was met with National acclaim, and toured as part of Battersea Arts Centres’ CTN tour. His current show, A Little Death, premiered at the Bristol Old Vic in 2018. He is working on a new show, Last Man for production in 2022.
He has worked with Theatre Alibi, Travelling Light theatre, Bristol Old Vic and the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Green Ginger, and Shakespeare at The Tobacco Factory. Notable appearances include: The Author by Tim Crouch at The Royal Court Theatre, Father Christmas in Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas at The Lyric Hammersmith, Picasso, in The Boy who bit Picasso at Oxford Playhouse.
Website: www.vicllewellyn.co.uk
Twitter: @vicllewellyn
Instagram: vicllewellyn
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
That street theatre is still a powerful force that can inspire change.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
Apathy, get out and vote, you can change things.
Greed, its not about how much you own or if the value of your house has gone up.
Get out of your car and walk, or catch the bus.
What gives you hope for the future?
That there are people with brilliant ideas who are brave enough to instigate them.
What do you think your generation does best?
Gardening.
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
The Staple Singers – Respect yourself.
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SHIRLEY PEGNA Musical Director
My practice encompasses working with sound, music and composition. I have extensive experience in collaboration with works involving installation, film, dance, theatre and circus outside and inside, and many types of interactive projects. My work recently has been concerned with the experience of the environment via sound, where I have composed and created live mixes working with dancers and improvising musicians. I have been interested in the properties of sound where it is both an aural and tactile experience and can tap into the imagination of those who visit it. Recent work performed includes:
All Terrain Training – Milan Design Week: June 2022
@all_terrian_training
Earth Din – Bristol New Music, Arnolfini Bristol: May 2022
https://bristolnewmusic.org/programme/shirley-pegna-earth-din/
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’
I hope audiences will feel somewhat provoked and that they can laugh – when watching this show.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
A challenge for my generation (baby boomers) is to STAY AWAKE!
What gives you hope for the future?
People give me hope for the future.
What do you think your generation does best?
Queueing for buses is one of the skills of our generation.
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
It’s Lovely Day – Bill Withers remix by the Brazil Connection. Defy you to stay in your seat!
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WILL PEGNA Choreographer/Performer
Give us a brief biography
My name is Will, I’m a dance-artist and performer from Bristol based in London. My approach to movement and performance draws from my 13 years experience as a competitive break-dancer and more recently a BA in Fine Art Drawing. My performative practice has taken me to competitions and shows in New York, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea, Vietnam, France and Denmark. Recently I have been working on a research project called All Terrain Training – A movement series combining dance, sport, ecology and fashion.
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
– The ability to ask themselves how different generations can learn from each other
– A sense of hope and positivity
– Thought provoking silliness
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
Cost of living, climate change, what to wear..
What gives you hope for the future?
Things like when K-pop fans used MAGA hashtags in their tiktoks to drown out Donald Trump’s presence on social media in 2021.
What do you think your generation does best?
Liberating voices, calling out bullshit and dancing.
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
Time To Move – Carmen
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JOE HILL Sound Artist, Composer, Assistant Musical Director
Give us a brief biography for yourself
I am a musical creative who composes, performs and makes interdisciplinary art. My work centers around environmental justice and carers rights. You’ll also find me trying to carve more accessible space for young creatives from disadvantaged backgrounds within the Bristol arts sector, and working on projects supporting young performers as part of Warping Grounds Collaborations. I’m a Pervasive Media Studio resident, Wardrobe Theatre board member and am represented by Rising Arts Agency. Give me a shout if you’d like to chat, always up for meeting new faces!
What do you hope the audience will take away from watching ‘Generations’?
Some reflective energy on the gaps or beliefs in their own perspectives that could be healed by healthy intergenerational relationships.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing YOUR generation?
The cost of living and having a family in an ever increasingly volatile economy and natural environment whilst trying to also entirely redesign the system of capitalism to something genuinely sustainable. Easy peasy.
What gives you hope for the future?
Seeing marginalised younger people become increasingly more able to organise and build communities through online platforms (hopefully starting a revolution!).
What do you think your generation does best?
Talking openly about their feelings with an expectation to be validated. Also largely understanding that capitalism is exploitative nonsense.
Pick a song that every generation should dance to.
Nen Lambo by Bill Loko.
