Back in May I spent a couple of weeks in the far north (of London) designing light for a new piece for Candoco Dance Company, choreographed by Marc Brew.

It was a really enjoyable project - the rehearsal room had a relaxed and friendly feel to it, and the room next door was a swimming pool. Brilliant!

The performance was dynamic and looked great, and forms part of a new double bill by Candoco Dance Company. Candoco Dance Company has been commissioned for Unlimited as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Performances throughout 2012 will be announced nearer the time.

The Woods

January has disappeared into the making of The Woods, a new performance and installation piece from Jane Packman Company.

I've been involved in making the project from its inception; indeed it was in part inspired by a short piece I wrote during a development week with Mapping4D at The Dark Room, back in 2006. That piece was just one of several starting points - the project as it opens this week at mac is a devised piece which has been collaboratively authored by the company.

It's been a challenge to realise a project of this scale in a big white gallery space, but also fun and energising to be working with such a great team... and looking up from my laptop, I must say it's looking beautiful.

The Woods runs at mac until 27th February 2011.

Unlike most projects, I helped to make a lot of noise in Uninvited Guests' new performance piece Make Better Please.



Working in a beautiful space up on the roof of Bristol Old Vic, the show seeks to take on the troubles of the world - and make them bettter. And it works really well: the engagement with the audience is handled with great care, and the performance properly attempts to grapple with some of what is happening in the world.

It's been a privilege to be able to contribute to the work - by creating a simple, sensitive, yet dynamic lighting design; and by helping to create a cacophony during the performance!

Tin Soldier

A couple of weeks ago I designed lighting for Tin Soldier, a small and satisfyingly dark show for children, which the

Whilst on tour, the show has picked up a great review from The Guardian, and it's running at the Royal Exchange in Manchester from 15th December. If you're in the north west this Christmas, and want an inventive sacharine-free show for children, you should check this out!

M2M

Only time for a quick post this afternoon, but Unlimited's new play for children, Mission to Mars, is up and running and looking really special....

I'll post some more photos soon, but if you're in London in the next month, you should check it out, with or without any 7-11 year olds you might know! Details via the Unlimited site here.

Iris in Amsterdam

Unfortunately I'm not packing my bags for this one, but Melanie Wilson's Iris Brunette is off to Amsterdam to be part of the Netherlands Theatre Festival Fringe 2010. The last time I saw the show was in Bristol back in November '09, but I know it's in capable hands again for these performances, and will be as beautiful, dark and delicate as ever.

More info and book tickets here, if you happen to be in Amsterdam this weekend... (3-6 September 2010).

Extra-Ordinary

Leonie just texted from South Africa, with the news that Extra-Ordinary has won a National Arts Festival Ovation Award in Grahamstown. It's great recognition for this satirical dance piece, featuring David Toole and Lucy Hind, which we put together a couple of months ago at Development Lab in Bradford.

Congratulations guys!