Stillmine — Portrait Theatre
Movement Direction for Stillmine
Created by Portrait Theatre
Director: Isabelle Defaut
Dramaturg: Daisy Orton
Actors: Claire Cox, Colette Robertson, Jack Thomson, Sarah Winn
In March 2022 I had the pleasure of working with Portrait Theatre in an intensive week of R&D to develop this next phase of Stillmine.
A care-ful and supportive rehearsal room, with so many precious stories to hold and unfurl together.
To find the movement in a verbatim script, we listened carefully for the gestures, atmospheres and images in each voice and each story, and explored what these become when they flow through the creativity and inner life of the actor embodying them.
Stillmine is a new verbatim play by Isabelle Defaut about stillbirth and baby loss, created from a collage of interviews with bereaved parents, midwives, and doctors.
Sensitive, reflective, and unflinching, the play gives voice to the remarkable words of people who have experienced first hand this largely unspoken part of life.
In the UK baby loss still affects thousands of families every year. Stillmine is a tribute to these incredible parents, and reminds us to celebrate the joy of every life, however brief.
Photo credit: Phil Miller
This R&D phase culminated in two work-in-progress showings, on Friday 11th March 2022 at the Aphra Theatre in Canterbury, and on Saturday 12th March 2022 as part of the Power of Women Fringe.
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
With huge thanks to our partners: the Drama Department at the School of Arts, University of Kent; Sands; and the Power of Women Festival.
And a special thank you to Margate Arts Club.
Photo credit: Phil Miller
Photo credit: Phil Miller
Photo credit: Phil Miller
Photo credit: Phil Miller
Photo credit: Phil Miller
