Flam is devised by Orlando Gough, Emma Bernard, Melanie Pappenheim and Rebecca Askew (aka ‘Flam Productions’). It is a work in development, exploring the vocal, physical and comic possibilities of this extraordinary pair of performers. .Flam is part one of a series of light- footed sung works which we aim to develop over the coming year. These short works are designed to be ‘musical incidents’ to be performed in theatres, concert halls,festivals, galleries and foyers
Synopsis
Two women meet for a coffee. They greet each other and sing together, sharing new gossip and old banter. Their language is at once familiar and strange. They take off their coats. They are wearing the same clothes. Thereafter, they provoke one another, needle one another, subvert the other’s singing, bully one another, support each other, enjoy one another’s company. Clearly they have a shared past.
Composer: Orlando Gough
Performers:
Director: Emma Bernard
Rebbecca Askew & Melanie Pappenheim
Composer: Orlando Gough
Performers:
Director: Emma Bernard
Rebbecca Askew & Melanie Pappenheim
Orlando Gough was a founder member of the bands The Lost Jockey and Man Jumping. In 1998 he co-founded the 18 piece vocal group The Shout with fellow composer Richard Chew.
Recent work includes Singing River, an outdoor choral event on the Thames directed by Tom Ryser,. The Finnish Prisoner, an opera with libretto by Stephen Plaice, directed by Susannah Waters. Critical Mass, performed by The Shout and twenty homeless people (Almeida Opera Festival/Streetwise Opera), One Two, a music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, for six pairs of identical twins, Tintin, a play with songs, directed by Rufus Norris, which toured the UK at the end of last year and Fingerprint, a devised music-theatre piece with The Shout for The Linbury Theatre and UK tour.
Melanie Pappenheim is a singer and performer. Her versatility has allowed her to explore several different genres. As a singer she has worked with leading contemporary composers, including Gavin Bryars, Graham Fitkin and Orlando Gough, and has developed a particularly close working relationship with Jocelyn Pook. She is a member of the Jocelyn Pook Ensemble and has collaborated on scores for TV films and documentaries, radio, theatre and dance. Most recently she performed Jocelyn’s music for the award winning St Joan at the National Theatre. She has also worked with film and TV composers such as Murray Gold, Martin Phipps, Adrian Johnston, Dario Marianelli and Stephen Warbeck and her voice can be heard on soundtracks to Jarman’s The Garden and Edward II, Scorsese’s Gangs of New York and Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, as well as on several episodes of Doctor Who.
Melanie’s work as a composer has included music for two series for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour (David Copperfield and The Old Curiosity Shop), a sound installation for the re-opening of the Forbury Gardens in Reading and music for the acclaimed production of The Lady from the Sea at the Arcola theatre in Hackney.
Rebecca Askew (singer and songwriter) performs regularly with singer Jeremy Avis and DJ Robin Whitnell (www.askewandavis.com) using state of the art live-looping technology. Last November they composed and performed “Tongue-Tied” a mini-opera at the Linbury Theatre, Covent Garden as part of the FIRSTS festival. Other festival appearances include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Glastonbury and WOMAD. They are currently writing new material with Gambian kora player and percussionist Sura Susso, in preparation for a tour this autumn. She has been a member of The Shout, the internationally acclaimed 16 piece vocal band, since 1999 and has contributed pieces to their repertoire. This year’s performances will include the Brighton Festival, the Stimmen Festival in Germany and City of Culture Festival in Stavanger, Norway. Other recent productions include “Against Oblivion” composed by Jeremy Peyton-Jones at Toynbee Studios, and “The Mariners” by Orlando Gough at the Greenwich Theatre and other venues.
Emma Bernard
Recent projects include:’ Sun & Heir’ for ROH Education at Tilbury Cruise Terminal, ‘Fingerprint’ with Orlando Gough and The Shout for ROH2 at Linbury Studio, ‘Tongue- Tied’ with Askew and Avis for ROH2 ‘Firsts’ and ‘Critical Mass’ with Orlando Gough and The Shout, for Streetwise Opera at Almeida Opera Festival 2007. Emma’s background spans, directing, devising and performing with film and TV appearances including ‘Faith in the Future’ and ‘Notting Hill’.