Sat 8th Aug & Sun 9th Aug 2009
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 has been developed over the last year. These short works are designed to be ‘musical incidents’ to be performed in theatres, concert halls, festivals, galleries and foyer. Using a combination of virtuosic singing, non-verbal communication, physical theatre and occasional dialogue, Flam explores the relationship between two women; the encounter is heightened in a quasi-operatic way by using a wide range of vocal styles, including Scottish ‘mouth music’, Georgian lament, Inuit hocketing, Troubadour song and improvisation.
Synopsis:
A huge hit from the 2008 Festival. A woman sits alone in a café. Her friend (her sister? her lover?) appears, late, flustered. They greet each other and sing together. They take off their coats. They are wearing the same clothes. Thereafter, they provoke one another, needle one another, bully one another, support each other and enjoy one another’s company. Clearly they have a shared past.
“Quite brilliant. They gossip, compete, sympathise and conduct a hilarious singing lesson in unison and counterpoint. Witty, touching and virtuosic, it’s a little gem.” Sunday Telegraph
Music: Orlando Gough Director: Emma Bernard
Performers: Rebecca Askew Melanie Pappenheim
Biographies:
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, and 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 2007 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.
Rebecca Askew is a singer and songwriter. She performs regularly with singer Jeremy Avis, kora player and percussionist Surahata Susso and bass-playing DJ Robin Whitnell (www.myspace.com/askewandavis ) using state of the art live-looping technology. They’ve just recorded a new album which will be released next spring. They have also been commissioned to write a piece for Botswana’s first contemporary dance company to be performed at the opening of the Maitisong Festival, Gaboron. In November 2007 they composed and performed “Tongue-Tied” a mini-opera at the Linbury Theatre, Covent Garden as part of the FIRSTS festival. She has been a member of The Shout, the internationally acclaimed 16 piece vocal band, since 1999 and has contributed pieces to their repertoire. Last year’s performances will include the Brighton Festival, the Stimmen Festival in Germany, the closing ceremony for Stavanger 08, Norway and the opening ceremony for Linz 09, Austria. She has many years experience as a music educationalist, specialising in jazz and improvisation workshops for primary aged children and has recently working on several projects for Glyndebourne Education. Future plans for FLAM include a companion piece called SPAM and performances in October in Frome, Somerset and at the International Festival of Contemporary Music in Tallinn, Estonia.
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 First’ 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.