In the Shadow of Picture Frames

Green Eyed Zero, 'In The Shadow of Picture Frames'performance 2007-08. Photo: Richard Andersen

In the Shadow of Picture Frames, an innovative new performance piece by Bristol company Green Eyed Zero, toured venues across south west England between September and November 2008.

Green Eyed Zero are Rachel Pollard and Sebastien Valade, who met at Circomedia, Bristol’s internationally renowned centre for contemporary circus and physical performance. In the Shadow of Picture Frames combines physical theatre and circus skills – including aerial work, juggling and acrobatics - with music and innovative digital media techniques to tell a chilling, tragic story.

The performance began life as a ten-minute piece that the performers created together for their Circomedia graduation show, but initial support from Arts Council England, South West through Grants for the arts helped them to expand and develop the piece into an hour-long show. The 2008 tour was supported with £8,819 of Grants for the arts funding and visited Truro, Dartington, Wells, Penzance, Torrington and Swindon among others.

Rachel Pollard explains: ‘Without the support of Arts Council England, South West it would have been impossible for us to tour – the grant made all the difference and allowed our work to be seen by audiences and venues across the region.’

The company are particularly keen to, not only tour bigger and more established venues but also, tour more rural areas. Pollard explains: ‘Opportunities to see circus as an integral part of a performance are limited – what we do is unusual and we wanted the work to go to people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it. We did one performance where there were some deaf members of the audience who found the imagery fascinating.’

A national tour of In the Shadow of Picture Frames is planned for autumn 2009. For more details, visit the Green Eyed Zero website at www.greeneyedzero.com