Topic ideas:
My first ideas in terms of a topic for my solo performance is to use my disability as a stimulus. I have Functional Neurological Disorder, a complex condition that effects the connection between my brain and my legs, as well as other areas in my body. My idea is to create an autobiographical piece that discuss my own story while also talking about the idea of teh disabled identity and gets rid of some of the stereotypes around disabilities. I was not born with my disability rather got it after catching a virus, nearly four years ago, that led to the development of my condition yet I don’t wish I was abled-bodied. I am happy and proud of my disabled identity which I think that a lot of abled-bodied people have difficulty understanding.
Although stand-up is not a performance style that I am particularly interested in exploring, the way Maysoon Zayid discuss her disability I find interesting. I do not want to create a performance about my disability which leaves the audience pitying me. I have no need for pity and I do not want it. I do not see my disability as a negative thing and I am quite happy the way I am. Maysoon does a brilliant job of talking about her disability in a way that does not invite pity which is something I can learn from…also I think she absolutely hilarious!
Performance style ideas:
Physical theatre is one of my favourite performance styles. One of the things I like about this style of performance is that ‘the primary means of creation occurs through the body rather than through the mind’ (Callery,2001,4), which allows a performer to express themselves physically rather than through dialogue. I am a wheelchair user which means that a lot of people think that I can not really move or do anything. This is not the case and I want to get rid of this idea.
DV8:
The video below is a clip from DV8’s Cost of living (2004) that features both disabled and abled-bodied performers. One of the things that, in my opinion, makes the piece really impressive is that the disabled performer leads the performance and is a powerful presence, not just an extra. It also takes a lot of physical strength to move the way he does. Physical strength is not something that is commonly associated with being disabled so this piece breaks stereotypes surrounding disability. Something I wish to try and do within my own piece.
Work Cited:
Alex Jackson(2016)Marka Danielle Performs Wheelchair Dance Routine at Shots With A Spin
. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SzIfqPTJV0[accessed 5 February 2018].
Callery, D. (2001) Through the Body: A Practical Guide to Physical Theatre. New York: Routledge.
eGoSolidal (2012) The Cost of Living – DV8 Physical Theatre
. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NShJJr1ztkM [accessed 5 February 2018].
TED (2014) I got 99 problems… palsy is just one | Maysoon Zayid
. Available fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buRLc2eWGPQ [accessed 5 February 2018].