Arts In Motion

Evanton-based ARTS IN MOTION kick off Northings new survey of the member companies of the Highlands & Islands Theatre Network
 

Mission Statement

Arts in Motion metamorphosed in 1996 from Clown Jewels Theatre Company in response to the company’s widening sphere of activity across the arts and new technology.

We began new media work in 1990 with the purchase of our first Amiga computer and video projector for its show ‘The Present’. The genre developed and eventually became Cartoon Theatre, interactive performance and animation. Video quickly became part of the equation, although it wasn’t until the mid-1990s when digital video took off that the company progressed into film and media in its own right.
 
Nowadays the company works with all aspects of media and the arts, from the visual arts to theatre, from dance to all genres of music, creating performances, installations, films and events.

The company has many sides and functions, from pure experimentation, research and development, to performance creation, to external contract fulfilment, attempting at all times to exist on a balanced diet of artistic and ‘professional’ work and funded and earned income.

Vjing is one of our less profitable but more fun pastimes

After nearly twenty years in the business, and extremely tired of the incredibly difficult conditions in which to produce work, the company finally obtained its own premises in 2004 on the Evanton Industrial Estate, and began to convert the buildings into a rehearsal space and blue screen film and edit studio, as well as set building workshop, costume store and music rehearsal room.

Work has progressed in between projects, and the centre has already been used by several companies as a production/rehearsal space including Benchtours (‘Crowhurst’), Right Lines (‘Who Bares Wins’) , Fidget Feet (‘Remember Her’), Aye! Productions (‘The Ballad’), and recently the National Theatre with their opening production, ‘Home Inverness’, which made great use of the adaptable spaces.

Currently in residence is Aye! Productions with ‘Sealskin Trousers’ ( a co-production with Arts in Motion), and they will be swiftly followed by Right Lines with a new show, ‘Illicit’.

On the film studio side, user groups include a range of primary and secondary schools, CPD teachers training, Out of Eden outreach, local community film groups (Ardross, Milnafua), local bands, and youth clubs.

Most of these were involved in producing blue screen films for the second ‘Alberts’, our version of the Oscars for local film-making, which was held in December 2005, a glitter glitz affair initially spawned from our ‘Nub’ extravaganza, which produced several Grand Balls and such walkabouts as ‘The Spanish Exquisition’.

A trans-national film project with Sweden and local Scottish groups also sees a trip to the Borders Film Festival in April and Sweden in June.

We are currently working on an application to follow up the BluScreen project with a music/film project, ‘Films4MusicMusic4Films’, making music films in a wide range of genres and styles and applications from stand alone to VJ [as in video jockey – Ed.].

Vjing is one of our less profitable but more fun pastimes at such events as Loopallu, Carbisdale Castle, Evanton Battle of the Bands, The Rites at Strathpeffer, and also a couple of tours with Mr McFall’s Chamber in 2004/5 with a chance to prepare work to a much higher calibre and work with both composers and visual artists.

On the installation front, last year’s installation at Duff House, ‘The Cullen Ceiling’, is being reworked, including a companion piece integrating the heritage material and contemporary film. As well as plans for Edinburgh in 2007, there are plans to include this as a revamp of our 1996 digital installation ‘Tricks of Delight’, which would be in residence in Evanton.

There are several plans afoot with different partners to link sculpture/installations, writing and performance in the creation of celebrations that have a creative culmination, i.e. the performance, but which leave a legacy for future appreciation or development.

Current Production or Work-in-Progress

The company is as usual working on several projects at the moment:

State of the Art: this was previewed in October and will tour after the summer. This is a look at the Arts and what it means to be involved in it – the powers that be and the powers that do.

Remember Her: this is a development with ‘Fidget Feet’ and is an aerial/media show. There was a development period for this last year, and this year production money will be sought.

Sealskin Trousers: this is currently in production in the main space and is a co-production with Aye! Productions. A boy meets girl story with a difference, featuring underwater flying and projected set, it will be premiered on 31 March-1 April in Evanton.

Jesters Must Be Done: This is nearing the end of development as a small person’s show, mainly for schools. Songs, poems and pictures. Fun. There are plans to develop a full touring family music show from some of this material.

The BluScreen Project: this project is nearing its end and was a North Highland film production and training project. Over twenty blue screen films were produced with a wide range of groups. The last couple of films and training slots are being finished off now, and the main films were shown at the second Alberts film festival last December at Evanton.

The Perfect Spot: this Cartoon Theatre show is having a revamp before its third outing. A follow up show is currently in development.

Fantasy Theatre – Your Dream Project?

My dream project would still concern production facilities and space. If I had the resources I would relocate some of the activities here to a greenfield or forest site and expand the activities and facilities. I would also integrate low cost housing and accommodation and an area for permanent public access with installations, workshops, performance sculpture trail etc. A working living creation centre.

Golden Moment?

Golden moments – a few. Getting a ‘Herald Angel’ at the Edinburgh Festival for ‘The Comic’, dancing to the all dressed up and jazzed up McFalls Chamber Orchestra at the Plockton Helicopter Hanger Nub Ball, the recent National Theatre show, seeing all the work converting a concrete-floored and tin-roofed garage come to fruition, three double decker buses in a field outside of Tobermory all ready for ‘The Faerie Queen’ show.

And Not So Golden Moment?

Our first trip to the Fringe at the Edinburgh festival – 6 people and a crap review!

Highland Theatre – Is There Such A Thing, and If So, What Is It?

Highland Theatre, it exists because its happening, places are real and what comes from a place is real. There are unique issues to the Highlands and there are shared issues with the rest of rural Scotland and indeed with the towns and cities.

© John McGeoch, 2006

Links

• Arts In Motion