Meet the Phase 2 Artists: Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse
Jack and Robbie are playwrights and theatre-makers. Together they are the artistic directors of the critically acclaimed Wonder Fools and were formerly the Creative Engagement Directors at the Ayr Gaiety. As writers for Wonder Fools: McNeill of Tranent: Fastest Man in the World, The Coolidge Effect and 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War. As part of Wonder Fools' international participatory project Positive Stories for Negative Times (in association with Traverse Theatre): Ozymandias and Spyrates.
Other credits: When The Sun Meets The Sky (Capital Theatres and the Traverse Theatre) and Same Team: A Street Soccer Story (Traverse Theatre).
During the pandemic, the Ayr Gaiety dedicated its time to working with communities whose voices didn’t seem to be part of the rolling news agenda. At a time when we were all concerned about ourselves and our families, we turned much of our attention to groups in our communities who relied on spaces that were no longer available to them. We asked ourselves about the impact that restrictions, social distancing and closures were having on the most vulnerable in our society and we responded through creating that space digitally. What we experienced were people from all over South Ayrshire who might not have met otherwise, gathering together to participate in artistic work online and, eventually (when guidance allowed) in real life. Through this work we created last bonds with third-sector organisations and their participants and made work all over the region, which included theatre, visual art, installation and dance.
This project will see us bring together groups from across South Ayrshire to create a production that both reflects on the pandemic and celebrates the value of art in times of crisis. We will work across the region with Champions Board, Enable, fill in groups to create a production that will tour rural communitites and culminate in a performance on the Gaiety stage. The content will be devised by the community and will feature professional performers, live music and a professional cast.
Jack and Robbie say,
“We are delighted to be working with the Gaiety, a venue we worked with throughout the pandemic, to reflect on moment in our collective history. The Gaiety really holds a special place in our hearts as artists and is truly one of the best venues in the UK at connecting with its community and co-creating arts with participants and professional artists. It will be a privilege to work with groups across the region and for the work to culminate in such a special venue.”
www.robbegordon.org / www.jacknurse.com / www.wonderfools.org