Written and Directed by Jon Harris
Performed by Jon Harris, Kendra Keller, Dawn Rose and Steve the pianist
What happens when a Pianist, 2 showgirls in fishtail
dresses, a writer and meters of gold and silver
material meet
on stage?
Jon Harris directed this equation in ‘A Night of S&M’
(Speech and Music).
This was the last of Jon Harris's poetic shows
where he cracked open a hypothetical question and
looked for the answer.
In this case, what is the difference between speech and music – or
is there one?
Visual stunning and opulent, performance, live music,
metaphysics and dance (not to mention an apple)
collided into 'A Night of S&M'.
SWANSONG I: FLYING THE ARMCHAIR (1999)
Direct by Jon Harris and Dawn Rose
Performed by Kendra Keller, Dawn Rose and
James Wallace
With a mixture of monologue, poetry and dance, Dawn,
Kendra Keller and James Wallace play a triangle that
includes a violent husband and the two sides of one woman
- the abused and the woman who used to be.
Different music and lighting states take the audience
through a journey of fantasy (where a taste of his own
medicine is the only possibility to vent frustrations
and anger), courtship, marriage and an uncertain end
where we are left wondering just why the police have
been called.
For more information on the work of Dawn Rose, please
see www.dawnrose.com
A NIGHT OF LETTERS (1998)
Premiered 1998 at The Croydon Clocktower, UK
Written by Penny
Howe and Jon Harris with members of the Croydon Forum
Performed by Penny Howe and
the Forum
Directed by Jon Harris
"L.O.V.E - spells love... and you mentioned hot… pants.
Interesting..."
Together with members of Croydon's Council Forum, Jon
Harris and Penny Howe devised 'A Night of Letters' for
the Croydon Clocktower.
Based around a series of letters (love letters), the group
dissect the ideals of love - tearing it into many pieces,
throwing them into the air and seeing how it all lands.
Penny Howe stepped into her most formidable outfit and
kept everyone in line, she is the one who spelt out love
at the beginning and cannot shake her desire for fire.
This is the investigation that will turn you into a fool
or
a fool in love.
A SLICE OF LIFE (1998)
Partially written and performed by Jon Harris
This was a community project that was spearheaded
by a Croydon Council
Forum that enabled young people to perform in a one-off
performance piece.
Jon Harris performed in three sketches and performed
a
self-written song in a trusty red mini-dress made
out of sequins.
He was very over dressed and over-whelmingly under
dressed all at
the same time.
NINE SHADES OF BLUE (1998)
Premiered at The Croydon Clocktower, UK
Written
by Penny Howe and Jon Harris
Performed and designed
by Penny Howe
Directed by Jon Harris and Penny Howe
Jon Harris directed Penny Howe in this unique one-woman
show that sees her examine three great archetypes:
The Adulterer, The Mistress and The Martyr.
Penny plays nine different
characters (3 of each archetype) by means of a randy
fox, a blind navigator who can see no trouble ahead,
and
finally the mistress, who for once is portrayed
with having more
self-confidence and assurance than anyone
who came before her.
THE BALCONY - a smaller stage to the
thousands (1997)
Performed in 1997, the Croydon Clocktower, London,
UK
Written and performed by Jon Harris and Penny Howe
Models
made by Mark Tucker
Balcony designed by Penny Howe
Jon Harris and Penny Howe continued to dissect the
performance space with this look at the difference
between the real, the performer and theatre itself.
Routed very much in the late 1990’s, the two
look at how a person can become nothing but a representation
of themselves or what people what them to be.
Who is that woman on the balcony? And why is a pop
star playing her…. And will she every stop singing
and just say something?
Using music, projection and balconies on various sizes.
Jon and Penny investigated just what was plausible
and what was possible if all you had was adoration
and walked the thin line between fame and notoriety.
