Voices and Silences: Pamplona
Voices and Silences: Pamplona 2011 to 2013
This is a site-specific processional work, in collaboration with Sandra Arroniz Lacunza presented as a series of costume-led vignettes, following the famous Running of the Bulls route through the streets of Pamplona, Spain.
A short theatre based solo version of Pamplona premiered in London in 2011. In recognition of the originality of the research and the overall direction, Pamplona won the prestigious first prize of 6000 euros in 'Encuentros 2012 Artes escénicas', funded and awarded by Instituto Navarro de la Juventud. Further funding for expansion into a full-length production for July 2013, was secured from Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Huarte, Teatro Gayarre and Andrea Collective. Pamplona is also commissioned to be re-staged as a theatre version in Teatro Gayarre in Autumn 2013.
Pamplona is primarily based on research into a notorious local murder of a young medical student, during the Running of the Bulls festival 2006. Research source material included court transcripts, media recordings, local feminist protest groups, the family of the victim, and a more abstract investigation into sound and silence. One research question that dominated was how to represent the silence of the victims scream. The language for investigation became the performative nature of costume, and specifically how to sculpt sound and silence. The resulting work is a costume-led production, referencing performance art, local Navarra folk and carnival traditions. This piece parallels the murder of the bulls with the murder of Nagore Laffage Casasola during the San Fermin Festivities in 2008 by José Diego Yllanes.
The relationship between site and Nagore’s story are interwoven, creating symmetries and metaphors - providing a new point of view to this historic route. This piece addresses gender violence with the primary concept and intention being to give back Nagore’s voice and word - the voice José Diego Yllanes tried to silent.
A local cast of Spanish performers, including musicians, an opera singer, local actors, together with guest performers Sally Dean (UK) and Maeva Lamoliere (France), lead the audience on an interactive journey, which is part protest, part memorial and part celebration for a life lost and gone.
The work is costume led and the costume acts as the primary agent to embody the narrative. This collaboration arose from my extensive engagement as a choreographer and costume consultant for the London College of Fashion MA in Costume Design for Performance.
This work won several awards in Spain and when presented as a site based work was attended by thousands of people.