DATES AND LINKS - Current Projects
2025
24 Italian Songs & Arias
Fan-favourite 24 Italian Songs & Arias is BACK! More details as programmes become public.
Sex with Cancer
Our amazing arts/health curatorial project is BACK! New partnerships announced in 2025.
2024
13 December
The Hackney Wick Wicked Quiz
at Hackney Wick Town Hall Community Xmas
16 November
Unispirigly Inspirational
Talk & Workshop for Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Peer Support Day.
July+August
UK Summer Performance Intensive
Over 20 days, I’ll be leading a group of amazing students from University of Cincinnati to train, observe and study UK performance in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe. If you’re an international college or university who would like to participate in 2025, be in touch.
4 July
Sex, Cancer & Things My Mother Wishes I Never Had
A talk for the NWCR (North West Cancer Research) Annual Gathering, Liverpool
20-21 June
Presentations for PSi (Performance Studies International)
For PSi in London, I am co-leading two sessions, the first with icon Petra Kuppers, entitled Ritual: from Poetic to Practical (and Back), and the second, a Keynote Assembly entitled BSL Interpretation for Contemporary Performance, the Contemporary Drama School, and Contemporary Contexts, reflecting on the work of Jacqui Beckfor and IOCN who led RBC’s BSL Interpreting for Performance course.
7 June
Small Acts (Nadia Buyse)
Joining Nadia in an excerpt to her work Die Underwelt.
28 May
Sexualidad y cáncer [Sexuality and Cancer]
Talk for Fundacion Flexer’s Jornadas Internacionales de Psicooncología Infanto-Juvenil, Argentina
5+6 April
24 Italian Songs & Arias
Opera Gent for Ghent International Festival
Out Now - New Publication!
New Chapter - ‘Illness & The One-to-One Encounter’, co-written with Dr. Emily Underwood Lee
in The Routledge Companion to Performance and Medicine (2024), edited by Gianna Bouchard and Alex Mermikides
28 May
Sex with Cancer
Panel talk for XVII International Psycho-Oncology Congress, Argentina
10 February
Unispirigly Inspirational
Talk & Workshop for Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Peer Support Day
January - June
Developing Your Creative Practice Grant-funded R&D
Celebrancy, Ritual-based Practices and Cancer Transitions
In early 2024, I’m working on a new project with partners across the worlds of celebrancy and cancer to conceptualise and pilot cancer transition ceremonies that will help facilitate the experience of patients and patients’ support networks in new and meaningful ways.
2023
30 October
Sex, Cancer & Other Things My Mother Wishes I Never Had
for the Center for Human Rights & The Arts at Bard College
Visiting Faculty - Bard College
In Autumn 2023, I’ll be spending the term as Visiting Faculty at the Center for Human Rights & The Arts at Bard College, teaching a class for graduate students entitled “Performance & Illness”. Can’t wait to spend some time in upstate New York, and teaching about a topic which I’m incredibly passionate about.
Rose Bruford FTW!
I spent the majority of Winter, Spring and Summer working with my brilliant colleagues in BA (Hons) Theatre & Social Change to deliver our first graduating class of BA students. WOOHOO! One of the most profound and challenges of my artistic and academic career, I am proud to have created and co-led this brilliant BA course which preps students to create, produce, and contextualise their practice, and become the change makers and artists and activists of the future. As of Sept 2023, I’ll no longer be Programme Director, but will be still teaching regularly on the course, which I adore and which makes me feel super proud of what we’ve created.
30 January + 28 March
Hackney Wick Wicked Quiz
Originally created for The Yard’s Hackney Wick Town Hall programme, this Alternative Take on a Pub Quiz features a mix of local knowledge and (hilarious) personal reflection. Presented at The Yard and at the Wick Awards Ceremony.
Autumn 2022-Winter-Spring 2023
The Dan Daw Show On Tour!
I am so proud to work as dramaturg with the whole team in making The Dan Daw Show, which is now on a world tour. Profound, beautiful and wildly innovative, working on this project is one of my proudest moments in dramaturgy/artist support. Check it out!
27 October 2022
24 Italian Songs & Arias
Cambridge Junction
We’re back! Featuring the glorious Gweneth-Ann Rand, Allyson Devenish, Naomi Felix, and Daniel Atkinson. In collaboration with Cambridge’s own Vocal Remix.
17 October 2022
20 Years of Speaking Cancer
EMSOS (European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society), London
22 June 2022
20 Years of Cancer (In 20 Minutes)
SNFNostos, Athens
For the International Conference in Athens, I’ll reflect on my 20 year anniversary of cancer, and what it means to live a life after cancer, longer than ever having a life before having had cancer. The conference looks amazing and is free, so come to Athens!
4 June
Sex with Cancer - Unexpired Pleasures Screening
This introduction and Q&A of Lehni Lamide Davies & Shona Hamilton’s brilliant Unexpired Pleasures is for an online conference organised by YACC (Young Adult Cancer Cancer) with Brian in dialogue with one of the filmmakers, Shona Hamilton.
23 May
Fun with Cancer Patients Pitch at Caravan Showcase, Brighton
In this short talk, I’ll be sharing my Fun with Cancer Patients projects created over the last 12 years with hundreds of patients, health care professionals and audiences around the world.
2 May
’The Price of Inspiration’ Lecture at Studium Generale, Ghent
This keynote lecture interrogates the history of cancer discourses around Survivorship + Inspiration and how these themes are interlinked (dangerously? appropriately? enthusiastically?) with charity, fundraising, pity and otherness, ultimately asking whether the hyper-visibility of cancer (a stark contrast from The Big C in recent memory) and the ‘awareness-raising’ is really helping people with cancer, or if it’s all just a big sweet show for those who don’t (yet) have cancer.
3-19 March
24 Italian Songs & Arias
Battersea Arts Centre.
Our first extended run of 24 Italian Songs & Arias, featuring Gweneth-Ann Rand, Allyson Devenish, Naomi Felix, Joshua Furtado-Mendes, Cameron Stewart and the Battersea Power Station Community Choir!
Previously, in 2021
9 October
Only God Can Make Tomato Sauce (with Season Butler)
Premiere of our 9-minute film looking at food, and what our food heritages tell us about us. Working with Season Butler is an absolute dream, as also, in this work commissioned by Bard College’s Centre for Human Rights and the Arts.
7 October
Sex with Cancer LAUNCH
A night many years in the making, this event will launch the website, resource and new art commissions by Lehni Lamide Davies & Shona Hamilton, Christopher Samuel, The Candid Cancer Collective, Joon Lynn Goh and Brian Lobel. We will also be announcing the UK’s first winners of the Sex with Cancer Conversation Champion Awards.
4 October
24 Italian Songs & Arias (& Voices)
Another event a year in the making, this new website, commissioned by UMS, will feature 24 singers from all over the world singing the 24 Italian Songs & Arias. The website will also provide a space for singers to have their own work featured. Created by Brian Lobel, Gweneth Ann Rand and Allyson Devenish.
28 September
Lifting the Lid on Cancer
Brian is on a panel hosted by Lauren Mahon and Trekstock on sex and cancer. Information can be found here.
11 September
20th Cancerversary
This keynote talk, for CAYAS (Childhood, Adolescent, Young Adult Cancers Survivorship) Conference, was a reflection and action about what it means to live more of your life AFTER a cancer diagnosis, then before. A video of the talk is here.
Sept-October
The Dan Daw Show
I’ve been serving as dramaturg with artist Dan Daw and director Mark Maughan on this awesome work about ‘living with shame and bursting with pride’. For tour dates click Dan Daw’s website here.
21 June
Kicking Up Our Heels Conference Presentation (with Emily Underwood-Lee and Susie Hall)
Culture Health and Wellbeing Annual Conference (Online)
2-6 March
Sex with Cancer Launch Events - Let’s Talk About Sex And Cancer, Baby.
On March 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th, we are launching the online performance aspect of Sex with Cancer, the world’s first sex toy shop owned, informed by and operated by people living with and beyond cancer. Working with partners Contact (Manchester), Wunderbar (Newcastle), Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts (Brighton) and Battersea Arts Centre (London), Brian and co-founder Joon Lynn Goh will host the SEX & CANCER CONVERSATION COMPETENCY COURSE with an accompanying Q&A with local health, cancer and pleasure experts. More information on these events and to book (free) are here. This gorgeous online project was designed by Mamoru Iriguchi (graphics), Will Mower (web design), Tom Wilson (production management) and dramaturgy by Season Butler, Susannah Hewlett and Tassos Stevens.
UMS Digital Artist - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Throughout 2021, I will be in Digital Artist with UMS (Ann Arbor, Michigan), creating a new project (with Gweneth Ann Rand and Allyson Devenish) related to our 24 Italian Songs & Arias project. I’m also teaching multiple Guest Classes across the University (from InterGroup Relations to School of Art & Design, and even a few local High Schools!) More information on the UMS Digital Residencies is here.
Queer Corralling and Comforting - a course for queer celebrants, as part of Queer by Extension
March 2021 - Queers have always been the caretakers and space-makers, and this Module is dedicated to thinking more critically about our practice as queers who lead ceremonies both in exclusively queer spaces and in and amongst our hetero, straight, pasty-normal friends and family. How do we help people marry? How do we help people mourn? How do we help people marry and help people mourn while other people in the room may not acknowledge our humanity? When do we compromise, and when do we dig in? This Module is for those who have experience leading and coordinating rites and ceremonies for and with queer people. See the link above for joining information.
Homebase Digital Project - Vooruit, Ghent
January-February 2021
Brian was fortunate to work on this Homebase project looking at care, freelancer arts practices, and how to ‘unburn the toast’ of years of work. Reflecting creatively with therapist and friend Jennifer Hills, Brian’s Homebase Project centred a daily practice of care and infused it with reflections that might be relevant to the broader sector. A conversation about this project and a glimpse into the findings, will be launched in April 2021.
2020
During the time of COVID, I was trying to be as useful as possible. Not productive, useful. This, to me, meant helping out where I was most needed and where my skills could be best used. My goals during this time (which I’m archiving here in case it might be helpful to others) were to:
a) uplift and support voices who have always been marginalised and precarious, providing work and/or financial support (through things like forthcoming BINGE online projects or #GigAid (with Bryony Kimmings & BAC)
b) help informally and formally with tasks that need to be done (including supporting informal networks of support like errand running, and working at local food bank)
c) reflect on how we can re-build our cultural and creative industry to address the new world (which I’m doing with a number of amazing artists/activists)
d) maintain myself as a dependable and thoughtful college at my job at Rose Bruford College (where I am a Professor)
e) spend more time with friends and family, and trying to be as consistent as I can be in terms of support and checking-in
f) continue with my training and research on Celebrancy. I was supposed to formally train to be a celebrant (doing weddings, funerals, special occasions) but the training has been postponed until after COVID restrictions lifted. I am, however, still experienced with a number of events under my belt (and basically, celebrancy is what most of my arts practice has been anyway), so if I can be helpful for you or your loved ones to make a ceremony, be in touch.
1 December
Sex with Cancer talk: Why We’re Not Talking About Sex, Baby, and What We Can Do To Change That
Sex with Cancer is a new, Arts Council England-supported arts project + sustainable community-focused enterprise, aiming to revolutionise how we support people living with and beyond cancer in getting information about and feeling confident in issues related to sex, intimacy and pleasure. A dream team consisting of co-founder Joon Lynn Goh, and Rasheed Rahman + Toni Lewis, along with amazing Steering Group, will be rolling out events with project partners Battersea Arts Centre (London), Contact (Manchester), Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts (Brighton) and Wunderbar (Newcastle) throughout 2021. But first: a launch event with BAC with more info here.
20 November
Kicking Up Our Heels (with Emily Underwood-Lee) for Great Ormond Street Hospital Staff Conference
October
Launch of BA Theatre & Social Change at Rose Bruford College
I am honoured to be Programme Director of this new BA offered at Rose Bruford, with a gorgeous cohort of 12 students focusing their work on Performing, Producing and Activating Change. While COVID has tried to disrupt us, we will not be disrupted! We are now recruiting for students for the 2021-2022 cohort. More information is here.
30 September
Launch of UMS Digital Artist-in-Residence
Throughout 2021, I will be in Digital Artist-in-Residence with UMS (Ann Arbor, Michigan), creating a new project (with Gweneth Ann Rand and Allyson Devenish) related to our 24 Italian Songs & Arias project. More information on the Digital Artist-in-Residence is here.
25 July
Final Showcase - Queen’s Yard Company - The Yard
From September 2019-July 2020, I led (with Cassie Leon) a project with young people (15-19) from all over London, creating work on our phones, and our intimate connection with technology. Although disrupted by COVID, we created a showcase of solo performances featuring amazing work by Nova, Lukas, Ines, Zeynap and Alexcia.
Throughout June
BINGE with Cambridge Junction and the Kite Trust
I’ve been working with an ensemble of tremendous LGBTQ+-identified young people who are doing BINGE-style performances in their own homes and to their own friends/families/networks. Due to safeguarding realities, none of these performances are open to the public, but there will be a short documentary made about the process, premiering in the Autumn.
30 June-12 July
BINGE at La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls (WoW) Festival - all online shows - in June/July
And all-online series of one-to-ones from artists all over the world - featuring Ali Rome, Ally Bonino, Joe Fejeran, Rory Lipede, Ruairi Donovan, Kristina Wong, Season Butler, Louise White, Nina Muehlemann - presented hundreds of Zoom-based one-to-one performances over a two week period. Amazing write-ups and press in the NEWS section. It was an honor to work with such an amazing ensemble of performers and with the amazing LJP team. Presented with the support of Cork Midsummer Festival, who are also great.
29 June 2020
Performance & Care: Kicking Up Our Heels
Presentation for Guildhall ResearchWorks with Emily Underwood-Lee and I discussing our project for GOSHArts and what it means to create work during the time of COVID.
Kicking Up Our Heels with GOSHArts (Great Ormond Street Hospital) Commissioned by GOSHArts and supported by Arts Council England, this collaboration with Emily Underwood-Lee and Emily Speed is focused on the self-care, rest and relaxation (or complete lack thereof) of parents and carers during a child’s illness. After 100 bed-side, intimate performances/consultations with families, a new artwork (the Cocoon, by Emily Speed with PLAEY design workshop) and new brochure (You’re Doing A Great Job, by Emily Underwood-Lee and myself, designed by Europa) was installed in Great Ormond Street Hospital…. 2 weeks before the COVID outbreak. The moment it’s all opened up, we can’t wait for you to see it. More info here.
2019
Theatre & Cancer is published!
I’m so proud to report that after over a decade of research, this compact read is now available from Red Globe Press/Macmillan Education. In celebration of the launch of Theatre & Cancer, I published a blog about the ‘Cancer Glossary’ that I use in the book, and invited three guest artists to contribute their work. Please check out blogs from Gia Jones, Emily Underwood-Lee and Lynn Ruth Miller. On 25 July 2019, to launch the book, we had a magnificent event with Jess Thom (Touretteshero) and Catherine Long on Cancer & Disability.
8 November
24 Italian Songs & Arias at Certain Blacks Festival, Rich Mix, London
Our opera about failure returns to London for one night only.
With Gweneth-Ann Rand, Allyson Devenish, Naomi Felix, Robert Martin and more.
19-20 October
BINGE at Fierce
Featuring: Ginny Lemon, Adam Carver, Demi Nandhra, Ali Rome and Harmeet Chagger-Khan.
11 August
Fun with Cancer Patients Kanazawa RETURNS!
Our magnificent collaboration with Hanaume Cancer Support Centre and commissioned by 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art continues, with a group of our ‘wise’ participants (kuruoto) lead Fun with Cancer Patients for one day only. So proud that this project lives on locally.
BINGE @ HOME
24-26 May
Manchester
New Performance installation, featuring the work of Qasim Reza Shaheen, Ali Rome, Jenny Gaskell, Leonie Higgins, Cheddar Gorgeous, David Chu/Eva Serration, Tammy Reynolds, and Andy Pilkington. A commission by Take Me Somewhere, Renfrewshire Leisure Out of Place and HOME Manchester.
BINGE @ Take Me Somewhere Festival
17-19 May
Paisley
A new performance installation, featuring the work of myself, Katy Baird, James Ley, Owen G. Parry, Rhiannon Armstrong, Rachel Gomme, Daniel Cox, FK Alexander and Mustafa Ozpek. A commission by Take Me Somewhere, Renfrewshire Leisure Out of Place and HOME Manchester.
As Seen on TV
30 April
Live Art Development Agency celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a retrospective on live art/performance art on the small screen
Co-hosting with Naana Mora
Workshop on Intimate/One-to-One Performance for Bard College at Freehand Hotel
17 April
New York City
The Sick of the Fringe: Care & Destruction Festival
5-7 April
Wellcome Collection, The Place & Camden People’s Theatre
Featuring new commissions, talks, interactive events, and works-in-development by Travis Alabanza, Tania El Khoury + Basel Zaraa, High Rise Theatre Company, Frauke Requardt + Daniel Oliver, Le Gateau Chocolat, V/DA, Laurence Clark, Amelia Stubberfield, Viv Gordon, Lanre Malaolu, Tarik Elmoutawakil, Boaz Barkan, Lee Minora, The Creative Team from Hollyoaks, Lemn Sissay, Martin O’Brien and more.
For The Sick of the Fringe, I am the Artistic Associate/Co-Curator
Tate Late Human Library: Language Exchange, Hosting
29 March
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me (Performance and Installation)
4-17 March (with Brian there 9 & 16 March)
Part of The Festival of Rest and Resistance, curated by Jess Thom of Touretteshero
24 Italian Songs & Arias (with Soprano Gweneth-Ann Rand, Naomi Felix, Joseph Marchant and more)
15-19 January
The premiere of the newest version of my OSBTT Award-losing, twice ACE-rejected show… about failure. Part of NOW Festival at The Yard, on a double-bill with FK Alexander’s Diana is Dead. COME!
2018
Curious Parcel (with FK Alexander & Season Butler)
Christmas Time
As part of a new art subscription box series, FK, Season and I designed a Curious Parcel surrounding our love of binge-watching.
The Lehman Brothers and Other Underwhelming Lovers
6 October
(or, No One Would Fuck Them So They Fucked Everyone)
part of Love Letters to a (Post-)Europe UK Tour
Purge (the Return)
5 October
Kinneksbond Centre Culturel Mamer
A special, one-off performance of Purge will take place in Luxembourg. Rewritten and recreated for a Post-Cambridge Analytica world...
F*CK PERFORMANCE ART, GIMME MY BOXSET (DIY) - with FK Alexander & Season Butler
12-14 October
KARST, Plymouth
Brian, FK and Season led this DIY workshops (supported by LADA and KARST) exploring binge-watching, mental health, isolation and endurance.
'Visions and Voices' Presentation of BALL & Other Funny Stories at USC, University of Southern California
A new keynote presentation made with absolute rockstar friend and colleague Gia J. More details forthcoming about our future plans with this.
27 September
Los Angeles, USA
Fun with Cancer Patients: Kanazawa (the Return)
Supported by the Artist’s International Development Fund (Arts Council England) we brought Fun with Cancer Patients back to Kanazawa, and our now expanding the project, preparing to tour the work in Japan. We presented the work at the Japanese Psychosocial Oncology Conference, September. A trailer for FWCP is here.
Hold My Hand and We're Halfway There at Club Fierce: Dance Amnesty
23 June
Part of the Birmingham International Dance Festival, this is my favorite show to perform, and I'm thrilled that it's back, and on a bill with so many awesome artists.
'Shaking the Foundations', a Keynote Conversation for ‘Agents of Change: Annual Conference for Museums Galleries Australia‘
with Simon Chaplin, Director of Culture and Society, Wellcome
7-8 June
Melbourne, Australia
Talk at the School of Engaged Art - 'The Social, Medical, Political and Emotional Potential of Interactive Performance’ and Workshop at Telaboratoria
25 + 27 May
St. Petersburg, Russia
Private Cities Project in Beirut, supported by Diverse Actions (Live Art UK)
Mid-May
Working with Forest Fringe and Dictaphone Group, it was awesome.
The Sick of the Fringe Diagnoses NORMAL?! Festival of the Brain
10-13 May
We're back working with local writers to Diagnose and respond to the Festival at Quarterhouse and all over Folkestone. Check out the writing here.
Folkestone, UK
Late Night with Jonny Woo at The Glory
For something completely different, I'll be performing a few numbers for Jonny Woo and Guests at Glory Lates
14 April
London, UK
Keynote talk: 'How the Arts can Support & Inform Health Research' at UCLHs Centre for Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health Professionals and Pharmacy-Led Research Annual Conference
17 March
London, UK
Fighting to the End - a sharing of new work by Lynn Ruth Miller
I've been working with Lynn Ruth and director Sarah-Louise Young to develop a new full length theatre work about what it means to pursue your career at 84 years old.
11 April
London, UK
A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer UK and Australian Tour!
Back in a new edition for 2018, A Pacifist's Guide toured to Liverpool, Newcastle and Coventry in the UK, and Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra (Australia).
RAZE Collective – ‘Queering the Institution / Ignoring the Institution / Destroying the Institution’ a conversation with Season Butler and Lyall Hakaraia, hosted by Brian Lobel
19 February
Hackney Showroom (Free)
2017
Fun with Cancer Patients – (beautiful photos and tour forthcoming)
2-5 November
21st Century of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
THERE IS A LIGHT: BRIGHTLIGHT was back on tour to Chrysalis Festival (Edinburgh), National Cancer Research Institute’s Conference (Liverpool) and Find Your Sense of Tumour! Follow @bR1GhTLiGhT for more details.
DUCKIE!
Hosting and Performing Saturday Night Club Set with Naana Mora (on a night featuring the amazing Erin Markey)
7 October
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Come Dine with Me –
Oh yes… I was a contestant on Come Dine with Me… While the episode is not currently available on replay, shoot me an email and I’ll send you a copy. I’m proud. It was weird and fun.
18 September, 5pm, Channel 4.
Making Art That Matters – Keynote Talk
Hosponnomics Conference – Paris School of Economics
18 September
Cruising for Art – featuring Stacy Makishi and Johanna Allitt, Katy Baird, Rachael Young and Cambridge-based performers Jack Bateman + Ant Lightfoot, J K Brook + Philip Cornett, Laura Matthews, Jess Marlow, Michael Brown, Matthew Schlerf, Lara Jaffey . Built in collaboration with Pink Festival.
13 September
Junction Cambridge
Programming Healthy Communities, hosted by The Sick of the Fringe
Panel and Interactive Conversation for British Council Showcase
22 August
The Sick of the Fringe at Latitude
Series of Performances featuring: Austerity Cu ts, Ageing Disgracefully (hosted by Lynn Ruth Miller) and FK Alexander’s Recovery
13 July
Cruising for Art
24 June
Tate Britain – Queer and Now
with Season Butler, Rachel Mars, Vida, Sarah Stranger, Owen Parry, Miles Coote, Andrew Martin Lee, Eirini Kartsaki and Catherine Long
Normal: What is it Good For
25 May
Sexuality Summer School, Manchester University
Performance Dialogue with Liz Carr
The Sick of the Fringe Welcome Event
1 March
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide
Featuring performances by Brian Lobel, A Benefits Assessor + Renee Lim
THE SICK OF THE FRINGE
17-19 February
London – Wellcome Collection, Conway Hall, Camden People’s Theatre and The Place
An overwhelming, brilliant festival featuring some of the most exciting, relevant and innovative performers we’ve met over the last two years in Edinburgh. With new commissions, workshops, talks, performances – it is going to be an absolutely amazing weekend of performances about illness, health, well-being, disability, the body. COME!
THERE IS A LIGHT: BRIGHTLIGHT
8-10 March, 21 March, 9 April
Manchester, Brighton, Liverpool, London, Oxford
Contact Young Company, in Collaboration with BRIGHTLIGHT create a new show about young adult cancer care, directed by Adura Onashile, with project direction by me. Supported by a Wellcome Trust Arts Award.
Performing Vulnerable Bodies
28 January
Hanover
A talk for the Dramaturgische Gesselschaft
2016
Keynote at 1st Annual AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer) Global Conference
5-7 December
Edinburgh
Find Your Sense of Tumour (with Gia Jones!)
November 2016
Annual Session with Teenage Cancer Patients
Sept-November
A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer by Bryony Kimmings, Tom Parkinson and Brian Lobel
A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer
A Complicite Associates co-production with the National Theatre in association with HOME Manchester. Book by Bryony Kimmings and Brian Lobel. Music by Tom Parkinson. Lyrics by Bryony Kimmings. Directed by Bryony Kimmings.
Manchester, HOME
20 – 24 Sept 2016
Exeter, Northcott
28 Sept – 2 Oct 2016
London, National Theatre
14 Oct – 29 Nov 2016
August
The Sick of the Fringe Returns. Events throughout the entire month.
Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There at Forest Fringe (10 Year Anniversary Season)
30 July
CLUELESS* (in collaboration with Figs in Wigs & Annette Braun)
Duckie, London
16-17 July
24 Italian Songs & Arias, made in collaboration with Gweneth Ann Rand, George Reynolds, and many others.
Latitude Festival, Henham Park
9-10 July
Purge
Southbank Centre, London
July
Leading Workshops at Gessnerallee, Zurich and Dirty Deal Teatro, Riga.
12-19 June
Fun with Cancer Patients in Kanazawa – Research Exchange
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Supported by the Great British Sasakawa Foundation
16 May
24 Italian Songs & Arias (Pitch Presentation)
caravan Showcase, Brighton
27 April
Purge
Colchester Arts Centre
29 March – 3 April
Purge
Malthouse, Melbourne
Part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival
24-25 March
Purge
NUS Arts Festival, Singapore
6 March (and 7-9 March in people’s homes throughout Sydney)
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me
All About Women Festival, Sydney Opera House
14 March
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Seymour Centre, University of Sydney
Co-presented by the Centre for Values and Ethics in Medicine, School of Public Health and the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies
17 March
Purge
Auckland, New Zealand (details posted soon!)
17-28 February
Performances of Purge, featuring Marcy Dolapo Oni and Gideon Okeke. Workshops at UniLag/MediLag
Lagos Theatre Festival, Lagos
12 February
Cruising for Art, Helsinki
Collaboration with Tanssin Talo, featuring Yoko Ishiguro, Mamoru Iriguchi, Katy Baird, Laura Pietalainen, Anneli Kanninen, Sonya Lindfors, Katja Koukkula, Kaari Martin, Jussi ‘Focus’ Sirviö, Jussi Väänänen, Jouka Valkama, Tuomas Juntunen, and DJ Collective Le Persé.
28-29 November
‘Let Me Hear Your Body Talk’ Workshops
HOME, Manchester
19 November
Artist Thinking & Breakout Workshop
engage Conference, Glasgow
12 November
24 Italian Songs & Arias
Shortlisted for Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Prize (supported by Barbican)
Crush Room @ Royal Opera House, London
2-3 October
The Lehman Brothers and Other Underwhelming Lovers
(or, No One Would Fuck Them So They Fucked Everyone)
part of Love Letters to a (Post-)Europe
BIOS, Athens
9-10 October
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me
Hotel Obscura, Vienna
Sept-October
Working (It) Out – with Catherine Long
DIY Workshop looking at group workouts, participation and marginalised bodies.
25-27 August
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me
Forest Fringe, Edinburgh
A featured performance at the British Council Showcase
3-30 August
The Sick of The Fringe
A major new initiative which I’ve created with Tracy Gentles, commissioned by Wellcome Trust, and featuring the participation of amazing performers, artists, medics and scientists including Liz Carr, Simon McBurney, Bryony Kimmings, Tim Grayburn, Ria Hartley, Emma Franklin, Laura Dannequin, and more. Stay tuned for more details.
21-30 July
Grinding Thoughts – with Catherine Long
Part of Choreodrome, Work in Progress Series
The Place, London
19 July
Cancer Death Match – with Holestar
Latitude Festival, Suffolk
5 July
Questioning Cancer
Find Your Sense of Tumour Conference – CentreParks
15-27 June
A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer: A Musical
Work-in-progress development with Bryony Kimmings & Tom Parkinson
Produced by Complicite, Supported by Wellcome Trust
9 June
Making Waves, Causing Controversy
Presenting on ‘So High, So Low’ a new documentary project
Sheffield Documentary Festival
Panel features Jon Snow, Ingville Charlotte Giske, Teresa Camou Guerrero
5 June
On Going On: Sustaining Life in Theatre
Birkbeck, London
27 May
Four Thought, BBC Radio 4
Listen here.
2 May
An Appreciation
Mr. Ms. Mx. Festival, Frascati, Amsterdam
Read a response from Simone Van Sarloos (in Dutch) here.
Artists on Art & Provocation
Panel with Dries Verhoeven, Tinkebell, and Florentina Holzinger
7-10 April
Purge (Stage Show & Installation)
Off-Center, Fusebox Festival, Austin
w/Installation created by Kymberlie Charles & Jeff Mills
Read a response from Purge performer Jeff Mills here.
6 April
An Appreciation
INdustry Night: Fusebox Festival, Austin
26 March
What the Treat Meant
Irongmongers Spa, London
20 March
What the Treat Meant
Buzzcut, Glasgow
18 March
Sex, Cancer & Cocktails
Sick Festival! Brighton
Read a Review of SC&C here.
15-25 March
Fun with Cancer Patients
(Im)Possible Futures, Ghent
9 March
Sex, Cancer & Cocktails
Collaboration with Professor Jackie Stacey, Dr. Ali Mears, Beth McCann
Sick! Festival, Manchester
6-7 March
Ruach
Forest Fringe @ The Place, London
26-28 February
Intensive Cancer University (ICU)
London
22 January
Purge
LAB, Leeds
12 January
Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There
European Creative Hubs Forum, Lisbon
2014
18 December
Naked Boys Reading: The Holidays (Guest Curator)
Roundhouse Studio
4-6 & 11-13 December
Cruising for Art
Wellcome Trust Institute of Sexology
Featuring Owen Parry, Season Butler, Mamoru Iriguchi, Katy Baird, Taylan Halici and Catherine Long + Dinis Machado
29 November
Turkey Lurkey Time
Duckie Saturday Night, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London
22 November
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me
Compass Festival of Live Art, Leeds
22 November
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me (Installation)
Dialogue Festival, Ovalhouse, London
15-16 November
Love Letters & Lehman Brothers
Library of Birmingham
31 October – 2 November
Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There
Forest Fringe at New Visions Festival, Hong Kong
23-25 October
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me
Ovalhouse, London
15 October
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Otter Gallery, Chichester
4 & 5 October
Purge
An Appreciation
Love Letters & Lehman Brothers
Forest Fringe Microfestival at Abrons Arts Centre, NYC
26 Sept-Nov
Fun with Cancer Patients Exhibition
Otter Gallery, University of Chichester
28 August
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Cabaret Crawl – hosted by Brian Lobel, with performances by Manila von Teeze, Faniswa Yisa, Buhlebezwe Siwani, Season Butler and Jezzy Belle
Cape Town Live Art Festival
7 August
You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me
Forest Fringe, Edinburgh
3 August
You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me
Steakhouse Live at Hackney Wicked Festival, the Yard Theatre, London
20 July
You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me
Latitude Festival, Suffolk
24-26 June
You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me, You have to forgive me
and I couldn’t help but wonder…
Add-Wood Festival @ Purex, Lisbon
6 June
Purge
Pulse14, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
29 May
I began to wonder
Bourgeois & Maurice‘s Shindig @ Ace Hotel, London
Throughout May
Performr – Premiere of New, App-Based 1-to-1 Encounters Series
Curated by Brian Lobel and Pink Fringe featuring Nomy Lamm, Scottee, Stacy Makishi, Root Experience, Steve Nice.
Supported by Arts Council England and Brighton & Hove City Council
14-18 May
Mourning Glory Trilogy
Brighton Dome for Brighton Festival
18 May
Purge – part of Mourning Glory Trilogy
Brighton Dome Studio, Brighton
11-13 May
Purge
caravan Showcase, Brighton
8-11 May
Purge
AUAWIRLEBAN, Bern, Switzerland
25-27 April
You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me, You Have to Forgive Me
Buzzcut, Glasgow
24 April
‘Ben & Jerry’s Ruined My Life’ Guest Waiter
Hunt & Darton Cafe at Kings Cross, London
17 April
An Appreciation
Hamburger Queen, RVT, London
9 April
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Harvard Medical School, Boston
5 April
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
New York Academy of Medicine, NYC
21 March
‘Before I go…’ Guest Waiter Performance
Hunt & Darton Cafe at SICK Festival, Brighton
12-16 March
Carpe Minuta Prima and Purge
Infecting the City Festival, Cape Town
8 March
Georgia’s O – with Olga Raciborska
Traumfrau and Pink Fringe at The Russell, Brighton
1 March
Schmug – with Susannah Hewlett and Steve Nice
Home Live Art’s Alternative Village Fete at Royal Holloway, Egham
22 February
I couldn’t help but wonder… (SATC Tribute)
Duckie, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London
15 February
Cruising for Art – featuring Tui’s Nail Bar, Harry Clayton-Wright, Andrew Mitchelson, Gia Mitchell, Tom Parkinson, Eirini Kartsaki, and more…
Vogue Fabrics, London
9 January
Purge
Kakiseni, Kuala Lumpur
13-15 December
Love Letters & Lehman Brothers
Frascati, Amsterdam
11 December
Mourning Glory talk
Queen Mary, University of London
8 November
Purge
Canada Water Culture Space, London
____
3 November
Ruach
JCC London
____
2 November
Purge
JCC London
____
23-27 October
Performance at Counterpulse, San Francisco, USA
Part of Forest Fringe Microfestival, I’ll be collaborating with SF artist Nomy Lamm and showing my own performance work, supported by University of Chichester
____
7 September – 6 October
Fun with Cancer Patients
mac, Birmingham
Part of Fierce Festival 2013
____
26-28 September
Cruising for Art
ANTI Festival, Kuopio, Finland
Featuring the work of Season Butler, Luke Pell, Stacy Makishi and Owen Parry
____
3-5 October
Carpe Minuta Prima
WoW Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, USA
Created with Christina Aushana and Sean Estelle
____
5 October
Cruising for Art
Recyclart and Brigittines for Nuit Blanche/White Night, Brussels, Belgium
Featuring the work of Mamoru Iriguchi, Johanna Linsley, Figs in Wigs, Owen Parry, Isabelle Bats, Gaetan Rusquet, Harold Offeh, and more…
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5 October
An Appreciation & Schmug (Documentation)
The Last Supper @ The Basement, Brighton
____
16-25 August – Forest Fringe:
Love Letters & Lehman Brothers (installation) – 16-20 August
Or Else Your Friends Will have To Do it – 16-20 August
Purge – 22-25 August (booking now open, limited capacity)
Whilst up in Edinburgh, I was part of a few very exciting events including pitching my work to international delegates as part of the British Council Showcase, speaking onPerforming Medicine work at Palace of Holyroodhouse (in the throne room!), and was also a guest waiter, making s’mores and serving lunch in heels at the also amazing Hunt & Darton Café. The podcast I recorded for Fuel’s While You Wait Series (entitled Waiting… for a Cancer Diagnosis) also was released on 22 August, so keep an eye and ear out for it.
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10 August
HORA
Flint in Ashley Farm, Salisbury
____
8-9 August
Purge
Battersea Arts Centre
____
6 August
Mourning Glory
A talk on Purge and Love Letters & Lehman Brothers
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
____
28 June
Purge
Performance Studies International
Stanford University, Palo Alto
____
3-7 July
Carpe Minuta Prima
San Diego Fringe Festival
Supported by La Jolla Playhouse (will be repeated at LJP in October)
____
12-14 July
Purge and Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There
Santarcangelo Festival, Italy
____
18-21 July
Purge
Latitude Festival, Suffolk
____
24 May
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Victory Gardens, Chicago
Part of the Bodies of Work Festival
____
17 May
Schmug – a collaboration with Steve Nice and Susannah Hewlett
Wellcome Collection, London
____
8 May
Purge
Cambridge Junction
____
3-5 May
Ruach
GIFT Festival, Gateshead
____
24-27 April
Carpe Minuta Prima
Fusebox Festival – Austin, Texas
with Forest Fringe. Supported by the British Council
____
19 April
Scrub
FRINGE! Film Festival
School of Fringe, Hackney, London
____
6 April
Purge
Maison des Arts de Creteil (MAC) for EXIT Festival.
Paris
Translated by Chloe Dechery.
____
29 March
Ruach
Marlborough Theatre, Brighton
____
23 March, 4pm – 10pm
Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There
London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
British Film Institute, London
____
9 March, 9pm
Purge
Contact, Manchester
Part of Flying Solo 2013
____
1 March
Double Bill:
Purge, 7.30pm & Ruach, 9pm
Camden People’s Theatre
Part of SPRINT 2013
____
28 February
Purge
Showroom, Chichester
____
24 February
Schmoozing for Art for Jewish Book Week – with Jonathan Kemp, Season Butler, Sophie Robinson and Julian Fox
Kings Hall, London
____
19 February
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Southampton University School of Medicine
____
16 February
Cruising for Art
with Season Butler, Mehmet Sander, LOW PROFILE, ______ & Parry, Luke Pell, Katy Baird, Catherine Hoffman, Sharon Husbands, Lucy Fizz, Stacy Makishi, and Mamoru Iriguchi.
In Between Time, Bristol
____
12-16 February
Carpe Minuta Prima
with Yoko Ishiguro
part of TPAM at Bank Art, Yokohama
____
7-10 February
Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There
Scala Cinema, Bangkok
part of Forest Fringe’s Live at The Scala, supported by the British Council
____
18-19 January
Purge
Beursschouwburg, Brussels
with installation by Isabelle Bats
Performances in 2012
5 December
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Colchester Arts Centre
____
18 November
Let Me Hear Your Body Talk (Workshop)
Shoreditch Town Hall – for Clod Ensemble
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6 November
Purge
Vooruit, Ghent
____
29 October
Love Letter & Lehman Brothers Presentation
Jewish Art Salon
____
24 October
Purge
Rose Theatre, Ormskirk
____
6 October
Hold My Hand and We’re Halfway There
Recyclart for White Nights, Brussels
____
23 September
An Appreciation
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
____
4 September
Purge
Small Projects, Tromso
____
2 September
Carpe Minuta Prima Workshop
Ptarmigan, Tallin
____
29-31 August
Carpe Minuta Prima
Art Kiosk, Helsinki
____
25 August
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Bluecoat, Liverpool for DaDa Festival
____
9-12 August
Purge, Hora, An Appreciation, American Cheeze and Sometimes I Go Out By Myself
Summerworks, Toronto
____
28 July
Stalled
Rio Cinema
____
26 July
Ruach
LAB, Leeds
____
13-15 July
HORA and American Cheeze
Latitude
____
6 July
Purge
Rich Mix
____
28-30 June
Carpe Minuta Prima
PSi Leeds
____
22 June
Characters
Live Art UK Meeting at BAC
____
17 June
Schmoozing for Art
Camden Arts Centre for JCC London
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14 June
love, Self- and Scrub
Tragallan, London
____
16 June
American Cheeze
Hayward Gallery, London
____
6-8 June
Ruach
Ovalhouse, London
____
29-31 May
American Cheeze, Stalled, Too Soon (with Season Butler)
Purex, Lisbon for Add-Wood Festival
____
19 May
Guest Waiter
Hunt & Darton Cafe, Cambridge
____
5-6 May
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer, HORA, Scrub & Weekend Hosting
Cambridge Junction for SAMPLED Festival
____
14 April
Too Soon (with Season Butler)
Duckie, London
____
4 April
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Edinburgh Science Festival, Edinburgh
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29 March
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Marlborough Theatre, Brighton
____
24 March
Cruising for Art with Mamoru Iriguchi, Lois Weaver, Stacy Makishi, Season Butler, Mitch & Parry, Katy Baird, Figs In Wigs, Harold Offeh
BFI, London
____
20 March
BALL
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London
____
18 March
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Camden People’s Theatre for SPRINT Festival
____
7-8 March
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Contact, Manchester
____
3 March
Purge (Keynote Talk)
Leeds University
____
1 March
HORA
Southampton Solent University
____
25 February
HORA
BLOP (Bristol Live Art Platform), Arnolfini, Bristol
____
14 February
BALL
Southampton University Medical School
____
11 February
BALL & Other Funny Stories About Cancer
Embrace Arts, Leicester