BOBBY BAKER

SIZE OF COMPANY
3–7 on the road

SCALE OF VENUE
Small- to large-scale

PERMANENT STAFF
Artistic Director
Bobby Baker

Touring Director & Performer
Sian Stevenson

Producer
Steph Allen

Production Manager
Steve Wald

ARTISTIC POLICY
Performance artist Bobby Baker explores issues through art and performance that radically affect our daily lives. Subject matter ranges through health, shopping and motherhood; seemingly mundane subjects which are explored in an idiosyncratic and innovative performance style. The work is performed in a wide range of spaces from theatres to kitchens and tours regularly throughout the year.

REVIEW EXTRACTS
'The most extraordinary and endearing performer… charming, eccentric and thoughtful, Baker offers you plenty to chew on.’ Financial Times (How To Live)

‘A performance artist of rare quality and distinction.’ Daily Telegraph (Box Story)

'Farcical and dark, and as Bobby promises at the outset, makes you feel better.’ The Guardian (How To Live)

CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
How to Live Bobby Baker has created her own mental health therapy empire, demonstrating her techniques on her patient: a pea. Developed in consultation with psychologist Dr Richard Hallam, How to Live is available for touring in a new small-scale version, touring to theatres, art centres, drop in/day care centres. (75 mins, 3 on the road.)

Diary Drawings With an exhibition of 30 images selected from approximately 600 drawings, Baker reflects on mental distress and the mental health system. A highly personal exhibition that lets the viewer identify with the subjects explored, particularly the hilarity that helps process extreme situations. (Wall-based exhibition, 3 on the road.)

FUTURE PRODUCTION
A Model Family Focuses on four generations of Baker’s family, highlighting periods of mental illness, trauma and emotional conflict in a durational installation with performer Sian Stevenson over a number of days. Baker will explore the emotional impact of major world events, societal pressures on families, their potential impact on mental health and the way family experience is transmitted across the generations. In development for summer 2008 as part of Baker’s AHRC funded Fellowship with Queen Mary, University of London.

WRAP-AROUND
After-show talks and question and answer sessions on mental health and the arts. Talks and workshops for performers and graduate/undergraduate performing/visual arts students. Workshop performances and training for people with mental health problems, medical and connected professionals.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2006 Australia, Germany (How to Live)
2005 Australia (Box Story), USA (How to Live)
2004 China (Box Story)

TOURING AVAILABILITY
Details on request