Joshua Sofaer/Ayla Suveren
5 James Boswell House
118–122 Great Portland Street
London W1W 6PW
T +44 (0)7870 187504
W joshuasofaer.com
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SIZE OF COMPANY
1 on the road (with additional performers as necessary)
SCALE OF VENUE
Small- to middle-scale
PERMANENT STAFF
Artist/Director
Joshua Sofaer
Producer
Ayla Suveren
ARTISTIC POLICY
Joshua Sofaer is an artist who is centrally concerned with modes of collaboration and participation. Often with an irreverent use of humour, he plays with established forms of production, appropriating and reconfiguring the chat show, competition, lecture, or museum display. He acts as curator, producer or director of a broad range of projects, including large-scale events, intimate performances, and publications. Joshua Sofaer Projects is particularly responsive to site- and context-specific commissions.
REVIEW EXTRACTS
‘The effect is spectacular and crowd stopping.’ The Independent (Rooted in the Earth)
‘Wickedly well-observed.’ Real Time Magazine (World in One City)
‘Anneka Rice may have popularised scavenging but performance artist Joshua Sofaer is taking it to a whole new level.’ The List Festival (Scavengers)
CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
Scavengers A city-wide scavenger hunt and exhibition with full audience participation running over several days. Fully multilingual, working with performers from host country. (2 days, 2 main performers plus assistants, 12 on stage, 2 on the road, suitable for a large gallery or theatre space, DVD on request.)
World in One City An international language tour in entirely fake foreign languages. Fully adaptable to local context. No translation issues. (15–30 mins, suitable for festival or exhibition context, 1 performer and no technical set-up, DVD available on request.)
Name in Lights/Rooted in the Earth National competition and major site-specific installation to see the winner’s name in a giant illuminated sign or planted in flowers. (Variable duration, large local technical team required.)
Object Retrieval One object from a collection is subject to analysis by a plethora of researchers as well as members of the public. Can operate in any language with local performers. (Variable duration but suggested at 1 week, workshop and exhibition space required, 10 local performers engaged.)
Any Questions? Two performers ask the audience if they have any questions. Only suitable for English-speaking audiences. (Variable duration, 2 on stage, 2 on the road, suitable for gallery or small theatre space.)
Face It A photographic and performance project that predicts the lives of the citizens of the city where it is performed. (1 hour, 2 on stage, 2 on the road, suitable for medium sized theatre venues.)
The Many Headed Monster A performance lecture and lecture pack on the audience of contemporary performance. Produced by Live Art Development Agency. (1 hour, suitable for English speaking audiences.)
FUTURE PRODUCTIONS
Tours of People’s Homes Members of the public work with Joshua Sofaer over several months to develop a tour or performance in their own home. (Premiere in Newcastle, winter 2009.)
WRAP-AROUND
Joshua Sofaer is a highly experienced workshop facilitator and all productions have the potential for attached wrap-around activity, ranging from an informal post-performance discussion to a two-week intensive workshop. Recent workshops include, Together: Socially engaged arts practice (four-week course), for acting students at the Norwegian Theatre Academy in Fredrikstad, and We’re Here to Help, a socially engaged site-specific performance for members of the general public at La Casa Encendida, Madrid. The productions Scavengers and We’re Here to Help also have the possibility for local student performer involvement.
RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2009 Germany (The Many Headed Monster)
2008 Japan (Rubbish Library/Library Rubbish), Germany (Face It), Norway (Samlinger i Lofothjem: Collections of Lofoten Homes)
2007 Spain (Estamos Aqui Para Aydar: We’re Here to Help)
TOURING AVAILABILITY
Details on request
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