I See You Watching
I See You Watching is a provocative, darkly playful exploration of control, performance and rebellion. On a bare stage, a woman (Kylie Westerbeck) fights for survival while navigating the relentless demands of a master of ceremonies (David Calvitto) who dictates her worth.
Forced to perform while trapped in the male gaze, she must unravel the expectations that bind her and find a way to escape – or revolt.
This haunting, rigorous and sometimes brutal theatre show exposes the invisible cages confining women in today’s world and questions whether true freedom lies in victory, surrender or something else.
I See You Watching is on at the Edinburgh Fringe in August this year, tickets are available from The Gilded Balloon.
To find out more, head to the Blind Faith Theatre website.
Five Years of The Southside Group
Formed in January 2020 to present new and exciting opportunities for learning disabled adults to become actively involved in theatre, The Southside Group has grown into a ground-breaking company of 17 individuals.
Ranging in age from late teens to sixty, all have some degree of learning disability. Some are experienced performers; others are relative beginners. All contribute enormously, in their own ways, to the work of the company.
Featuring all of The Southside Group’s ‘world of joyful ensemble work’ (The Scotsman) stuffed full of ‘objectively good theatre’ (The Quintessential Review) and bursting with ‘all the trickery and the beauty of performing’ (The Fringe Review) this short film, packed with interviews and performance footage, describes a remarkable journey.
Filming, sound, and music by Richard Williams
Edited by Peter Clerke, Catherine Gillard and Richard Williams
Directed by Peter Clerke and Catherine Gillard
To find out more and to watch the movie, head to The Occasion’s website.
The Snow Queen
Early developments for live performance
Between September – December 2021, The Southside Group developed ideas based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of The Snow Queen. These formed the basis for a live performance that took place in Glasgow in December 2022.
These videos here are not full scenes but, rather, explore ideas for script, costume, stage design and music. Each individual character has a scene.
The majority of the work was filmed against green screen, with drawn backgrounds dropped in behind. However, we also did some work on group scenes with the whole company, when it has been possible to hold full company in-person sessions.
View all the short scenes on The Southside Group website.
Script Adaptation – Peter Clerke
Direction – Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Filming & Editing – Richard Williams
Costume & Design – Ali Maclaurin
Music – Richard Williams
Production Management – David O’Neill
Asst. Prod. Manager – James Allenby-Kirk
The Peabody Chronicles
The complete story
Spanning a 30-year period, from 1887 to 1917, ‘The Peabody Chronicles’ is a five episode tale of villainy, skulduggery, kidnap, heroism, war, love, heartbreak, revenge, injustice, come-uppance…
Directed and filmed by Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Technical Consultant David O’Neill
Production, editing, titles, sound design and music by Richard Williams
The Peabody Chronicles – The Complete Story was made possible through the support of the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and The Hugh Fraser Foundation. The Occasion also gratefully acknowledges additional support for The Southside Group from Foundation Scotland, Glasgow Life and The Lady Neville Charitable Trust.
The Night Before Christmas
Based on Clement C. Moore’s iconic poem… featuring night caps, reindeer and beards, one Glasgow street waits excitedly for Christmas Day…
The Southside Group project began in January 2020 as weekly live drama workshops particularly aimed at adults with learning disabilities.
The sessions took place at Queens Park Bowling Club, Glasgow and membership was steadily growing when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. With support from Foundation Scotland, they were able to start weekly sessions on Zoom.
Directed and filmed by Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Production, editing, titles and music by Richard Williams
Design by Ali Maclaurin
Rehearsal Support by Katie Stevenson
Instamatic
A story told primarily through a photo-dialogue. Two individuals in lock-down – for whatever reason – in two very different parts of the world, and how their isolation within their own cities brings them into communication with each other, across continents.
Devised by Khursheed Ali in New Delhi and Stewart Ennis in Glasgow
Photography and field recordings by Khursheed Ali and Stewart Ennis
Production, music and titles by Richard Williams
Whoosh
Isolated in a surreal, absurdist world a couple who used to ‘swing’ are, somehow, unable to ‘swing’ any more. Questions are raised but the answers just raise more questions.
Written by Pete Livingstone
Performed by Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Directed by Peter Clerke, Catherine Gillard & Richard Williams
Filming, sound recording, editing and titles by Richard Williams
Book & Shrub
Two shops rolled into one and run by two sisters-in-law. Apart from a few skeletons in the cellar the business has been successful enough. But now, in these troubled times, the sisters-in-law are forced to apply for a Government grant. Meanwhile, outside, a riotous apocalypse is brewing…
Written by Michael Duke
Performed by Claire Lamont & Catherine Gillard
Directed by Peter Clerke
Filming, sound recording, editing, music and titles by Richard Williams
The Same Routine
Devised by Petre Dobre, a newly emerging Deaf performer based in Glasgow. Petre graduated from the RCS, Glasgow in 2018 with a BA in BSL & English Performance. A short, non-verbal exploration of routine, our need for it and the consequences that ensue when it unexpectedly goes wrong.
Written, filmed and performed by Petre Dobre
Directed by Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Additional filming by Alice Muir
BSL Interpreter Karen Forbes
Sound design and titles by Richard Williams