B1 Labyrinths (Part of My Fierce Festival)

A guided tour of the city centre where actors
mingle with crowds and audiences find dramas
in neglected alleyways.

One city. Six performers. Countless characters.
Multiple directions. All beginning whilst
travelling on a bicycle, ‘B1 Labyrinths’ is a
guided performance tour round Birmingham city
centre. Familiar places will be made unfamiliar,
landmarks turned inside out, forgotten places
will be brought centre stage. Somewhere in the
thronging city streets are actors, but will you be
able to spot them as they mingle with crowds and
find drama in neglected alleyways?

26/05/2008, chazgoldie said

what a show more please these guys and girls really had me wondering a truly great performance birmingham tourist board should get in touch with them well done needless allies

27/05/2008, Mother_Goose said

A Truly amazing and entertaining journey through B1. I saw it four times and still on the last tour noticed things I hadn't noticed on the first. There were performers who were obvious and those who were less obvious like the young girl tripping up at the start of the bike ride. There were the moments when the public themselves became performers - like the security guard calling for police backup and an ambulance at the scene of a suicide. Then there were the stewards who became unwitting performers like the steward chasing the fleeing bride down New St whilst pulling a luggage case(supposed to have been a discreet follow). Then there were the well chosen locations like the Cafe scene at the recently renovated Town Hall, the Victorian Bridge behind the Mailbox and the splendid use of the alleys and towpaths at Gas St itself.

Needless Allies deserve to be commissioned properly to be able to devote the time to creating more performances like this and of course with better funding for resources. So come on Liverpool - you need Needless Allies to devise an L1 Labryinth for your City of Culture celebrations! and come on London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle - give this performance company a break!

28/05/2008, one of a kind said

I can only agree with mother goose. It was a inspiring ride.

For our ride it was the police asking us to move out of the way when we came head to head with the Gay Pride march, that became the performers

What do you think?

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