CLARA BLOOMFIELD
SOUL SEARCHING
"THIS GROUP MAKES US FEEL LIKE ANY THING IS POSSIBLE."
PARTICIPANT
‘Sole Searching: A Hootenanny,’ is an inspiring grassroots Docudrama* about the courage and resilience of four remarkable women; their struggle to break out of the constraints of what they view as an unequal society. Four women, came together to discuss life and explore what it means to be a woman and share heart-felt experiences. In a their world where people on benefits are labelled as ‘scroungers,’ these women challenge these perceptions, through the creation of honest, inspiring autobiographical performance these individuals cut to the truth of the lives of many.
Through ‘Sole Searching’, the women tell their ordinary everyday life stories where theses women are ignored and undervalued but demand to be heard.
“Moving; honest, collective voices, creating awareness - questioning and smashing the stereotype,” Audience Member.
The docudrama was performed in Inverkeithing Parish Church in April of this year and the women were commissioned to do a special performance in July for the Fairer Fife Commission,
“A powerful way to tell stories of real life –
made me want to influence change.”
George Dodds, Director of Delivery – NHS Scotland
In September ‘Sole Searching’ was performed at the Scottish Parliament, sponsored by Alex Rowley MSP who said,
“We need to understand better the root causes of poverty and take a community led approach to achieve a fairer society.”
*Docudrama: a drama which is based on real events.
*A Provocation: seeks to examine contemporary social and political issues that provoke thought and further action to be taken.
CREATIVE TEAM
// COMPANY: Inverkeithing Community Initiative
// CAST & 'WRITERS': Inverkeithing Community Initiative
// DIRECTOR: Clara Bloomfield
// SCRIPT EDITOR: Jo Dowd
SYNOPSIS
A hootenanny: a celebration, a gathering, a party, an occasion which people assemble for.'
4 women question their 'invisibility' in The System, why they have been ignored, over looked or forgotten.
4 women celebrate their identity, their 'class', their right to positively protest their right to be seen and to be heard!
These 4 women invite you to join them at their hootenanny and walk in their shoes.
Theatre for Social Change - Under the banner of Tiny Fragments over a three year period Theatre Maker and Director Clara Bloomfield collaborated with playwright Jo Dowd and Women (non actors) from South West Fife. Their verbatim performances were presented in a range of contexts and settings. Ranging from the women’s own communities, to Local Government and culminated in a performance at the Scottish Parliament.
Their socio-political performances highlighted life for those who 'experience poverty.' Lobby for better support for families, like themselves, to gain better access to services and information to support their daily living.
Their Theatre work acted as a form of political activism to effected social change at local and national level, informed the writing of The Fairer Fife Report; actions against poverty in Fife, and resulted in 4 / 7 women being re-homed.