Throughout this process it seems that Adrian Howells has been a key influence to our development and has directed the path that our performance has taken. Researching into Howells’ own work I can see clear connections between his own work and our work. Howells has been a big influence on our piece ever since we explored him in one of the Contemporary workshops. The next group meeting we looked further into his work which then inspired our ‘hug’ station and this idea of intimacy throughout our performance.

Adrian’s work is based on Autobiographical performance which ‘engages in complex negotiations with reality and fiction’ (Govan, E 2007 p. 71). This is because as a person you choose what information it is that you wish to share with the individual or individuals that you are with. I can relate this to my station because it is up to the participant what information they are willing to share with me, there isn’t anything to clarify what they are saying is true. The issue with not being able to see the participant means that I have to rely on what they are saying to be the truth, I can’t see their reactions or thought process.
Another thing that I can relate to our piece when looking into Adrian’s work is the fact that he was ‘interested in giving the people the opportunity to alleviate shame and guilt, release it and to lift it from themselves.’ (Howells A, (2010)) I can again link this to my station in which I am going to offer the participant the chance to confess if they feel the need to. This is interesting to me because it is going to allow them the chance to have a chat with a complete stranger; it is offering them the chance to share whatever they feel comfortable sharing.

Adrian Howell’s practices can be linked to other stations. His notion of ‘learning through touch’ (Howells, A (2010)) is similar to that of our ‘hug’ station in which the participant is held for an excess amount of time. It is designed for them to possibly learn something about themselves through this process such as the participants in Howell’s Foot washing for the sole would have learnt about themselves through Howells touching their feet.  We have also taken his idea of the audience having agency and showing this through our ‘greet’ station in which we tell them that they have the right to say no at any moment if they feel uncomfortable in a situation.

Works Cited:
Govan, E., Nicholas, H. and Normington, K. (2007) Making a performance: Devising Histories and Contemporary Practices. London: Routledge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLwD3APw2F8 Interview with Adrian Howells part two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7btf8Tdg_s Interview with Adrian Howells