Vibrant physical theatre that’s set to make waves

This dynamic production by Jammy Voo ricochets between the lives of four different women struggling to establish their sense of self and find stability in a turbulent world. Each is touched by the news of a man’s disappearance during a diving accident and their individual stories are simultaneously separate yet connected, weaving round each other as they share both an emotional and physical space on stage. Striking, vital performances from the strong cast carry with ease the electric blend of comedy and anxiety that crackles throughout the production.

Cosmopolitan themes of loneliness, difficult relationships, lack of direction and self-doubt are presented with compelling sincerity, while peppered throughout with a quirky and engaging humour that breaks the tension. Billed as ‘physical theatre’, creative thought has been put into the way the cast interact with the set and props, while superb use of puppetry adds an unexpected charm which is picked up by atmospheric live music and a cappella singing by the cast. The combination of all these elements results in a production that has both depth and sparkle and reminds you just how refreshing original theatre can be.

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Jammy Voo have a lovely energy and deliver uniformly generous performances, with some particularly sharp puppetry from Yngvild Aspeli, who plays a sacked Norwegian academic. The music is evocative and there are some wonderful set pieces, where theatrical images create a surreal poetry that is both humorous and touching.

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Following their delightful clown show in 2007, Something Blue, innovative physical theatre company Jammy Voo return with a series of snapshots of the lives of four women that draw parallels between emotional and environmental chaos… The company’s greatest strength is its ability to tell stories visually with invigorating moments of physicality, live music and puppetry.

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An agoraphobic who is desperately trying to create a romantic dinner for two at Christmas but has one hour to get to the shops, a Teacher who converses with God, a girl with a suitcase full of memories who is desperate for the attention she never received and a Norwegian Professor who is convinced there is a link between natural disasters and ill health. Bringing those stories together with some clever puppetry, lovely voices and atmospheric music engages the audience who can identify with some of the issues that we all face on a daily basis.

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In 2007 Jammy Voo’s Something Blue was a collection of sketches memorable both for transcending the Lecoq-school template it clearly emerged from, and for some top-notch puppetry.

This year‘s show, revolving around four women with clearly delineated lives but mysteriously overlapping stories, is very different in tone, but the puppetry is still in place. Yngvild Aspeli’s scene of deadly battle with her own surprisingly combative mink stole is perhaps the most technically accomplished piece of puppetry I saw at this year‘s Fringe, precision-timed, witty and emotionally charged. A giant torch-lit shadow of a hand first caressed and then danced with the human characters, in another beautiful sequence. At the end, a large figure made of paper, presumably the drowning man whose story echoed through the piece, emerged from the back wall, screaming silently and sinking inexorably. Besides the puppetry, the piece is built from many skills; the human performances are also rich and crafted, there is beautiful live musical accompaniment, highly accomplished singing, and moments of great choreographic synchronicity.

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Audience Feeback

"Beautiful, funny, sad, and full of frustration- Jammy Voo dare to speak of today’s world with a unique sense of style and verve. They do not hide behind a safe and obvious story. And they do it with such talent and vitality. I loved A Corner of the Ocean for daring to be something a bit different at this year’s Fringe. It was like a breath of fresh air."
Karen Millar

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"Incredibly detailed and innovative from the music, to the puppetry, to the fantastic ensemble energy."
Lorraine

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"Every time I see you guys work you remind me why life is worth celebrating."
Ben Preston

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"This show is one of the best I have seen at the fringe so far. Truly brilliant!! Inventive, moving, hilarious, and beautifully quirky. I was captivated. The hour went all too quickly. These talented women are like a rich tapestry. Jammy Voo is a company to watch. I look forward to seeing what they do next. I loved it."
Lauren

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"A very memorable evening, with loads to discuss afterwards."
Rosie Millburn

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"Impressive work that bravely explores the unexplored."
Justin

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Little Red Riding Hood dines with the Big Bad Wolf in the darkly delicious Something Blue

Sally J Stott - Underbelly (Venue 61)

Little Red Riding Hood goes on a dinner date with the Big Bad Wolf, falls in love and gives him her heart. He eats it. This is that kind of show - a brilliantly funny and extremely physical look at the realities of romance, with all their inherent humour and sadness. Played out through a series of sketches, some exquisite a cappella singing and terrific costumes, five tremendously versatile female clowns take on the guises of a variety of weird and wonderful - but ultimately very human - characters.

Having met and trained at Paris's prestigious Lecoq Theatre School, the company are a delight to watch, teasing out a tremendous amount of comic and emotive content from the smallest of moments. The show is directed by renowned master of clowning Angela De Castro and her expertise is strongly felt.

The piece starts off seemingly quite predictably, with traditional clown-like characters moving around the audience, making innocent banter, touching us with feathers and suchlike. However, events take a darker turn, when a girl (played by the supremely talented Yngvild Aspeli) attempts to hang herself with a phone chord as part of a musical box number about waiting for a lover's call.

In one of the play's most touching moments the same disheartened girl is comforted by a small hand puppet man. It's a wonderfully honest portrayal oflove, made all the more effective by its detailed simplicity. And then Little Red Riding Hood appears and covers herself in chocolate, Marmite and ketchup. This is a play that likes contrasts.

There's no time to pause for breath as whenever anything gets too silly or just too sad, something of the opposite intent cuts in. comedy and tragedy are never far apart in the world of both the clown and the human heart.

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Something Blue (Underbelly) was an utterly beguiling series of sketches on the theme of looking for love. By turns, it was funny, poignant, silly, obscene and touchingly intimate. Inevitably some of the sketches were better than others, but there was a very high hit rate, and the audience was amused and touched. An absolute gem. (Afterwards, I went straight to iTunes and bought a track from the show, Rufus Wainwright's My Phone's on Vibrate for You. I've been listening to it ever since.) August 24, 2007

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Five clowns serenade the audience and hand out notes scribbled on paper while others tickle the back of your neck with feathers. Jaunty Nina Somone and Cole Porter numbers eventually entice them onto the stage. Cut to a string of women fishing in buckets and feeding off each other's rivalry. the scene changes suddenly to a woman in a red dress at a table laid out for a romantic dinner. Barely has she finished her make-up than the big bad wolf saunters in. the love fest that follows is bizarre to say the least. A hand puppet then pops up in surprising places over and around a curvaceous body - inventive and slightly naughty.

Almost bringing the house down is the choral society of elderly ladies. Their gospel harmonies are sweet and heavently - it's the lyrics that are down and dirty as, like Acorn Antiques meets Snoop Dogg, you realise they're actually doing foul-mouthed pop songs. Later a disturbing scene involves Nutella, ketchup and a couple of doughnuts, while in between scenes the set lady potters on dispensing advice to anyone who'll listen - she's a cheeky buxom vamp who's already bored of husband number six and funny in a Faith Brown sort of way.

Underneath the absurdist humour there is some very thoughtful stuff going on. Jammy Voo clearly know their audience and the effect performance has on them. Admittedly a lot of this is (Leqoc) textbook stuff and predictable in theme (yes, there's a sentimental old person on a bench number), but somehow they rise above it all thanks to their innate grasp of comedy. Oh, and a ripping soundtrack.

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In the world of Jammy Voo Red Riding Hood and Wolf date, Rapunzel is still waiting for her prince age seventy and middle class ladies sing rap. The five extremely adept female clowns play out women's true desires when it comes to falling in love. Not only is this show hilarious but also deeply moving. A girl stands by a telephone awaiting a call. her movement is simple but we feel her longing. The hightlight of Something Blue is the relationship playing out between Miss Red Riding Hood and Mr Wolf. Beginning with a hysterical dinner date and ending with Red sewing up her broken heart. Mr Wolf is a head puppet and interaction is excellent, equally so is Mr Wolf's physicalisation. A fantastically funny and loveable show - and I am looking forward to seeing what this comic crew do next.

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Audience Feedback

"You made me laugh and cry and you kept me wide eyed with wonder."
Kerry Jane Wilson

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"The clowns have arrived! Hooray - brilliant - I laughed and was touched. Great! Give me more..."

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"This is excellent. Yet again, LeCoq has turned out absolutely brilliant performers. It's hilarious, touching, engrossing, fascinating, thought provoking. What a hugely talented company"
Jo, UK

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"Wow! What a uniquely entertaining and moving experience. Beginning with the cosy greeting party of mischievous clowns as we entered the theatre, I was delighted to feel like a child at a birthday party as the show began. From then on I experienced a range of emotions from hilarity to despair. Some breathtakingly clever theatre and creatively conceived comedy were performed expertly, by a very talented group of emotionally damaged people. Catch this intimate show here, because you will want to see it again when it ultimately tours on a grander scale."
Dave, UK

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"Wolf - come back!"

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"Inspired, funny, touching, endearing, aesthetically pleasing - almost flawless."
Loes van der Laan

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"A first class example of contemporary performance/clowning. Not clowns as you know them from the circus but from the tradition of great performers like Chaplin, Keaton, Lecoq. These skilled performers take you on a journey through the human experience of finding love, making you laugh at lot and get an occasional lump in your throat. The ending will make you cry with laughter - brilliant. I hope this tours so even more people get a chance to see it."
Mark, England.

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