Hearts of Black & Gold
Devised Physical Theatre
Role: Safety | Director: Matt Richard | Theatre@York’s playGround
Hearts of Black and Gold was a Devised Physical Theatre Piece created by myself and seven other York University Devised Theatre students. The piece focused on the human conscience - that inner feeling of right and wrong. What happens when you listen to that feeling and what happens when you don’t? Through conversations and improvisations, this piece became the story of a girl from childhood to adulthood and how her conscience led her towards, away, and through situations that shaped her into the person she grew to be. Each situation, and how she reacted to the situation, taught her something valuable no matter how difficult the situation might have been.
I played Safety in this physical theatre piece. I was the one she interacted with whenever she was in a safe situation or relationship; for example, when she was with her mother as a younger girl. I also tried to lure her out of dangerous or fearful situations; for example, when vice was tempting her.
We performed this piece three times as part of York University’s playGround Festival, which focuses on new and experimental theatre. Through this show, my love for physical theatre grew, and I learned just how effective telling story through movement can be.
