Notes
Welcome to Carnesky’s Tarot Drome Seekers of the truth, the congregation of light, novices and neophytes, tarologists and esoteric tourists. The tarot is old. No-one really knows where it comes from. Perhaps it is a game invented to teach children morality, perhaps it is a way to speak to spirits. Or perhaps it is just a way to speak to yourself. A road map to your soul. An ancient psychotherapeutic tool. Take a step into the unknown. Wander through the tunnels and see who you can find. Follow your impulses. Have no fear. This is a theatrical experience that will be unique to you. The performers have invoked the major arcana of the tarot inside themselves so that they may be a bodily portal for your entertainment and enlightenment. If you choose, you can join them on their stages and perform rituals that will speak to your unconscious mind. You may be asked to wear a special headdress; to place coins on your eyes; to plunge your hands in clay. You may be asked to change your clothes; even take off your clothes; to bathe; to chant; to sway. Or you may need to stand back and observe from afar, to gaze at spectacular entities. In the Tarot Drome there are no buttons to press, there is no screen to divide. Here you will not get your cards read; you will meet the cards in person! A fleshy dreamscape of psychomagical phenomena for you to take as you will. It’s time to begin! Enter the Tarot Drome! Carnesky’s Tarot Drome!
The Fool
The Fool is outrageous. Bound to zero he walks in a circle with the gait of a hero.
The Magician
The Magician is at the beginning – he is laying out all of his tricks. At this point everything is possible.
The Empress
The Empress is the goddess of abundance, fertility and sensuality. Devotion shall bring your dreams to fruition.
The High Priestess
The High Priestess represents the accumulation of knowledge before action. She guards the deepest knowledge and will reveal what is hidden.
The Emperor
He brings the stability of a domineering father. The Emperor is the basis for all constructions. He is a soothing force with power over the material world.
The Hierophant
The Hierophant represents inspired authority and priesthood – acting as a mediator, he can be your bridge towards the sacred.
The Chariot
The Chariot takes action in the world. The Chariot is the motion of an organised work. The Chariot is a possible lover, a probable triumph and a pure talent.
The Lovers
They are the call of love. They are joy. They represent enthusiasm, beauty, temptation, conflict in love; uncertainty as well as harmony.
Justice
She is universal equilibrium. She will weigh and cut. With the liberty she grants you comes responsibility.
The Hermit
Move onward without knowing where to. With The Hermit you will experience doubt and the transcendence of doubt. Here lies wisdom if you open your eyes to it.
Strength
Strength is your beginning on a new plane. Her mind has control over desire. Here is harmony between intellect and sexuality. Conquest through seduction.
Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune is the laws of nature set in motion. There is a need for outside help. This is the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Incarnate the spirit and spiritualise matter.
The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man suggests progress imposed by pain. Waiting in self-denial or inner strength received through prayer.
Death
In-depth transformation. Revolution. Elimination of that which impedes progress. End of an illusion. Transmutation. Cataclysm.
The Devil
The Devil pulls together animal nature, sexual forces and great creativity. He is the darker side of your subconscious, a false guru concerned with money, domination and pride.
Temperance
Temperance signifies the time for your recovery to start. She is your guardian angel with a personal message for you. She is the flow of the past into the present towards the future.
The Tower
The Tower is a card of destruction, a force that controls mankind to stay sane, ethic and vital. It is a powerful, angry force that burns old patterns down for a fresh new beginning.
The Star
The Star gives herself to the world and encourages you to do the same. She offers psychic reception, providential help and universal love.
The Sun
The Sun encourages a common work. It points to success and happiness and possible new relationships. The Sun has achieved awareness.
The Moon
Here is the cosmic Mother: womanhood, deep intuition and lucid dreams. Madness.
Judgement
A call from the Divine and the spiritual. Expect resurrection, an announcement or a message. With Judgement you can rise to a superior awareness and integrate parental archetypes.
The World
She is accomplishment in the world. The World offers the four energies and the fifth essence. She is the cosmic centre, fame, the universal soul and woman’s sex.
Marisa Carnesky Carnesky Productions was founded by showwoman Marisa Carnesky, who has been making performance work for over twenty years. She is best known for Carnesky’s Ghost Train, a large scale arthouse theme park ride with live performers, now permanently sited in Blackpool. Her solo shows include Jewess Tattooess (toured internationally including ICA; BAC; Riverside Studios; LA International Festival; Scena Contemporanea, Madrid; City of Women, Slovenia; Acco Festival, Israel) and past collaborations include the Olivier Award-winning C’est Duckie (touring included the Barbican; PS122, New York; Philippe Starck Building, Tokyo). She was an Arts & Humanities Research Council fellow at The University of Sheffield’s National Fairground Archive, and Carnesky Productions is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. Marisa regularly runs workshops, including classes for young people, at the Roundhouse and internationally at festivals. Check her website for news of upcoming events. www.carnesky.com Graduates of Marisa Carnesky’s Finishing School Daniel Thomas Ash Carly Halse Saffiyya Lea Olivia Pointing Monika Pomeroy Dunja Kuhn
Emily Bath Rhys Cook Isobel Palmer Molly Beth White Zia Ahmed
Performers The Fool – Rasp Thorne Rasp Thorne is a performer, musician and writer originally from Montana. Having spent much time in New York, New Orleans and Germany he has set his roots down in London where he is associate artist and musical director of Carnesky Productions. The Magician – Duncan DeMorgan Duncan is a member of Rasp Thorne & the Briars as well as a club promoter responsible for some of London’s favourite alternative nights out, including Shore Leave and Born Bad. The High Priestess – Vicky Butterfly Vicky Butterfly has spent the past decade performing all over the world with her unique blend of ethereal erotic dance. Working in theatre, cabaret and film, she uses her theatre design training to create elaborate spectacles of movement, light and skill. The Empress – Suri Sumatra Indonesian-Scottish Suri Sumatra is a London-based performance artist working on the international cabaret and burlesque circuit, currently in the Royal Opera House ensemble. Suri draws inspiration from the theatre of ritualistic practice, blending traditional dances such as Balinese opera or Japanese Kabuki to create her own contemporary choreographies. Suri first performed for Marisa Carnesky in her live art spectacle The Quickening of the Wax in 2010.
The Emperor – Phil ‘The Playboy’ Bedwell Phil has been a professional wrestler for 17 years. He has wrestled frequently in the UK and Europe, including the Lucha Britannia show from it’s inception in 2006. Recently, he has moved from the ring to the stage to utilise his skills in cabaret and performance. The Hierophant – Jason Karl Jason Karl is a television presenter, entertainment producer and author. He co-presented the first series of Most Haunted and went on to host shows in the USA, Belgium and Germany. Jason is the creative director of AtmosFEAR! Scare Entertainment, a production company working with theme parks, heritage venues and theatres. The Chariot – Rhyannon Styles Rhyannon Styles (formerly Ryan Styles) is an established international performer who works with mime, drag, performance art and cabaret. Rhyannon creates visual spectacles noted for their beauty, poignance and grace with work that is physical, multi-coloured and pioneering. Justice – Claire Rabbitt The ‘Brazen Banshee’ of the Briars is a long-time fan of Marisa Carnesky’s work and former member of the Mediæval Bæbes. Art echoes life as she is simultaneously completing her third law degree.
Performers continued The Hermit – H Plewis H Plewis is an arty entertainer, choreographer and performance-maker who originally trained as a dancer in New York and Chichester. Mixing showbiz with performance art she works in both established venues (Barbican) and late night clubs (The Box). She is an associate artist of Duckie and helped create Lullaby – the world’s first theatrical sleepover. Wheel of Fortune – Chi Chi Revolver Chi Chi Revolver is a cabaret, burlesque and circus performer with a Guinness World Record in hula hooping. Revolver also teaches hula hoop workshops and classes across the UK. Strength – Traumata Traumata is the performance alter ego of Hellen Burrough. She has been performing work that focuses on pain, femininity, endurance and physical extremes for eight years. Death – Nina Felia Nina Felia (or Davies) is a Canadian performance artist based in London. Trained in classical ballet, Nina uses contortion and dark surrealist imagery in order to subvert and pastiche. She previously worked with Marisa Carnesky in her 2010 production Dystopian Wonders.
Temperance – Rowan Fae Rowan Fae is a multi-talented physical performer. She works as an aerialist, an acrobat on stilts and as a clown. Rowan runs large-scale events combining circus and multi-media in Bristol. The Tower – Marusha Geymayer-Oblak A Slovenian actress with many faces and a colourful background: graduated dramatic state actress in the former Yugoslavia; master of interaction between movement and word; permanent member of Mladinsko Theatre in Ljubljana. Marusha is also a director and provocative performer in independent productions all over Europe. and Marisa Carnesky as The World.
The Band Rasp Thorne & the Briars Rasp Thorne: vocals, organ, piano; Duncan DeMorgan: bass; Pete Moriarty: electric guitar; Claire Rabbitt: vocals; Andy Marvell: drums. Rasp Thorne & the Briars are a highly-charged rock and roll band formed in 2010, based in East London. Their debut album The Lecher’s Waltz was recently released on Chagrin Records. www.raspthorneandthebriars.com
Artists and designers Claire Ashley – costume designer and maker Claire Ashley is a Hackney-based costumier, designing and making theatrical costumes for performers for 15 years. Specialising in metamorphic costumes, vintage and circus, Claire has been commissioned to create a multitude of unique visions. Natasha Lawes – original props and headdresses Natasha Lawes is a London-based designer who uses a variety of media including sculpture, tech-effect costume, make-up and hair artistry. Natasha has worked for performers such as Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Bat For Lashes and Ladyhawke. Rebecca Stevenson – sculpture Rebecca Stevenson is an internationally recognised artist, best known for her wax and resin sculptures that combine baroque detail with a heady sense of the visceral. Martha Copeland and Bear Gateaux – fairground items and facade Bear Gateaux is a creative collective of two life-long friends, Martha and Keiran. They make things, build things, paint things and sometimes even perform. Louise Riley – embroidery and set design London artist Louise Riley works with thread. Known for her embroidered figures on mattresses, the work in this show has a live muse and through translucent glaze scenes collaborate seamlessly with the performer.
Credits
Writer and Director
Writer and Composer
Marisa Carnesky Rasp Thorne
Producer Lara Clifton Dicky Eton
Associate Producer
Production Manager
Assistant Producer
Natacha Poledica
Show Consultants
Richart Carrozza Diana Taylor
Skate Choreography
H Plewis with Lorriane Roberts
James Elphick
Dramaturge Lisa Goldman
Lighting Designer
Stage Manager
Allan Pelling (TG) Sununu Henandaz (TG)
Assistant Stage Manager
Jasmina Klanchar
Production Assistant and Make-up Artist
Amy Ridler
Production Support
Duncan DeMorgan
Marketing Assistant
Kev Wright
Merchandise
Simon Hearn
Soundscape by Rasp Thorne. Time Piece written by Rasp Thorne, Katharine Blake, Duncan DeMorgan. Engineered by Rob Toulson and K Blake. Produced and mixed by K Blake.
Credits continued
John Bishop
Pony Ltd
Programme illustrator Logo and flyer design
Clockwork Satellite
Website and programme design
Big Sky Print Ltd
Programme printer
John Bland, OEM Film
Adam Hodgson
Manuel Vason
Sarah Ainslie
Mim King
Promo video Storyboard illustrator Press photos Documentary photos Butoh workshop
With Thanks To Hamish Jenkinson, Douglas McJannet, Mike Harth, Lucy Faulks and all at The Old Vic Tunnels • Laia Gasch, Justine Simons and all at London 2012 Festival • Liz Littlewood • Professor Vanessa Toulmin Geraldine Beskin at Atlantis Bookshop • Kira O’Reilly • Tristan Appleby and Network Rail • Paul Kieve • Jeremy Goldstein • Simon Casson and all at Duckie • The Renaissance Rooms • The Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club • Leila Jones and Josephine Bamford at the Roundhouse The People Show • Diana Taylor at Treadwells • City of Women festival, Slovenia • James KO • Jamie at Run Riot • The Broken Hearts The Insect Circus • Lois Keidan at LADA • Petruscos Eye • Sam Clifton Lucy Phillips • Andrew Broadley • John Marshall • Kate Patterson K Blake, Nick Marsh and Bev Crome for additional recordings on Time Piece • The Carnesky Productions board – Dominic Johnson, Dicky Eton, Lisa Goldman.
Notes
Autograph
The Chariot
Carnesky’s Tarot Drome 4-15 September 2012 The Old Vic Tunnels www.carneskystarotdrome.com www.oldvictunnels.com #tarotdrome
Carnesky Productions acknowledges the generous support of these organisations:
Š Carnesky Productions Ltd 2012