Autobiographer

By
Melanie Wilson
Dates
22 Oct 2010 - 25 Oct 2012
Artist/Company
Melanie Wilson

Fuel presents Autobiographer

Combining a lyrical text, immersive staging and an enigmatic and compelling performance style, Autobiographer drew audiences into the unravelling mind of its central character, Flora.

Voiced by multiple performers, Flora reveals a curious and evocative portrait of a life refracted through the lens of dementia, layered from fragments of stories and pulses of memory. This tender, poetic and thrilling performance features a cast of four and a bold and electrifying score of voice and sound.

For more information about Melanie’s inspiration for the piece, and the research that has inspired her work, visit www.melaniewilson.org.uk

Funded by Arts Council England and a Wellcome Trust Arts Award. Developed as part of Fuel at the Roundhouse and Jerwood residencies at Cove Park, which are supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Development supported by ARC Stockton on Tees. Developed at MAKE 2010, an artist development programme supported by Absolut Fringe, Cork Midsummer Festival, Project & Theatre Forum.

Creative Team
Written and directed by Melanie Wilson
Performed by Janet Henfrey, Alice Lamb, Penelope McGhie and Melanie Wilson
Sound design by Melanie Wilson
Design by Peter Arnold
Lighting design by Ben Pacey
Light Bulb Canopy designed by Ben Pacey and Peter Arnold
Set built at Polka Theatre workshop
Costumes by Zoe Thomas-Webb
Outside Eye and Collaborator: Wendy Hubbard
Touring Production Manager: Rachel Bowen
Sound Technician: Paul Millen
Sound Consultant: Dominic Bilkey
Marketing & Press: Sam McAuley (makesthree.org)
Advisor and mentor in dementia research: Professor Sube Banerjee

#Autobiographer

"Autobiographer is above all a work of vivid poetry about memory, its loss and the beauty that lives on in the ashes of a failing mind. ****"

Time Out

"A complex and fascinating performance… It is a strange but emotional engagement."

This is Devon

"Wilson's lyrical imagery is deeply affecting... this is powerful and rewarding theatre."

Irish Examiner

"I strongly urge you to see this powerful, beautiful, sad, moving piece... Gentle. Intimate. Powerful."

The Journal, Nutshell Review

"A remarkable poet in word and sound"

The Scotsman

"A beautiful puzzle… sharply moving… beyond heartbreaking"

The Irish Times

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Project History