Jamie Fletcher

 “Brilliant and thought provoking” –The Scotsman

PLaY is a series of performances aiming to uncover episodes of playfulness in unexpected places. It is a collaboration between theatre-makers Jamie Fletcher and Dick Bonham. They began working together in May 2008 with Part 1 in the series 'odd shoes' which appeared at Manchester’s Hazard Festival and Leeds Light Night, amongst others.

In September they completed a unique ten-day residency at BAC in London, where they gave two Scratch performances of new material that will form the basis of ‘til someone gets hurt. BAC is continuing to support us in the development of the piece.

in November Jamie and Dick were invited by the Arches in Glasgow to work with a group of emerging artists based in Scotland on the creation of a new show within a strict timeframe. They had just six days to create a full piece that would help them as they continued their research into the nature and meaning of play, as well as giving an opportunity for artist development for the participants.

'til someone gets hurt

When we were younger we used to play in derelict buildings and trespass on private property. Late at night, in darkened rooms, surrounded by cardboard boxes, we’d talk until the dawn came. We’d push past the normal and everyday, letting our memories, conversations and ideas run free. We got a “nice head feeling”. Time slowed down and there was nothing left to do...

We loved those places. It felt like anything could happen.

 But that’s when things can go wrong.

A time and a place

Today I saw a man in a suit with a briefcase. Nothing unusual there. Except this man was walking along the top of a wall, and loving it. Crowds of passers-by turned their heads in astonishment. What was he doing? Why was he being so silly? Turned out he was just playing. When we were children, every day seemed like an opportunity to have fun. But why can’t we do that as adults? Who says we can’t do things differently?

 In Novembe 2008, a group of young artists under the direction of Jamie Fletcher and Dick Bonham came together to make a new show in conjunction with The Arches, Glasgow. A time and a place is a performance about when and where we’re allowed to let ourselves be a little bit ridiculous.

The Residential

What does it mean to be resident?

For ten days, Jamie Fletcher and Dick Bonham will left their homes in Leeds and spend their time living, sleeping, eating and playing at BAC, Battersea Arts Centre in London.

How can they make this their home, if only for a short time?

PLaY part 3: The Residential is a response to the specific spaces at BAC and the relationship of the whole building to its (mainly residential) surroundings. 

it will form part of the artists' ongoing explorations aimed at understanding the importance of place in everyday life. Is home a place we play? And how does the way we play affect our ability to play and interact with others.

Their stay ended on Saturday 4th October, when they performed a two short work-in-progress shows about what they found.

The Housewarming

During September 2008, Jamie and Dick left their homes in Leeds and spent ten days living, eating, sleeping, working and playing at BAC as part of a residency, during which they started making a new show. To get them started, they hosted a meal with people from the local community to hear what they thought about play and to share their experiences of home.

They enjoyed a Monday Roast. They had a competition to see whether mashed potato or jelly would make the best castle. They talked about times they remembered and played their favourite songs. They made an enormous banana split with all the toppings they could manage.

The meal was prepared by our friends Jon Richardson and Chris McCrudden, who also talked about their competitive dinner parties and encouraged us to play with our food.

   Odd shoes