Look Back: Mixtape at the 2019 New Voices Festival

It’s hard to believe a year and a half ago I was sitting cross legged on the floor of my bedroom writing the first scene of Mixtape and now it’s been fully staged and performed for two sold out audiences.

When we had our first rehearsal back in February, it felt almost too easy. I had written a lot of the parts in the show with specific people in mind and here they were: all in a studio working and sweating together. That first rehearsal, we didn’t even open a script. We did cardio and strength training, yoga, lift practice, devised creation, everything to get us in our body and away from the page. It was fun. Exciting. When you’re creating work you care about with people you like, it’s so easy.

And I mean that in the true sense of the word, easy, full of ease! Things most definitely were not always easy in the popular sense of the word. We hit roadblock after roadblock creating choreography that just didn’t flow in our actors bodies, trying to make musical arrangements work, figuring out the closing of the show, which I had purposely left open ended. But throughout it all, I never worried we wouldn’t find a solution because I trusted my team of performers, designers and stage managers completely.

It’s amazing to think that from this script Natalie, Blair and I were able to imagine the kind of company we wanted to create and what kind of work we wanted to produce. Mixtape helped us develop our mandate as artists. It was a work of multidisciplinary theatre. It integrated music, movement, text and media arts. I use integrated because these elements were fully weaved throughout, not simply used once at the opening or closing of the show. And for that I am proud. The show could have been a bust and I would still be pleased that we accomplished what we set out to do and we created a show that was true to our vision.

Now, two weeks after the festival has closed, I’m busy thinking of what comes next. I’ve started writing a new (very different) show which I’m hoping to stage this winter. We’re looking at venues for a remount of Mixtape and looking for sponsors and grants. I’m preparing for our joint production of Romeo and Juliet with Panoply Classical Collective, which I’m directing and reimagining (you can expect music, movement, food, colour, light and shadow, it’s going to be fun!). They say when you take a vacation the most fun comes from the planning of it. I feel the same applies to the arts. I’m loving every second of preparation we’re putting into each of these projects and I’m sure later, every minute of rehearsal.

I can’t wait to share it all with you!

Margot

P.S If you haven’t already, check out our instagram @mixtapeprojects for some sneak peeks of Mixtape and our upcoming projects!