Watercolor

@ Bradford’s Theatre in the Mill.

Once again Ellie reached out to her audience in search of a cuddle. But this time the grief felt a lot more personal and with the more sombre mood came reluctance, the cuddle not so easily won. I can’t have been the only person to feel it -it literally coiled inside of me - personal grief felt so much more uncomfortable than public grief and yet which would realistically require more support? It was then that the absurdity of the counsellor’s glib advice really hit home – her dos and don’ts really were the do’s and don’ts expected of someone who is grieviGrief is a difficult emotion and perhaps the most overwhelming aspect of it is the fact that it is a pain that cannot

News of Princess Diana’s untimely death shocked the world. But perhaps what shocked some of us even more was the outpouring of public grief that followed. Brits, famous for their ‘stiff upper lip’ mentality, suddenly huddled together in streets, openly crying, visibly upset. What was going on? Artist/performer Ellie Harrison explores the theme perfectly through her performance ‘Etiquette of Grief’ (shown at the Bradford University’s Theatre in the Mill). The one-woman show is part of a series, looking at the seven stages of grief. I arrived at the performance slightly unconvinced by the title of the production, concerned it was going to be terribly morose. What I encountered was a highly amusing, thoughtful and insightful performance.Ellie set herself up at a podium, as someone in mourning - mourning the loss of Princess Diana. The audience was very much involved in the show - something I would usually balk at. But as the production progressed it became apparent that the audience reaction was an important aspect of the show. To start with the mood in the theatre was jocular with Ellie reaching out to members of the audience for a hug to support her in her grief. The response was warm and friendly - the cuddle easily won. Content with the response, Ellie then cleverly used a ‘live’ feed from a grief counsellor (played by herself) to talk her through coping strategies for dealing with the loss of a loved one. The result was often hilarious. On giving advice on how to handle sharing the news of a loss with friends and family she happily advised; “Do not refer to your loved one as dead, it’s too blunt. Instead use phrases like ‘late’ ‘passed away’ ‘no longer with us’.” “People may want to give you a hug - always make sure to carry mints and deodorant.” “If you are giving away your loved one’s clothes to charity - don’t take it to your local shop. You don’t want to see a display of their clothing in the local shop window.” The entire performance was very tongue-in-cheek and the audience couldn’t help but giggle furiously at the absurdity of it all. This was, after all, about public grief - it was about all those who gather together in crowds openly weeping and crying to mourn the loss of some powerful public figure. But underneath the hilarity there was something else, a darker, more uncomfortable emotion creeping in which was the genius in Ellie’s work. For as we laughed and giggled at the grief counsellor’s glib advice on how to deal with loss, she gradually began to unravel before our eyes, overdosing on a powerful cocktail of alcohol and drugs. She left behind a suicide note detailing her motives which left Ellie (in character) truly upset.

realistically be shared - even with our closest relatives. It feels lonely, frightening and incredibly powerful. In times of personal grief we can’t just break down in the middle of a street, wailing and crying, waving candles and holding vigils. We don’t throw our arms round strangers and gather together in crowds. Instead we suffer, usually in silence - not because of our strength but because our grief is distinctly too uncomfortable for others to bear. Etiquette of Grief is supported by Arts Council England, University of Leeds through Incubator, Theatre in the Mill and Leeds Met Gallery & Studio Theatre. For those who missed the Bradford show, Ellie will be performing at Harrogate Theatre on April 27. This is a show that will stay with you long after the curtains close. My advice? Go and see for yourself - you won’t be disappointed.

Etiquette of Grief – Harrogate Theatre, April 27. INFO & TICKETS : www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

WRITTEN BY ANDREA HARDAKER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN CARMICHEAL

On the 17th March Kala Sangam South Asian Arts Centre are celebrating their re-launch with a bumper day of free workshops. The organization, based in the historic St Peters House, Forster Square is now an accredited ‘National Asian Arts Centre’ and has recently completed a significant extension which incorporates new space for performances, rehearsals, conferences, film screenings, arts workshops, exhibitions, and educational activities. Entry is free and the public will be able to take part in all kinds of activities, including belly dancing, face painting, storytelling and salsa. Helen Robinson said, “The launch is our most significant event for years. It is not only a special event for us, it signals the opening up of a huge new space for the whole of the Bradford artistic community to use.”

The event runs from 10am to 4pm with