Trumpet
Produced by Vanitas Arts Directed by Amanda Huxtable Based on the book by Jackie Kay When the famous jazz trumpet star Joss Moody dies the world learns that he was born a Black female. Joss had spent over 40 years with his breasts bound, in male clothing, and avoiding situations where he might be discovered. He had perceived his success as a jazz musician as an opportunity to live through art without the boundaries and structures that an oppressive society imposes to restrict individuals. Inspired by Jackie Kay’s novel Trumpet, this project is developing an immersive reimagined version of the story combining the disciplines of performance, live music, theatre, dance and moving image. Following on from audience evaluations we are developing Trumpet for full performance. 
‘We go through life, Vanitas Arts develops collaborative, digital based work that explores the human condition through combined media platforms. The work explores power, gender, social identities, oppression, exclusion and interconnected practices.
Work focuses on exploring different artforms to create exciting engagement opportunities, connecting inclusion within theory and practice. Vanitas Arts has developed work in non traditional performance venues including Female Funambulists – performance and installation at Wirksworth Festival & Sheffield 2018; Queers Ways of Being; The Chair She Sat on Like a Burnished Throne 2019 Definitions of She; (portraits, video & live piece with SAYiT LGBT supportservice, Sheffield 2018);The Economy of Sacrifice, digital installation, SHU 2017 Lady of Situations (Digital, TransMedia performance live installation.) – ACE funded collaboration with writer Seni Seneviratne performed at Off the Shelf Festival 2016 at Theatre Deli. She was selected as a National AA2A TransMedia artist hosted by Sheffield Hallam University 2016/17 and is returned in 2019. She is Director of Multi Award Winning campaign agency Diva Creative since its inception in 1997. (divacreative.com) She is part of the Oracles Group of artists creating work in a collaboration @oraclesartists |
The Chair She Sat On Like a Burnished Throne : Queer Ways of Being Exhibition February 2019; Gallery 35
A collaboration between Vanitas Arts and Lizzie Biscuits explores Queer identity through a presentation of Cleopatra (Narcissa Nightshade) in the regalia of a dress designed by Fine Arts Costumier Lizzie Biscuits. We present Cleopatra as representative of a broadening spectrum of identities, a rejection of the confines of heteronormativity and as a dismissal of gender restrictions on dress and hairstyles. We present Queer as the shimmer of multitudes and reclaim the word beyond its derogatory colloquialism. We reclaim Queer as a radical word for a radical time and celebrate GenderQueer identity, presenting our version of Cleopatra in as a celebration of queer self fashioning,. A queer icon who signifies reinvention, revolution and the desire to exist in freedom. |
WE HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH METAMORPHOSIS TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE REALLY ARE ......
The launch of this Arts Council England funded, experimental collaboration, combining theatre. poetry, performance, digital art and music in an immersive performance at Theatre Delicatessen, Sheffield on October 25th as part of Off the Shelf Festival of Words 2016
The collaboration between Shirley Harris and Seni Seneviratne resulted in an installation and immersive performance exploring themes of power and control, containment and punishment, gender identity, language and silence, trauma and recovery using ancient myths, which resonate with contemporary themes.
The ‘Lady of Situations’ project explores central themes through two mythical characters, Philomel and Tiresias. Delivered in a Vanitas style it comprises of photographs, video, performance, written and spoken word/poems, soundtrack. It was premiered at the 2016 Off the Shelf Festival, at Theatre Delicatessen and went on to performances and exhibitions at Bank St Arts and Exchange Place Studios. Over 500 people experienced and engaged with the installation throughout its development and delivery.
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The Gift of Flesh
Reimagines the point when Gabrielle Berlatier, a farmer’s daughter, was gifted Vincent Van Gogh’s ear whilst she was working as a maid. 
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