Opus - Work Boutique
Watch the show
Opus was created for Duckie's Copyright Christmas anti-capitalist neo-panto at the Barbican Theatre, London 2011.
Copyright Christmas was a promenade show with a cast of ten lead and several apprentice performers. The concept was a performance journey around a surrealist, part-fairground, part-medieval cathedral version of IKEA.
We were invited to devise short performances based on activities which might happen in a store.
Bird introduces Opus
Opus gallery
The Right Hon. Birdie Allslop
I wanted to create a pantomime witch who would be used to ridicule Tories and in particular to ridicule millionaire slebs such as Kirstie Allslop.
My character Birdie Allslop is the celebrity face of Opus. She's obsessed with craft and free-market economics.
About the set and costume
The amazing set for Opus was very much a collaboration between Duckie designer Robin Whitmore and myself.
Robin suggested having different images of the character posing in a style based on medieval saints. Medieval sculptures of Saints are often holding a significant object and looking divine.
We put together a series of different outfits that gave a spread across class and gender. We had so much fun taking these images. When I belly laugh during production I know it's a good sign, I just hope the audience will be as amused as I am.
Photo credits
- Hugo Glendinning