the gogmagogs
"an astonishing virtuosic show that has pushed back the boundaries of classical music" The Guardian
the gogmagogs were founded in 1995 by the theatre director Lucy Bailey and violinist Nell Catchpole through their common desire to release the physical expression of the classical musician. The company’s work received huge acclaim for its combination of virtuoso string playing, dynamic physical movement and inventive, groundbreaking theatre. The shows, devised and directed by Lucy and performed by seven young string players, all explored different ways, from the poetic to the absurd, of involving the whole of the body and personality of the player. the gogmagogs created seven shows in close collaboration with 21 composers from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. Their shows played to packed audiences at the ICA, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Court, Lyric Hammersmith, and Bridewell Theatres in London, and to venues throughout the UK, as well as touring to festivals in Sydney, Toronto, Sao Paolo, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Boston, and across Europe .
best Music Event of 2000 New York Time Out
what really impressed me was the virtuosity of this talented group and the endlessly inventive staging by Lucy Bailey, the director The Times
the most entertaining music theatre I’ve seen in years The Independent
excellent…count me a fan…outstanding Evening Standard
astonishing…brilliantly funny… The Guardian
guaranteed to lift the spirits- this is a wonderful show The Independent
This one will run and run Sydney Telegraph
an entirely captivating marriage of musical and theatrical performance The Times
great music, great imagination, great to have them Gigagain The Herald, Scotland
the gogmagogs do for classical music what last years Tap Dogs did for dance, only much, much better The Independent
the gogmagogs appeal as much to the eye - and often the funnybone - as the ear Time Out
this is a novel hybrid that compromises none of its elements... Independent on Sunday
an astonishing virtuosic show that has pushed back the boundaries of
classical music The Guardian
Company Members:
Composers:
Django Bates
Roger Eno
Evelyn Ficarra
Jane Gardner
Orlando Gough
Neil Innes
Billy Jenkins
Gerard McBurney
Saied Murad
Hanitrarivo Rasoanaivo
Tristan Schultz
Roddy Skeaping
Luke Stoneham
John Tavener
Keith Tippett
Haukur Tomasson
Errollyn Wallen
Stephen Warbeck
Mike Westbrook
the gog’s log
1995 - 1996
Introducing the gogmagogs
Developed in 1995 and first performed at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London in October of that year, followed by three nights at the Purcell Room, the Edinburgh Festival and a run at the Royal Court, Christmas 1996.
devised and directed by Lucy Bailey
designed by Paul Andrews
composers: Roger Eno, Jane Gardner, Luke Stoneham, Tristan Schultze, Errollyn Wallen and Stephen Warbeck.
performers: Ursula Gough, Aleksey Igudesman, Daisy Jopling, violin; Nell Catchpole, viola; Matt Sharp, Tristan Schultz, 'cello; Lucy Shaw, double bass.
1997 - 1999
the gogmagogs gigagain
Commissioned by The City of London Festival and played for two weeks at the Bridewell Theatre in June 1997, before touring to various festivals. Seven composers were invited from as far afield as Madagascar, Palestine, USA and Iceland.
devised and directed by Lucy Bailey
designed by Simon Vincenzi
composers: Evelyn Ficarra, Jane Gardner, Said Murad, Hanitrarivo Rasoanaivo, John Tavener, Haukur Tomasson and Mike Westbrook.
performers: Alison Dods, Dave LePage, Helene Lieben, violin; Nell Catchpole, viola; Chris Allan, Matt Sharp 'cello; Lucy Shaw, double bass.
1997
the gogmagogs a'go-go
Commissioned by the South Bank Centre, London as part of the British Festival of Visual Theatre and presented for 4 performances at the Purcell Room in November 1997. The composers performed alongside the gogmagogs and each piece was created to overlap the next.
devised and directed by Lucy Bailey
designed by Anine Kopperud
composers: Billy Jenkins (electric/accoustic guitar), Said Murad (percussion), Keith Tippett (keyboard), Errollyn Wallen (keyboard/vocals).
performers: Alison Dods, Dave LePage, Matthew Ward, violin; Nell Catchpole, viola; Chris Allan, Matt Sharp 'cello; Lucy Shaw, double bass.
1999 - 2001
the gogmagogs gobbledygook
Commissioned by the City of London Festival 1999 followed by two weeks at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival. It then ran for 3 weeks at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, toured the UK for 5 weeks, and Brazil for a week. This show ran at the Miller Theatre in New York for two weeks in November 2000 and will tour in the US autumn 2001.
conceived and directed by Lucy Bailey
designed by Naomi Wilkinson
This was the first time the company worked with writers as well as composers and five teams were commissioned: Orlando Gough and Caryl Churchill, Django Bates and Patrick Barlow, Gerard McBurney and Zinovy Zinik, Roddy Skeaping and Rupert Sheldrake, and Neil Innes.
Performers: Nell Catchpole, Alison Dods, Matthew Ward, violin; David Lasserson, viola; Chris Allan, Matt Sharp 'cello; Lucy Shaw, double bass.
2000 -
The Fool
Commissioned by the gogmagogs and the Royal Festival Hall, London. Performed as part of the Norwich and Norfolk Festival and at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre as part of their 'Ikons of Light' Festival celebrating the work of John Tavener. The Fool is a contemporary parable for salvation and deals with the meaning of life and death through the portrait of a “Fool for Christ”.
music by John Tavener
text by Mother Thekla
directed by Lucy Bailey
designed by Bunny Christie
The part of 'the fool' was performed by Matt Sharp of the gogmagogs
performered by: Nell Catchpole, Alison Dods, Matthew Ward, violin; David Lasserson, viola; Chris Allan, cello; Matt Sharp, 'cello/baritone; Lucy Shaw, double bass. The gogmagogs were joined by a choir of 25: In Norwich, Viva Voce. In
London, Pegasus.
2001
Troy Town
conceived and directed by Lucy Bailey
designed by Angela Davies
composed and performed by Nell Catchpole, Alison Dods, Matthew Ward, violin; David Lasserson, viola; Chris Allan, cello; Matt Sharp, 'cello; Lucy Shaw, double bass.
The story is about seven contenders who are all searching for a way out of a modern labyrinth. In exploring the mystery of the maze Troy Town incorporates elements of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the ancient legend of Theseus and the Minotaur and the computer game Tomb Raider. This was the first show where there were no commissioned composers. The company gave three performances in May 2001 as part of BAC's The Sharp Intake of Music. Following a short tour in the UK Troy Town returns to London for a two week run at the Riverside in November 2001.