The Tin Can Globe

Start of this year, well around Christmas last year got diagnosed with oesophegeal cancer. After rigourous chemo and radiation in July I was told I was in remission - at which point it all seemed to tumble down. Maybe the energy of keeping things going or maybe just the view that I had stepped back from the abyss a bit suddenly plunged me into a morass of depression.I shouldn't feel dark that's my thinking.......I am now in remission but...........

Some good things come from adversity like new ideas. Ok its at this point that I should say I'm an actor and a writer and I run a theatre company based in Stroud, Gloucestershire called Spaniel In The Works. I will tell where the name came from at some point because it's what everyone asks but not for now. We generally perform in museums, schools and other unusual venues doing all manner of shows. Which is why I have had the birth of the idea that is the madness that is the Tin Can Globe.


Its quite simple madness really - its a travelling theatre venue that is made entirely out of recycled materials - tin cans and such like and can tour Gloucestershire offering theatre, music, exhibitions etc. to the county. And after that Britain and after that the world. And after that take theatre to some little fellers who live on Bettlegeuse or Alphan Centauri.


So the purpose of this blog is to do what? Well, to give progress reports, to launch the project, to hopefully give daily or weekly updates to show pics and to get the jolly folk of Stroud, Gloucestershire and the world to find out more about Spaniel In The Works Theatre Company's madness in building a venue out of rubbish. That is the big advantage with a project of this nature in that anyone coming can walk ut saying "Well, enjoyed the play but the venue was rubbish! and we won't be offended because it will be!"


So where are we. We have plans which are changing as they do with buildings. We have a local singing architect on board. We have offers of intriguing industrial waste, we have people who are interested in performing in it and we have a venue to build it in January and February 2009. This will be at one of our regular performance sites - the courtyard at the Museum In The Park. Yep. Gonna build it in January - the coldest month of the year in an outside space and freeze if not my nuts then certainly my fingers off!

All we need now is for the Arts Council to say "Yes!" and it'll be rolling - and not down any hills. Even if they don't say yes, well it'll be done anyway! The Tin Can Globe is coming. Summer 2009 you could be seeing Hamlet with incredibly skilled actors, sitting surrounded by baked bean tins and all manner of other industrial and household waste but it will be brilliant and inspiring and you will want to know how its all been done! More news later. John

Labels: entertainment, Gloucestershire, Museum In The Park, recycling, Spaniel In The Works Theatre Company, Stroud, theatre, venue