Style a While grew out of a Bright Shadow performance called Tales from the Chair, commissioned by People United as part of our ‘We All Do Good Things’ project. Inspired by stories of kindness, good news and heroism gathered from hairdressers and their clients in Herne Bay, Tales from the Chair was performed in a Herne Bay hair salon in 2010.
Style a While has now been developed into a piece of touring outdoor theatre that is currently taking bookings for summer 2012. Two approachable and playful hairdressers wheel their mobile hair salon through the crowds until they find a spot to set up shop. To gathered audiences they perform stories from real life that celebrate kindness and heroism, using puppetry, audience interaction, physical theatre, wit, charm and the gift of the gab!
Individuals or small groups are then invited to become salon ‘customers’, by sitting in the chair and having their hair styled in exchange for a new story. Like the stories that have come before, these stories will become part of the salon’s growing history, perhaps finding their way into future performances.
Dedicated to authentic, meaningful and generous interactions between audience and performer, Style a While is an uplifting, participatory performance that celebrates community and stories of kindness and heroism.
This project is being supported by Arts Council England, Kent County Council, Canterbury City Council, Winchester Hat Fair, PANeK and People United.
Bright Shadow is a community performance company based in East Kent, that produces uplifting and celebratory projects and performances for and with the community.
