Enchanted Evening Charity Ball, Prestwold Hall, 8th Dec 2022
Sharing this wonderful event, I am delighted to announce I have been asked to perform here!
Get your tickets for a truly unforgettable experience and support such an amazing charity.
Ticket link: https://bit.ly/3ECT9Ym
More information:
The Venue Experts have organised the most magical winter event at the majestic Prestwold Hall, and we invite you all to join us.
This unforgettable experience of ethereal atmosphere, delicious dishes and dancing will support the Living Without Abuse Charity by donating all profits, so make sure you don’t miss it.
The dress code is black tie with a pinch of fairy dust, and tickets cost £95 and include an arrival cocktail, three-course meal, half a bottle of wine and evening entertainment.
We are also looking for suppliers who will help bring this day together. If you would be interested in getting involved, just drop us a dm.
Captured by @jobradburyphotography
#charityevent#winterball#prestwoldhall#winterballprestwold#charity#livingwithoutabuse#lwa#thevenueexperts
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Suzy Homemaker, Fri 16th Dec, Kala Sangam Bradford
Join me for a historical talk, sharing and post-show Q&A of ‘Suzy Homemaker’.
Taking place at Kala Sangam on Friday 16th December, this unique dance work looks at the development of women’s rights.
Book your tickets and find out more.
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Suzy Homemaker, Tues 20th Sept, Spiegeltent Sheffield
Suzy Homemaker, coming to a store near you!
I am so excited to announce my upcoming performance of Suzy Homemaker. This is the first time all 3 characters will be seen together, so you are in for a treat!
https://festivalofthemind.sheffield.ac.uk/2022/spiegeltent/suzy-homemaker/
Tues 20th Sept 11.30am-12.30pm
60 minutes
Spiegeltent, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield
This event contains adult themes including miscarriage, domestic violence, distress, burlesque performance – age restriction 16+.
A dance performance by Erica Mulkern, based on research by Dr Liat Levita and Ankita Mishra, Department of Psychology, portrays three women from different eras in history. Trapped in a gendered role they didn’t ask for, domestic bliss turns into a distorted nightmare. A post-show panel discussion will explore mental well-being, flight and fright responses, and the impact on brain and body of being trapped in a role imposed by society.
The term “Suzy Homemaker” is used as a derisive reference to any woman with habits linked to stereotypical domestic activities traditionally done by women. It was also a line of miniature functional toy household appliances produced by Topper Toys, launched in 1966 that taught girls how to be the “perfect housewife” just like their mother. In this performance we see women throughout history trapped in a role they did not ask for, they had no choice.
Erica Mulkern is in the midst of creating a 1hr long solo dance theatre piece that explores the development/growth of contemporary feminism as we know it today, focussing on the periods just before what are arguably the 3 most important moments in the history of contemporary feminism: the suffragette movement, the introduction of the Hays Code and the sexual revolution of the 60’s.
The piece has 3 characters, performed by Erica. The first: Susannah, a young lady entering “society” for the first time in the Edwardian era. She is promenaded in front of suitors, but as an educated woman she realises she’s just being sold like cattle. She plays her role, but dreams of more, being introduced to the Suffragette movement and developing hope before police quash the movement and she is married off. The second: Ms. S, is a Burlesque performer from the late 20’s/early 30’s, working in a sleazy club but taking pride in her work and the independence it provides. However, she begins to feel unsafe both because the clientele become more rowdy and because of political turmoil. She questions if she is performing for her independence or for the male gaze, ultimately deciding to hang up her heels. The third: Suzy, a 1950’s housewife that is quite strange, but to the outside world looks like the “perfect wife” – neat, prim, and makes an excellent Victoria sponge. There is a madness to her that you can’t help but both be disturbed by and pity.
Suzy Homemaker has been performed at Lawrence Batley Theatre, The Drama Studio Sheffield, Lancashire Fringe Festival (sold out show with positive reviews), Durham Fringe Festival, Leeds Art Gallery, Open Source Arts and the ARC Project.
Photos by Elly Wel Photography
Erica Mulkern, Creator and Performer
Callum Holt, Producer
Jen Nevin, Mentor/Dramaturg
Stefania Pinato, Rehearsal/Movement Director
Amelia Sierevogel, Costume Designer
Harriet Bradbury, Historical Consultant
Erica would like to thank Enable Us Project, her team and family for their support and guidance for this performance. Suzy Homemaker has been supported in the past using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
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Love Should Not Hurt: A Way Out
Fri 16th Sept, Spiegeltent, Barker’s Pool Sheffield, 4.30-5.30pm
I am honoured to announce an upcoming show that not only am I performing in but I have also directed and produced (my first time stepping into this role!)
Love Should Not Hurt: A Way Out.
Fri 16th Sept, Spiegeltent, Barker’s Pool Sheffield, 4.30-5.30pm
https://festivalofthemind.sheffield.ac.uk/…/love…/
The performance is a piece of narrative based dance underpinned by research in domestic abuse amongst ethnically minoritised women in the COVID-19 pandemic from a social psychology lens. The performance will involve audience engagement and reflection on traditional notions of domestic abuse and the role of the intersection of gender and racial identities in this context. Sound and words are used to engage the audience in a deeper reflective experience and provide them with resources to aid understanding of domestic abuse and how they can support themselves/others around them going through similar experiences.
The Team:
Created by: Ankita Mishra, Department of Psychology with support from Dr Jilly Gibson-Miller and Dr Chantelle Wood
Produced and Directed by: Erica Mulkern
Choreographed and performed by: Erica Mulkern, Nyoosha Rahmani and Shawn Willis
Mental health safeguarding for artistic teams and audiences: Olivia Elford
Photos by Elly Wel Photography
As a side note I am extremely proud to be a director who employs a mental health safeguarding team member to be a part of the process in the dance/theatre space. Having this support and advice is so incredibly valuable in what is sadly still such a toxic and unsafe environment.
Ankita and Erica would like to thank would like to thank Humraaz, Blackburn; Roshni Sheffield Asian Women’s Resource Centre; Apna Haq, Rotherham; The Angelou Centre, Newcastle; The Phoebe Centre, Ipswich for helping us speak to the women without whose stories and experiences have informed the dance piece. A special thank you to Humraaz for being the primary collaborator for this research and their unwavering support at all times. We would also like to thank Enable Us Project, the dancers of Love Should Not Hurt: A Way Out and our families for their support and guidance for this performance.
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SUZY HOMEMAKER, TUES 17TH MAY AS A PART OF LANCASHIRE FRINGE FESTIVAL
I am delighted to announce an upcoming performance of Suzy Homemaker in Lancashire Fringe Festival!
Where?
The Continental, South Meadow Lane, Preston PR1 8JP
When?
Tues 17th May, 8pm
Price?
FREE!
Link to see the other acts:
https://enjoyshow.co.uk/…/lancashire-fringe-festival…/
#lancsfringe
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SUZY HOMEMAKER, LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE, FRI 25TH MARCH 2022
Delighted to announce that Suzy Homemaker will be performed at Lawrence Batley Theatre on Fri 25th March 2022.
I remember receiving the ‘What’s On’ programmes from LBT as a young child up until the end of my training at NSCD. My mum and I would mark the pages of all the shows we were interested in and book tickets to watch them.
It was always one of my dreams to have a show at LBT or to perform there. Finally it has come true.
What makes it even more special is that it’s a show that means so much to me. I have big aspirations for the future of Suzy Homemaker and for this to happen so early in the process (looking at a projected 4 year journey for the show) is honestly unbelievable. I am so grateful for all of the support I have received and a huge thanks to all of the team at LBT for supporting local artists and taking the time to listen to my ideas and provide support and studio space.
As if this opportunity couldn’t get any better, when I opened the programme I saw one of my closest friends Shawn Addison who is a dancer with Phoenix Dance Theatre featured in the programme too. Shawn has been a huge believer and support throughout my career and training, I am so proud of him and what he has achieved through hard work and perseverance.
Info about the show:
Fri 25th March 2022, Lawrence Batley Theatre. 7.45-8.55pm including a post show discussion.
Book tickets here:
https://www.thelbt.org/what-s-on/dance/suzy-homemaker/
Image by Derwood Pamphilon
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SUZY HOMEMAKER AS A PART OF TRIPLE BILL SNAPSHOT, SUN 28TH MARCH 2022
SHOW ALERT!
Come and see Suzy Homemaker as a part of a triple bill ‘SnapShot’.
When? MON 28TH MARCH at 8PM
Where? Drama Studio, Sheffield
Price? £8 Full / £6 Concessions / £6 UoS Students & Staff
Ticket link: https://performancevenues.group.shef.ac.uk/event/snapshot/
More info:
An evening of new work extracts from the Enable US resident companies and artists
Innovative new dance, musical theatre and contemporary performance, showcasing our three resident companies’ brand new works. Featuring contemporary magician and circus side-show artist Tom Cassani’s Show of Hands, which will explore what memories our hands hold, what choices they make and why. We’ll also see extracts from leo&hyde’s acapella musical biopic Galileo- complete with beatboxers, dance breaks and spectacular harmonies. Finally, dancer Erica Mulkern will be presenting her new work Suzy Homemaker, which explores women throughout history, trapped in roles they did not ask for.
A unique opportunity to take a glimpse at three explosive and thought-provoking new theatre works fresh out of the box. This evening will also include a free ‘In Conversation With’ discussion with the artists after the show, where you will get the chance to deepen your understanding of the artists’ fascinating processes.
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Erica Mulkern 