FLIES on the wall have nothing on the kind of stories sofas could tell if they could talk. Sex, scandal, salacious gossip, TV dinners, catnaps, cuddles, divorce discussions, and sometimes even death – all have been known to take place on these seemingly innocuous pieces of furniture at one time or another. So what better way to gain insight into their everyday lives than through a piece of performance art?
This is the idea behind Exeter College’s The Sofa Project, which opens at the Barnfield Theatre in the city on Monday, February 8, and also runs the following night.
Established as one of the many Enrichment activities that are held for students to ensure they enjoy extra college life experiences beyond their classrooms and coursework, it all began at the Freshers’ Fair back in September last year.
The theatre production itself is the culmination of six months’ worth of subsequent brainstorming on the part of Year 1 and 2 students across the faculties who decided that dabbling with drama would be fun.
Upon signing up to The Sofa Project, those who wished to get involved also signed their names on the sofa which would eventually become the centrepiece for their collective works. They then had their photographs taken while seated upon it, before turning their thoughts to how it would be used as part of the show.
BTEC Performing Arts Co-ordinator Nigel Paul has been the driving force behind the original concept, along with local playwright and Exeter College colleague Nick Discombe, who has been at hand to offer students advice throughout.
Meanwhile, City & Guilds has provided sponsorship for the students to be able to put on their show for peers and the public in one of the city’s key professional theatre spaces.
Nigel says: “We have a dance piece, some physical theatre, a musical piece, some contemporary writing, a magical fairytale, a short play in the style of Artaud’s Theatre Of Cruelty, a radio sketch show, and a monologue given from the perspective of the sofa itself.
“The idea of this has been to promote and challenge young people’s creative thinking, and also their perception of what something seemingly familiar to them really is – as even objects have stories to tell.
“What’s particularly nice about it is that, as this is an Enrichment activity, it has involved students from across the College and faculties, including many who might not normally have the chance to perform on stage through their coursework, and I’m hugely proud of what they’ve achieved.”
The Sofa Project can be seen at the Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, on Monday, February 8, and Tuesday, February 9. Performances start at 7pm. Tickets cost £6 (£4 conc). For further information, call the box office on 01392 270891.