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Life coaching is like providing a safety net to the tight rope walker.
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About Benji Reid
Background and History
Benji Reid is a creative producer, devisor and director. Benji’s dance background includes; 1985 GLC Break-Dance Champions with Broken Glass Street Crew, UK Popping Champion, European Popping Champion and 2nd in the 1986 World Dance Championships. In 1989 Benji worked with the legendary Soul II Soul as the main dancer and choreographer for their world tour, appearing on the Arsino Hall show and playing at the Soul Train Awards. He formally trained as a dancer with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and as an actor with Denise Wong and David Glass. Following his years as a freelance performer he formed physical theatre company Breaking Cycles. In theatre Benji has worked widely with such highly regarded companies as the David Glass Ensemble, Trestle Theatre, Theatr Clwyd and Black Mime Theatre. It was with Black Mime Theatre that Benji first became interested in directing. For over ten years Benji Reid has been creating Hip Hop Theatre for over fourteen years. His first production was directing Jonzi D's solo of 'Aeroplane Man' circa 94/95, in 1996 and in he toured 'Paper Jackets', a one-man show he wrote and starred in. In 1998 Benji went on to direct his first main stage play, hip hop musical 'Avalanche' for Nottingham Playhouse - this became the foundation for Breaking Cycles the company. In 2000 Benji curated ‘The Illness’, a night of hip-hop dance theatre in Sadler’s Wells, London. Benji hosted and performed ‘The Holiday’ supported by Jim Parris and DJ Bizness on the decks. Other performers on the night included Robert Hilton and Jonzi D and Abstract Dance (consisting of Mo Ideas and Frank Wilson). In 2005 Benji received the NESTA Dreamtime Fellowship, awarded to prestigious artists for their outstanding achievements and continuing development and was also nominated for the Art05 award for his work in the North West of England.
Solo work:
The Devil has Quentin’s Heart
13Mics
B Like Water
The Pugilist
The Holiday
Style 4 Free
Paper Jackets
15 Seconds of Fame
Crowded Stomach
Collaborative commissions:
Directing and lighting Nick Makoha's 'My Father and Other Superheroes'.
Directing 'Othello' the Opera, for the Yo! Opera Festival/Likeminds, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Directing 'Crystal Kisses' at Contact, Manchester
Directing ‘Mzobane’ by the South African Pantsula dance group Via Volcano as part of the Afrovibes festival 2010. Choreography by William Mbambo.
Dramaturge for Marcus Hercules ‘Different Perspectives’
Dramaturge for Nzi Dada
Co-director of Hip Hop Commedia, a play with Michael Field at the New York Theatre Workshop for Playback Theater
Hip Hop musical ‘Avalanche’ for Nottingham Playhouse
Directing Jonzi D's solo of 'Aeroplane Man'
Co-directing the ensemble of Aeroplane Man.
Devising and directing ‘Life Of A B-Boy’ for Spearfish and Funkstylerz UK
Co-director and choreographer of hip-hop musical ‘Slamdunk’ with Felix Cross, Artistic Director of NITRO
Director of Leo Kay’s ‘Mr Sole Abode’
Director of Charlie Dark’s ‘Have Box Will Travel’
Choreographer of Dansopolis for Yorkshire Dance
Choreographer of ‘Seven’, a hip hop adaptation of the Greek classic ‘Seven Against Thebes’, directed by Steven Sapp, written by Will Power, with the University of Iowa
Lead actor and Movement Director inRagamuffin, on national tour.
Created Peaches for ACE Dance’s 2002 national tour.
Co-devised and directed Conversing With Angels for Qasim Riza Shahee.
Movement Director for Storm, a play by Lemn Sissay at Contact Theatre, Manchester.
Quotes:
“You’re never bored that you’ve only got Benji Reid for company because he has an exuberant variety of skills to keep you entertained” Time Out, London
“Truly multi talented artist” The Voice
“Visually, Benji Reid is one of the most stunning theatre artists on the scene today- the way he uses his body, voice and spirit to tell a story is truly a sight to see" Will Power, USA
“This is a poet trapped inside the body of a dancer. It’s a killer combination” Daily Telegraph, Australia
“Reid is a performance artist, stand up tragedian and body popping comic” The Voice
“The star of the evening is Benji Reid” The British Theatre Guide
“A multi-sensory performance that leaves you hypnotised” Manchester Evening News on The Devil has Quentin’s Heart
Breaking Cycles
Breaking Cycles is dedicated to creating excellent, engaging theatre and to helping others do likewise. Their aim is to speak to a wide range of audiences through their performances and to provide guidance and support to young artists through teaching, mentoring and work experience. Breaking Cycles is an artist led company dedicated to the creation and production of inclusive, highly energised, emotionally conflicting physical theatre - crossing and challenging the boundaries of multi disciplined art forms, layering contemporary vision with classical inspiration. Breaking Cycles is a national and international advocate for Hip Hop Theatre, playing a key role in its development as an art form, challenging, engaging and creating new audiences for theatre. Breaking Cycles has created a number of productions, which have sold out to audiences across the UK touring circuit and Internationally. The shows that the company has produced include:
- The Waiting Room, a trilogy including ThePugilist, Holiday and Crowded Stomach, toured UK and Internationally in 2000. The Pugilist was later reworked and presented at the 2002 British Dance Edition showcase.
- In the same year Style 4 Free was created for the Hip Festival. The Pugilist, Holiday and Style 4 free then went on a sell out tour of Brazil, New Zealand, Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Opera House, London.
- B Like Water, a co-production with Contact Theatre, co-directed by John McGrath and written by Lemn Sissay and 13 Mics co-directed by Jonzi D were created in 2003.
- 13 Mics showcased at Decibel Xtrax before touring nationally and internationally including a three-week London run at the Lyric Hammersmith and playing to a sell out audience of 1800 on the main stage at Sadler’s Wells as part of Breaking Convention Hip Hop Festival 2004.
Breaking Cycles latest production is The Devil has Quentin’s Heart. The show premiered at Contact Theatre in November 2009 and toured the UK before appearing at the Breaking Walls Festival in Amsterdam in Spring 2010.
Process
Breaking Cycles produce a biennial hip-hop theatre workshop festival called Process, which began in Manchester in 2006. Process is an intensive theatre laboratory offering young artists a rare opportunity to work with world-renowned performers and theatre experts. Since the first workshop in 2006 Process has become an essential step in the development of hot new performers. Process is ideal for experienced young artists or performing arts graduates. The aim of Process is to discover new approaches to storytelling and learn how to combine individual’s talents with those of others to create cutting edge physical theatre.
More info: http://www.breakingcycles.co.uk
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Coaching Opportunities
- News...Artistic Support OpportunitiesArtistic Director Benji Reid has recently qualified as a Professional Development Coach with PANDA and Relationship Dynamics 1st and we are now offering free coaching sessions to mid-career and emerging artists in the North West"Coaching at its best will offer new opening’s and insights in difficult situations and important decision making, offering support on the journey to self-discovery. The idea is that our clients often know what they want and even know their destination our objective is to listen objectively without judgment as they unfold their road map. As humans we sometimes get in our own way. Undermining our dreams from past experience, harsh self-judgment and fears of failure. Coaching is a tool to open the door to new horizons and ultimately empowerment”-Benji ReidWe can offer coaching sessions on a one-off basis, As a package of 4 sessions or as a long-term 12 month programme. The number of places that we’re able to offer is limited so if you’d like to take advantage of this opportunity please email: b@breakingcycles.co.uk
Mahogany Pinocchio
Creative vision by Benji Reid
The inspiration
My desire to direct Pinocchio has sat with me for some time, it was my daughter who prompted me to create something for children. I was only familiar with the 1940 Walt Disney interpretation and hadn’t conceived how dark the original version would be.
Carlo Collodi takes our mischievous child on an epic journey to find life as a young boy. The original story has scenes which are far too dark for children today (from killing the cricket in the second scene, burning off Pinocchio’s feet, getting hanged and being abandoned in the field of miracles) but with careful editing I believe we will have some thing suitable for 7-11 years olds. I am excited to work with a writer who has experience of writing for children to help shape this dark Victorian tale into a story that’s relevant, exciting and suitable for today’s 7-11 year olds.
Carlo Collodi’s cautionary tale leaves nothing to the imagination. It is as graphic as it is funny, which suits my style of theatre making.
What has inspired me about this story it is as relevant now as it was 1818. The contemporary Pinocchio could quite easily be called the ASBO kid. With the riots less than a year ago, social disorder is a burning topic. The moral of the story is about taking responsibility for yourself, man never gets something for nothing, you have to work for a living. Pinocchio could quite easily be the kid from Hulme or Salford, the Field of Miracles Alexander Park or Wythenshawe park. These locations are easily transferred to any socially deprived ward in the country.
The production
Pinocchio will be performed by a top-class body popper. I really want to push the physical boundaries with this production. With the talents of a popper the animation of Pinocchio could be amazing. I see it as a really stylized production.
We have wonderful scenes to play with like the one where Pinocchio learns to walk, the potential to create a wonderful dance, while setting up our character as he kicks Grillo the carpenter and tries to escape.
There are wonderful possibilities to incorporate puppets into this production. For instance when Pinocchio is supposed to go to school but instead sells his book and buy a ticket to a puppet show, I envision a real puppet show on stage so a show within a show. I see a duet between Pinocchio and the real puppets. I also see our narrator (the cricket) as a puppet.
Music will play a strong part of the show my hope is to have 70s funk, and electronica. I am keen to work with Andrew Wong, the sound designer I have collaborated with previously.
I intend to use a minimal amount of dialogue for the show, relying more on visuals including physicality of performers, puppets (marionettes and shadow puppets) and a pop up set.
The pop-up is like a pop-up book, so we change scenes very quickly. Most objects (trees, the whale, the puppet show etc) would be made out of cardboard and ‘pop-up’ according to the scene changes. Shadow play can also be very effective in the set design.
Costumes would also take on a cardboard pop-up effect, being stiff / wooden costumes, making the actors more wooden, and blurring the boundaries between puppet and actor, just like the original story.
Mahogany Pinocchio will be a 21st Century version of a 19th Century tale, made relevant to today’s child, taking inspiration from the dark Victorian scary stories, graphic novels, pop-up puppets, body poppers, turning asbo-culture into morality for a new generation.
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Manchester booklands
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