The idea of exposing moments of human solitary… where did that come from?  

We originally made a 5-minute solo piece called End of the World Cabaret featuring the performer Silvia Mercuriali - she is sealed inside a case lying on a bed of grass. For this piece, we were thinking more about how people use limited space, about how we can be oppressed or liberated by this. But obviously, she is very much alone. As we expanded the production, gradually adding more new solo pieces, the theme of how we see and frame solitary moments and individual lives came more and more to the fore. 

Why was it vital for you to put this on at this time?

We have often revisited earlier work – (our piece for choir and dancers Silver Swan has been in repertoire since 1999; Red Ladies since 2005). The themes of Under Glass - how we see and are seen -  are if anything, even more in the public’s mind than in 2009 when we last performed this version of the piece. I think there is something timeless about it – not quite located in any particular moment in history.    

Tell us about the rehearsal process…. 

 It’s a very unusual rehearsal process: because all of the performers are in vessels of some kind, they can’t see or hear each other and can’t interact as they would in a conventional production. Much of the time we are working with just one performer at a time and slowly knitting the whole thing together. 

 What do you want an audience member to take from the piece?

Our work is quite open - there is no prescribed message to take home. Perhaps people will consider how they use space themselves or find a moment of unexpected beauty in something very everyday. Perhaps some moment will move them or they will feel or hear something they didn’t expect to. It’s quite an uncanny experience seeing performers that close up and looking at small details in such a concentrated way. Sometimes it feels like looking through a microscope – there are moments when the whole thing has a meditative effect.

How would you describe the work of Clod Ensemble? 

 It appeals to people who like dance, music, visual art and theatre.  In terms of form – the relationship between movement and music is central. In terms of ideas – we often play with ideas about negotiation of space, power, the chorus or group, and anatomy and movement.  Some of our performances take place in in theatres, others in galleries or public spaces. We work with dancers, musicians, and actors. Many of our productions have no spoken word at all - but Under Glass has a beautiful text called Village specially written by poet Alice Oswald, which is woven into the sound track.

 What’s next for Clod Ensemble?

We’re working on a new piece with dancers, called Placebo, and are planning a new piece based on a Charles Mingus piece for big band in 2018.

Clod Ensemble with be at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts from November 1-4, with Under Glass. 

Images: Manuel Vason.