In November 2023 Handstand Arts awarded our first New Authors Co-commission alongside partners The Lowry, Deda, Jackson’s Lane and Worthing Theatres to Farrell Cox to develop a new ensemble circus show: “Cocoon is a daring aerial theatre piece that intricately weaves black salon culture with the complexities of disability, celebrating resilience and unapologetic joy. Stories interweaved like braids which navigate the balance between community, care and healthcare to the sound of noughties bangers!”
One year on we asked Farrell to share a little on how she is doing and what is in store for the project. You can read about this below as well as hear about in her short R&D film.
Who is involved:
Cocoon is being developed with 4 performers (Alfa Marks, Esme Rocha-Benjamin, Natalie Woodward and Farrell Cox) and co-directed by Farrell Cox and Rebecca Rennison with Lisa Fa’alafi (Hot Brown Honey) as Dramaturg. Thea Woodrow has also joined the project as Producer.
What has happened so far:
Farrell was successful in securing additional funding as an Unlimited Open Award recipient to match her New Authors Commission. With these combined funds Farrell and her team completed a three week R&D over the summer. This culminated in a sharing at Jacksons Lane and at the Southbank for the Unlimited Festival and two workshops at Circomedia. Farrell has been gathering reflections on experiences of health care and disability from her co-creators as well as workshop participants and audiences at performances:
“There’s a really interesting question about the relationship to the mechanics of circus and the mechanics of care. And there was something fascinating to me about seeing this, seeing people get rigged and seeing the rigging happening, which is similar to seeing someone get strapped up in the hospital…we think of care like a blanket and a cup of tea, but actually it’s getting wheeled in”
“I think what you’re….talking about and displaying is really important and to me feels really personal right now. A lot of the women in my life are really going through some shit with the NHS and health and the way you are marrying it with circus is fantastic.”
Key discoveries made during Farrell’s R&D include clarifying rigging design and props, including choreographic development with salon chairs and multi cord. She has also taken the decision to creatively caption the performance, working with a designer to make it accessible for Deaf and international audiences via translation.
What is next for Cocoon:
Now in its second year the project is gaining moment with Cocoon set to premier in Autumn 2025. To follow Farrell’s progress visit Cocoon — FARRELL COX or contact Thea at Theawoodrowproducer @ gmail.com.
“it’s a really exciting territory, is it’s very moving”