The Stick House

Deep in the woods a child is lost, the wolves are howling, a woman dances to her own tune and the stick house holds its secrets tight. The door to the house is open and all you have to do is walk on in…

The Stick House is a beautiful and darkly haunting fairy tale for adults, and features an original soundtrack that will fuse live performance, music and pervasive media. Inspired by the magical realism of Angela Carter, The Stick House uses pervasive technologies to dramatise the story of Marietta, a mysterious woman who retreats to a stick house. Audiences will follow Marietta as she battles to keep the wolf from the door, and tries to find that which she has so achingly lost.

Commissioned by Watershed and supported by iShed, The Stick House is a collaboration between writer Sharon Clark, and creative technologist Tom Burton. Clark and Burton will use their residency to develop a thrilling new performance, and explore ways in which psychological effectors such as low-level noise, Victorian mentalism and pervasive technologies, can be used to create more immersive experiences for audiences.

Sharon Clark is a writer and producer who has worked in theatre, short film and radio. She has worked with Bristol Old Vic, The John Caird Company, The National Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, The Tobacco Factory, Cheltenham Everyman and Radio 3. Her recent projects include Pavement for Theatre West and The Biting Point for Theatre 503. Her work has been published in the Guardian, and she is currently writer on attachment at Bristol University and Literary Producer at Bristol Old Vic.

Tom Burton is a Technical Director, Creative Technologist and business owner. His background is in mixed media and interactivity and his work spans the commercial sector, arts and research environments. Recent projects include a prototype product for translating movement, a series of experiments in communicating with deaf theatre goers and commercial work with a number of national brands and companies.

The Stick House is accompanied by a blog, which offers a unique insight into the ideas, challenges, and thought-processes of the artists as the projects unfold.

Artists Residencies 2011 is a Watershed initiative, delivered by iShed and supported by Arts Council England.

Related Links:
Sharon Clark Guardian article - The Biting Point
Arts Council England