Footprints believes that ‘Any Place is a Stage’.
Our work has always been influenced by the immersive experience site-specific theatre can create, and the challenge of working outside a traditional theatre space.
The company is inspired by the idea of the palimpsest and the mystery of uncovering what has been written over or changed as time has passed. We strive to uncover the traces that people leave behind and re-contextualise them within the chosen performance space. Building new meanings for the audience by tantalising their senses and deceiving perspectives.
“Not ‘Grand Theatre’ but full of poetry, music, and memories. The piece moved at a pace, (just an hour long) and by the end of the promenade performance it felt like you were part of the space, and that your memories joined those of the walls”
Ian Parker, audience member at ‘Uninhabited’.
Footprints was formed in 2008 as a result of the inspiring work Paula was involved in at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She felt compelled to start a theatre company which responded to situations in spaces other than traditional theatres.
”I took part in a residency at Caer LLan in Wales and was inspired by the landscape and my emotional and physical response to it. The landscape had enormous potential for storytelling which was embedded in its geographical location, structural make up and its historical resonances. I realised there was an opportunity to create theatre which could really resonate with people and inspire change.”
Many people do not have the opportunity or time to experience and explore the environment around them. Footprints attempts to interrupt the flow of people’s busy lives and re-engage them with local spaces using site-specific productions.
After working with Mike Person on a module at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Paula was keen to explore how theatre could impact people’s busy lives. Paula was interested in how theatre could engage bystanders to stop and look for a moment, experiencing familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. With this vision in mind, Paula created Footprints.
Click on one of the profiles pictures of our team to read more.
Artistic Director
Artistic Director
After graduating from her degree she worked for a number of years teaching drama and dance in schools to all ages, and ran several Youth Theatres. During this time she chose bold plays for young people challenging their abilities as performers. She developed inventive and creative methods of performance merging the performers with the audience. The yearly summer Shakespeare production in Belle Vue park in Sudbury became a highlight of one of her youth theatre's calendar and was renowned for using unusual spaces with great effect. The Shakespeare productions were toured to private homes each year and the young people had to learn to adapt their staging quickly and effectively. Paula also developed an interest in writing community productions linked to the local community and its history. These were performed in the locality touring to different venues.
Paula has also trained both as a singer and assistant director with Floral Opera, which performed backstage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. While working with Floral Opera she sang roles in many operas, designed and created costumes for the company and acted as an assistant director to Richard Gregson and Rob Kearly in a variety of productions. Paula was also privileged to be able to complete a work experience with Ron Freeman at the Royal Opera House in wig making and make-up.
Paula continued to develop her professional skills participating in summer schools run by Malachi Bogdananov of Torsion Theatre, Trestle Theatre Company, The National Theatre and Rambert Dance Company.
In 2002 after working on a National Theatre Connections Project and being inspired by Mark Ravenhill and Max Stafford Clarke, working on a youth Production of 'Totally Over You'. Paula decided to complete a Masters at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in Applied Theatre. During this time she realised that she could bring her passions for theatre, education and the environment together under one umbrella.
Director
Director
Clare has extensive experience working with young people & communities through freelance theatre projects, teaching work & youth theatre leading. She is currently a lead practitioner at St Paul’s Youth Theatre (SPYT) in London and is the co-founder & Participation Lead at The Heroine Chronicles theatre company.
Director
Director
Vicki is currently studying a Masters in Education with an interest in how Shakespeare can be made accessible to students and she is teaching Drama and English in schools.
Footprints uses a wide range of site-specific techniques to develop and create its productions. Our work includes site-specific performance projects, small scale interventions and workshops.
Website design by Danny Hewitt.