Lockdown Stories (2020)

The great thing about innovative ways of musical storytelling is that they adapt well to different settings and circumstances, even to the digital.

During the lockdown related to Covid-19, I explored some different ways of bringing grotesque stories to life through digital technology and of bringing people together through unusual performances. Time in self-isolation provides time for homemade creativity. The following collection shows creative attempts to keep the story/ies going. Enjoy.

Lockdown story project #1: Tony’s Hot Day - an interactive live story broadcast

Tony’s Hot Day tells the story of a man who, after weeks in self-isolation, finds unusual ways to pass
his time.

Just before the Corona epidemic reached London, Tony had moved into a freshly built apartment near Canning Town in East London. During his lockdown experience, he manages to make creative connections and non-human new friends within his limited environment. The project engages the viewer and participants through multiple creative outlets, from music to illustration, into Tony’s perspective. The shared performance event shows that staying together can be achieved across countries and social distancing by bringing the age-old tradition of oral storytelling into a digital setting. Tony’s Hot Day is an inclusive, international and interactive exploration of the power of collective creativity in times of self-isolation.  

The interactive story was co-performed with inclusive drama group Act Up Newham.

Written and directed by Florian J Seubert // Illustrated by Selma Hafizovic // Improvised score by Cliodna Shanahan // Co-narrated by Chioma Uma // Managed by Judith Mara-Lange

The project marked an international collaboration between artists living in lockdown in Ireland, California and the United Kingdom. It is broadcast live on the 29th of April, 2pm (BST).

Learn more about the project here: Digital programme

Lockdown story project #2: Eudora Welty - a short story song

I have always enjoyed telling stories with music, images and words. This is a project that brings old-fashioned illustration animation together with digital editing. With this short story song, I’m creating a Southern gothic neo-noir with the means of kitchen-table drawing and video clip editing.

The main character is Mississippi writer Eudora Welty who opens her door to the night and invites you in for a special ride. Her encounter with death is a celebration of life.