Material relating to the first production to be staged by Jessica Cohen, Jim Ennis and their colleagues in the spring of 1989. Earthfall incorporated dance, martial arts and film media and its success prompted Cohen and Ennis to found the company named after their debut show. Items comprise printed theatre programmes; printed performance ticket; creative notes; overview of show, with cast biographies; and reviews.
The Secret Soul of Things explored sexuality, sensuality and the politics of violence within choreography which included British Sign Language for the deaf and contrasting rural/urban dance and music. The show premiered in Britain in 1990. Items include pre-publicity notes; printed programmes and flyer; and creative notes.
Material relating to Fabulous Wounds, a black comedy about a failed terrorist and a dancer which incorporated live music into the performance. Premiered in Cardiff in 1997, the show toured extensively in Britain and Europe. Items comprise printed theatre programmes and flyers; printed guide to dance companies; creative notes; stage notes/directions; press cutting; and reviews.
Material relating to Earthfall's 2002 production House #1.
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
Material relating to I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, a multi-media performance involving dance, music, a DJ and live film. The show, which toured throughout Britain and Europe, won the 2003 Theatre in Wales Award for Best Dance/Physical Theatre Production. Items comprise printed theatre programmes and flyers; printed invitation to performance premiere and post-show reception; creative notes; stage notes/directions; printed booklet profiling British dance companies; printed arts magazines/guides; printed performance ticket; press notices, one of which relates to a production of the show for the 2002 Stuttgart Festival; and reviews.
Material relating to Gravitas, a multi-media performance of dance, film, text and live music set against a backdrop of urban dereliction. Items comprise printed theatre programmes, flyers and posters; details relating to film accompanying production entitled Gravitas - Postcards; printed invitations to reception and showing of Gravitas - Postcards; copy of Golwg magazine; creative notes; audience feedback; and reviews.
Material relating to British, European and US tours and festivals in which Earthfall participated. Items include printed programmes, posters, postcards, flyers, tickets and newsletters; press notices; tour and performance schedules; performance contract; passport; and correspondence.
Letters, emails and postcards to Earthfall from appreciative audience members and from more official sources.
Material relating to solo productions by Earthfall co-founder Jessica Cohen.
The Intimate Jig was the result of Earthfall's collaboration with artist and theatre designer Mike Brookes and musician Kim Burton. Drawing on the Maginogi, Flaubert, Chagall and North African dance, the production incorporated live music, song, text and film and toured throughout Europe, taking in several major festivals. A film adaptation of the show was made for Channel 4 and S4C. Items comprise printed theatre and festival programmes, flyers and newsletters; photographic production still (postcard); creative notes; stage notes/directions; material relating to the Wales in Stuttgart festival, 1993; animation film drawings; and reviews.
Rococo Blood, with its portrayal of fight-clubs and domestic violence, drew on the life and career of Cardiff boxer Jimmy Driscoll and his background in the mining communities of South Wales. The show premiered in Cardiff and toured throughout Britain and mainland Europe, including performances at London's Spring Loaded, the Absolutt Theatre Festival in Norway and the Dance Theatre Season in Amsterdam. Items comprise printed theatre and festival programmes and flyers; British Council publication entitled Britain in Brussels & Belgium 2002; creative notes; stage notes/directions; tour schedule; printed performance ticket; and reviews.
After the Birds/Po Ptakach was the product of collaboration between Earthfall and Polish theatre company Chorea, continuing the long-standing partnership between the two groups. Drawing on Aristophanes' comedy The Birds, the production combined ancient Greek choral song, contemporary music, vigorous dance, live music and film. Items comprise printed theatre programmes, posters and flyers; performance tickets; stage notes/directions; creative notes; printed volume charting the history of Chorea; article relating to Jim Ennis and Jessica Cohen; press notices; and reviews, including one featured in Planet magazine, October/November 2005 (bookmarked with printed Earthfall business card).
Running Away With The Hairdresser
Drawing visually on the works of artist Edward Hopper, Running Away With The Hairdresser explored relationships and the concept of 'the grass being always greener'. The show's musical eclecticism was the result of Earthfall's collaboration with musicians Frank Naughton and Jon Wygens and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. Items comprise printed theatre programmes, flyers and magazines (including a copy of The Big Issue, March 2004); printed admission tickets; creative notes; draft press notices; beermat printed with show motif; and reviews.
Produced in 2009/10, Gig chronicles the turbulent events in the life of a rock band, incorporating dance, live music and film. Items comprise printed theatre programmes, tour programme and flyers; creative notes and stage notes/directions; and musical score.
Stories from a Crowded Room was Earthfall's 25th anniversary production. The show was a highly sensory experience, involving vigorous dance, live music, text and encircling film. Items comprise printed theatre programmes and flyers; printed postcards for participating audience members; printed invitation to pre-show reception; and creative notes.
Letters, emails and postcards of appreciation, 1990-2007 + n.d., to Earthfall from audience members from Britain and Europe; and letters, 1997-2005 + n.d., to Earthfall from more official sources, including Glenys Kinnock, MEP and Taliesin Arts Centre, University of Wales, Swansea.
Material not directly related to Earthfall stage productions, workshops, funding, awards, etc.
Earthfall Dance Company Archives
Papers of and relating to Earthfall Dance Company, comprising material relating to individual stage productions; workshops and residencies; tours, festivals and events; awards; funding; annual reviews; correspondence; and miscellaneous material.
Earthfall Dance Company
Material relating to Earthfall co-founder Jessica Cohen's second solo work, Orchid Flower Blanch. Items comprise printed theatre programmes and flyers; printed booklets containing poetry in Mandarin with English translation; reviews; and postcards showing still photograph of Jessica Cohen.
Material relating to general works of Jessica Cohen (and others) prior to the founding of Earthfall Dance Company. Items comprise press notices; and printed theatre programmes and flyer.