Catching Sight of My Reflection
In 2023 I celebrated my 60th birthday and Hannah Sullivan celebrated her 35th. Hannah invited me to start a writing exchange focused around age and we sent each other regular writings for one year.
The next step was to explore a movement practice in response to the text, becoming interested in how movement and text connect within performance. We then shared improvisation tools to work with. These became known as The Seven - toolkit for dancing.
Stay with it
Trust minimal
Find the next thing
Time for tenderness
Allow it to go
Don’t think about it
Remember to just dance
In February 2026 we were invited by Arnolfini, Bristol to share our exchange with the public as work in progress. This was a valuable opportunity for us to find out how the structure of a set text, combined with improvised movement, might create a reflective, creative space to consider ageing together.
With the exception of the much-valued support from Arnolfini to stage the performance, this work has been developed without any funding.
With huge thanks to Khourie Allen for the wonderful photographs.
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“That was astonishing. Beautiful, tender, vulnerable, intimate, trusting, generous, exquisite. I could have lived in that world for so much longer.”
Arnolfini audience member, February 2026
“I was so touched. It was such a beautiful piece. I was especially touched by the relationship between the two of you, seeing the care, the kindness. What a beautiful, simple concept and what a delight to be let into your relationship.”
Arnolfini audience member, February 2026
“I loved the combination of words and movement in what for me was powerful acknowledgement and exploration of ageing, what it means to be human and mortal.”
Arnolfini audience member, February 2026
“Thank you for putting this on tonight. It was astonishing and I am so grateful to have seen it.”
Arnolfini audience member, February 2026
“Thank you for offering space to this kind of work. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will be thinking about it for a long time.”
Arnolfini audience member, February 2026