Flyer: Stem Design
testimonials
LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
"On behalf of the users and staff at Poplar Day Centre I would like to express our thanks and support of Clod Ensemble and their Extravagant Acts For Mature People. They have now provided the users of our Centre with nine wonderful afternoons’ entertainment. Each has been of the highest quality, and all have been greatly enjoyed by our users.
It’s not often that older people get the opportunity to enjoy the ‘intimacy’ of ‘live acts’ and the pleasure that such an experience can bring. For many of the users here at Poplar Day Centre, such an experience has been quite moving. On one particular occasion, during a performance a member of staff noticed one of our users wiping tears from his eyes. Thinking something was wrong with the gentleman, the member of staff went over and asked what was wrong. The gentleman said to the staff member, “This is just so wonderful Jim. It brings back so many memories of when I first met the wife. It really is wonderful”. When the act was finished this same user asked if he could telephone his wife there and then, and tearfully told her all about the act he had just seen.
Whilst the above reaction is perhaps a little extreme, it does I believe accurately reflect the often emotional response many of our users experience during these performances. The feedback given by our users to these acts has always been very positive, and it has been obvious from those comments they have enjoyed them immensely.
I would whole-heartedly support any action that might enable these ‘Extravagant Acts’ to continue bringing such pleasure to the elderly, and hope that users of our Centre may continue to experience the variety and enjoyment they have brought."
James Craddock, Manager, Poplar Day Care Centre
There is an Ensemble called Clod
Who've engaged me to work on the odd
Occasion with folks who are old with new jokes
And I give both ensembles the nod.
John Hegley, Extravagant Act 2008
"As artists themselves, Clod were uniquely placed to provide us with support which was sensitive to the artistic needs of the piece while also responding to the needs of the older participants. It was clear that Clod already had a fantastic relationship with members of the centre and this made it much easier for us to build up the trust we needed to perform such an emotional and participatory piece."
Richard Dufty, Uninvited Guests, Extravagant Act 2009
"Extravagant Acts for Mature People brings enormous rewards to both audience and performer. I have performed as an Extravagant Act at the Claremont Project in White Lion Street, at the Peel Centre on Percy Circus and at Poplar Day Centre in Mile End. At Claremont the audience seemed confident and musically assured. When I sang a Sea-Snatch by Barber, there were gasps of delight at its fast and unexpected fury. At the Peel Centre and in Poplar the audiences were attentive and responsive, listening to every phrase and song with an intensity that is humbling. The honesty that is needed in these exposed performances enables me to explore the emotional truth of songs and arias, without artifice or pretence. Those in the audience can engage and reflect on what is relevant for them - hum to John Anderson My Joe, remark to a friend, or chuckle at Carmen’s Seguidilla. This relationship is only possible because they are at ease, in familiar surroundings and with friends. If travel to a concert was called for, I doubt the quality of that engagement could be matched."
Lucy Stevens, Contralto, Extravagant Act 2005 - 2009
"Clod Ensemble's Extravagant Acts is a really unique opportunity for us as a jazz band. The people we play for at the day centres would never ever get to a jazz gig, but why shouldn't they get a chance to listen to live music? Extravagant Acts is wonderful, and every day care centre in the UK would be envious of the fun and privileged atmosphere they manage to conjur.
From our (The Dixie Ticklers') perspective, it's a really cool opportunity to play for a new audience. The kind of music we play was often top of the pops in their day, so they know the tunes and appreciate it in a completely different way to our other younger audiences. All in all, it seems very fitting for a bunch of young musicians fresh out of conservatoire playing for the older generation. "
Dom James, Extravagant Act 2007 - 2009
SWING NIGHT
"In 2005, Clod Ensemble hosted a Swing Night in BAC 's Grand Hall which was the culmination of a series of workshops with older people and school children in Islington and Wandsworth. The project was a great success and the high production values of the event coupled with the quality of the preeceding workshops meant that the participants - young and old - had a highly rewarding and enjoyable time.
The partnership with Clod Ensemble inspired BAC to create a longer term strategy focussing on work with elders within our local community. BAC had collaborated with the Katherine Lowe Community Centre on a number of sporadic projects over the years, but the Swing Night demonstrated a real need for this work to be better resourced and sustained, enabling trusting relationships to build and for skills to be developed over time.
In 2008 BAC partnered with Clod Ensemble to host a networking event called 'The Art of Ageing', bringing together a wide range of organisations and artists working with older people, as well as older people themelves. This session provoked a series of rich conversations, and was a springboard into a period of research looking at what local older people, and the community groups that work with them wanted and needed from BAC.
In 2009 BAC received an Arts Council award to develop our flourishing activity with elders. We now host regular monthly tea dances in partnership with Wandsworth Borough Council and in February we co-produced a special Valentine's Ball for elders and their families with Duckie.
Clod Ensemble have a respected pedigree of encouraging artists and arts organisations to engage with older people in exciting and mutually enriching ways, and their experience and leadership in this area has been an inspiring example for BAC when creating our own programme of activities."
Sarah Quelch, Associate Artistic Director, BAC
© Clod Ensemble 2011