Arts Recommend: Duplicity, Christmas jumper craft idea, the most fashionable Christmas trees, and more …

Every week we bring you our special selection of all things arty. From interesting websites to highly anticipated performances for your diary, there is something to spark all kinds of creative interest.

1.Duplicity @ the Bike Shed

Image credit: Substance and Shadow Theatre

As part of the 2013 From Devon With Love festival, Duplicity is ‘set against the volatile backdrop of the Punk Rock explosion’ in London, 1977.

Exploring themes of identity, duality and deceit, the play “follows the journey of identical twins, Tommy and Finn, as their sense of self and reality disintegrates into a maelstrom of anarchy, chaos and disorder.”

Substance and Shadow Theatre’s previous play Skin Deep (read our review here) was a big success, with sell-out performances at The Bike Shed Theatre at the previous From Devon With Love festival and the 2013 Ignite festival – so Duplicity is definitely worth checking out.

Showing at The Bike Shed on Friday January 17 and Saturday January 18 2014 at 8.30pm. Tickets cost £10, or £8 for concessions and can be bought on 01392 434 169 or at http://www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk.

 Also showing in the Clifford room at The Barnfield Theatre on Friday February 14 and Saturday February 15 2014 at 8.00pm. Tickets can be bought on 01392 270 891 or at http://www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk.

Image credit: New Look via the Metro

2. Top ten Christmas jumpers

Christmas jumpers are more popular than ever this year, and we love them. Read the full Metro article here to see all ten jumpers, from the ‘touchy-feely one’ to the ‘all-in-one’ you have every style of jumper covered.

Also look out for some of the best Christmas jumpers in Exeter when we release the results of our Christmas jumper Instagram competition.

3. Christmas Jumper Craft Idea

Do you have a Christmas jumper you don’t want to wear anymore? Perhaps it shrank, or got too many holes in it, or you just feel like it needs a new purpose in life. Then why not make it into a Christmas cushion! This Red Ted Art blog post tells you exactly how, click here to read.

4. The most fashionable Christmas trees

‘The Arty Tree’
Image credit: Helen and Colin David via The Metro

“You can largely forget the traditional green tree with multi-coloured tinsel and baubles. This year, let your imagination run wild. Here’s a run-down of the most fashionable firs around for Christmas 2013.”

We love this Metro article showing some of the latest fashions in Christmas tree. We like the Hipster Tree, and the Afternoon Tea Tree but our favourite is obviously The Arty Tree, pictured above: “Head down to London’s V&A museum over Christmas to see the specially commissioned red tree which sits in the grand entrance. Designed by artists Helen and Colin David, the creation is entitled ‘Red Velvet Tree of Love’. Forget red velvet cupcakes; it’s all about red velvet trees these days.”

To see all the trees read the full article here on The Metro.

5. ‘In my Christmas Jammies’

You’ll either love this or hate it, but either way it is 100% worth watching. Rather than sending out Christmas cards, or even a newsletter as they usually do, the Holderness family made a Christmas video. The video involves questionable rapping, some interesting dancing, and hilarious lyrics. The song has gone viral, becoming an internet hit with its own Twitter hashtag #xmasjammies.

Giverny Masso and Bryony James

Click here for last week’s Arts Recommend.

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Visit the University of Exeter Arts and Culture website here.

Ignite Festival: Skin Deep

Part of the Exeter Ignite Festival of Theatre Skin Deep is directed by Sarah White and performed by the Substance & Shadow Theatre Company.

Skin Deep is so highly anticipated that I found myself waiting for the staff to grab me an extra chair in the sold out Bike Shed. This can only be a good sign for the exciting, new Exeter-based theatre company, Substance & Shadow.

Jem and Pearl on the train to Exeter
Image Credits: Substance & Shadow

As the characters began circling into position to music, holding their chairs, I found myself feeling slightly dubious. Whilst Jem, played by Midge Mullin, and Pearl (Rose Mullin) swayed on an imaginary train, I wondered what the story surrounding Jem’s return to Exeter could be, and, most importantly, whether the actors could convince me to believe it on the sparse stage.

‘Biro’
Image Credits: Substance & Shadow

Five minutes in I was convinced, and from then onwards there was not a moment of the play which didn’t grip me. The quality of the acting was extremely high and consistent throughout, apart from one minor stumble on lines towards the end. The energy of the actors, along with their use of mime and third person narration, transformed the stage into numerous settings. I particularly enjoyed Nathan Simpson, as Alex, creating an entire 80’s dance floor full of people through his hilarious renditions of the other dancers.

 What impresses me most is the play itself, written by Rose and Midge. The plot, which builds up to some shocking twists, is brilliantly intertwined with the changes occurring within the characters, characters who are so real due to their many complexities. The story is told interestingly; the characters themselves narrating moments of past and present action by switching to descriptive third person. Skin Deep really demonstrates the power of language to paint a space in our imaginations.

Substance & Shadow Theatre Company is very aptly named, as Skin Deep is full of both “substance” and “shadow” in so many senses. The play delves into the hugely substantial matters of sexuality, race and identity whilst also exploring the shadows on the surface; fashion, music and appearance. Comedic moments, mostly at the expense of Biro (Mike Gilpin), merge subtly with much darker instances. The darkest image for me was Jem’s casual rolling up of his sleeve to reveal a swastika tattoo during a game of pool at the Black Horse.  

‘Jem’
Image Credits: Substance & Shadow

Skin Deep goes further than merely revealing the sickening nature of prejudice, it delves beneath the imprint on the skin to explore how prejudice manifests and, in Pearl’s case, how prejudice is escaped. Skin Deep really holds true to the spirit of Exeter Ignite, fully embodying the festival’s motto that “any space can be a theatre, anyone can tell a story”.  Substance & Shadow’s experimental approach to storytelling really pays off, the end result being a gripping evening which is both entertaining and thought provoking.

Skin Deep will be performed again on Saturday 8th June, 1.30pm. Get your tickets here.

 Giverny Masso, Online Arts Editor