One of the perks of working as a volunteer is being able to get comps! This makes up for the fact that after two or so weeks of hard graft you get to go see a show completely free, even if your bank account may be empty like mine. So on Wednesday I leapt at the chance to go and see one of my favourite performance artists, Marisa Carnesky.
You may be wondering just who is Marisa Carnesky? Well she is an artist of many talents who has risen to much fame and acclaim, she has an impressive array of projects under her belt as well as possessing a prestigious Olivier Award. Her most recent work ‘Carnesky’s Ghost Train’ was set up in a marquee in Coventry for the Fierce Festival last year and has toured extensively to the delight of all who dare to take the ride! Her work is powerful, challenging and fun. If you thought you knew it all one encounter with Carnesky will soon change your mind. The performance
As I entered the studio space I felt both apprehensive and excited. I had been waiting for so long to see Carnesky and my expectations were high. Studying her work at university I had always looked up to her. As the audience take their seats Carnesky is on stage, suspended, lying on an invisible table. She is dressed all in white and is waving and smiling in an exaggerated manner to her audience. I take this opportunity to study her features, she is beautifully made up and her hair is wound into springy tight curls. Also known as the tattooed lady, it was amazing to be able to study the beautiful, traditional Jewish artwork she had used her body as a platform for. As the lights go down she is helped onto her feet and addresses us for the first time in her sultry tones… she is Athena the goddess of strategic war! What follows is a glorious mix of magic, mime and politics carried off with her trademark artistic flair. Audience members are drawn into the performance and are challenged to think about what war is and asked ultimately is violence ever necessary?
This point is illustrated using magic tricks, a fake ‘battle’ between audience members and interwoven with tales of Robert Houdin, the 19th century Magician whose skills were utilised by the French in Algiers. I don’t want to give much more away as this is a work in progress, and I thoroughly recommend following this performance that will be shown next at the Soho Theatre. Perks of volunteering I could not believe my luck when, post performance, I got the opportunity to sit and have a drink with Carnesky and crew. It enriched the whole experience being able to participate in the break down and analysis of the work, making suggestions and being considered as an equal to such an amazing woman! Yet again the doors that have opened for me by working for free outweighed the drawbacks of volunteering. It'll be my last blog next week with all the latest goss from the Fierce Festival. The Fierce Festival runs from Saturday 19th May - Monday 11th June 2007 at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Blog 1 Laura joins the Fierce team as a volunteer - and almost gets to go to the ball! Blog 2 Laura finds out that it's not easy dealing with creative people, but it's worth it! Blog 3 Laura discovers the upside to volunteering - hanging out with your favourite performers! | 
