Picture this, if you can: A bouncy bed on a stage; a pair of sassy hostesses; a red carpet for guests; a running machine for members of the audience; and acts which include a man who stands on his head all evening. Oh, and let's not forget the artist who's cooking up some parsnip and apple soup. Welcome to The Surreal Saloon. The Surreal Saloon is a monthly live chat show at the Exeter Phoenix, which aims to provide a performance platform for artists from across the South West. The word 'eclectic' was invented for this show! The artists behind The Surreal Saloon are Exeter-based Belinda Harris-Reid and Josephine Larsen, both of them experienced performers. They have received lottery funding for the project, in which they invite a range of performers to put on a show and chat about their work. "No-one else is doing this," said Belinda. "It's an innovative new project. "We're showcasing artists, giving them a performance space, but interviewing them as well."
 | | Belinda (in shades) and Josephine |
But this is no ordinary chat show. "There will be a red carpet from the bar, and the performer will be collected and brought to the stage. "We have more performers than we can deal with. We've got a real mix, including one chap who stands on his head all evening, and there's someone cooking parsnip and apple soup. "The performers will be interviewed by me and Josephine on a bouncy bed. "We'll be asking them about their careers, but we'll be having a general chat as well. We'll go with the moment - this is about improvisation." The evening will also feature mannequins, stills images, film, and quizzes. There's even a running machine on the stage, so that - as Belinda puts it: "If anyone wants to shed a few pounds, they can." Of course, there is serious side to The Surreal Saloon, and that's to provide a stage for budding performers. But performers must beware: "Those who we don't like what they're doing, we'll boo them and get them off," said Belinda. The first Surreal Saloon is on 13 April 2007, and will feature Mixage, a multi-media arts organisation. They will be presenting their loss/glass installation, which looks at how artists portray loss through gloss and gloss though loss. "There are some really heartfelt images - really quite moving," said Belinda. You can visit The Surreal Saloon at the Exeter Phoenix on the first Friday of each month - after the April show - for an indefinite period. For more details, visit the Surreal Saloon website, linked from this page. Or look at the Exeter Phoenix website. If you're a performer who'd like to take centre stage in The Surreal Saloon, you should send an email to: belinda@surrealsaloon.co.uk | 
