gobscure

you have already survived is our current project, 40+year in the making. produced in association with live theatre newcastle, its a solo theatre show, an album, a publication, an installation and more - individually and collectively celebrating how the afon wysg / river usk (flowing through south wales), is in our blood, and has saved our life. some rivers have rights, this one has riots (site of britains last insurrection). this project has been a life-time in the making. journey upstream with us from that city of insurrection (cas newydd / newport); visit where we wrote our first poem in childhood (wales now has the right to play enshrined in law); our first punk gig (as audience member defying sick-chiatry); defynnog yew tree that defies science (the oldest heartwood has rotted so it cannot be accurately carbon-dated); red kites almost wiped out in the 1970’s clung on here, to successfully rewild all over; how welsh poppies taught us post-traumatic growth is possible; and out onto mountain at river’s source that first literally widened our horizons. epic & multi-layered, you have already survived combines our lived experience with collective, historical, natural, political & mythical elements in playful & childlike reclaiming with wonder/wandering. this watercourse teaches post-trauma-growth is possible

this project has been supported by a Society of Authors / Authors Foundation award; a bursary from a-n The Artists Information Company; Baltic Commission; Llantarnam Grange Cwmbran and above all Live Theatre artistic associateship

“gobscure’s work is really like nothing else. political, emotional, theatrically daring, visually and aurally astonishing. their inner world is huge. the ideas begin small but expand outwards to wild heights. Their imagination and skill could fill our theatre ten times over.”

Jack McNamara, Artistic Director of Live Theatre

on our work in general :

'we are dealing with the antithesis of all that is mass-produced, commercial; one needs time to engage and to listen to the work. It might even help us to listen to ourselves. ... a great, and singular artist, with no other justifications or conditions needed.

alma zevi venice