Jumping Puddles @ Liverpool Everyman

Preview by Alecia Marshall | 04 Mar 2015

Anybody working in the arts will testify that 'collaboration' is a buzzword at the moment – not only because of the shared financial risk, but also due to the high artistic quality of the resulting work. It is thus exciting to see female Northeast collective Open Clasp and renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly begin a national tour of their first collaboration, Jumping Puddles.

Directly informed by 162 young women from the Northeast and Liverpool, Jumping Puddles examines the turbulent relationship of Grace and Anna – sisters at war. As the autumn nights draw in and the rain falls, Grace and Anna find themselves trying to stay afloat as they jump from one puddle of emotion to another – but the puddle is in danger of becoming a river and Anna fears Grace will be taken by the tide.

The production boasts a long lead: Open Clasp have been actively working with groups of young women for over a year, their aim being to create a performance that speaks for them. It is this ethos that characterises the work of the company: rooted in the belief that theatre changes lives, Open Clasp are dedicated to vocalising the hitherto unheard voices of women, providing a performative platform for their lived experiences.

Frantic Assembly have enjoyed recent success with their colourful, imaginative Othello and whilst Jumping Puddles offers a more muted tone, the company are on somewhat of a roll. If that’s still not enough to tempt you, the lure of the Everyman theatre might just do it, or – ahem – the bistro. 

Runs 5-7 Mar, £5