The Alchemystorium: Visual Theatre

Although Gomito Productions use physical elements, I think the specific term 'physical theatre' conjures up something dance based and acrobatic. We try to avoid setting up those expectations. Similarly we only produce original plays, but we wouldn't say we created 'new writing'.

The term visual theatre, for us, means theatre which could include puppetry, choreography and integral design. It means a sensory spectacle where aesthetics are not the backdrop: they are the means by which a story is told.

Our composer Philippa Herrick is an integral part of the making process: sometimes we choreograph and she fits music around us and sometimes the other way round. Unusually for Gomito we're using a few existing, well known love songs in The Alchemystorium, partly for comic effect and partly to create the feeling of fantastical, nostalgic romance.

I wanted to make a play about love. We've made quite a few pieces with an ensemble of storyteller/puppeteers I was keen to experiment with a new type of character to guide the audience.

Thinking about characters who could entertain an audience, experience love from an unusual perspective and logically bring objects to life to create some fantastical visuals I pitched the idea of 'Theatre Witches'; part clown, part witch, who make love potions.

We improvised with characters and love scenes - and an assortment of magical objects - before structuring and re-structuring the story-line. We shared experiences of romances, friendships, working in coffee shops and theatre, music, artwork, comedy, circus and films which have conveyed love well. The witch characters dropped away and love potions mutated into coffee.