When We Dead Awaken, Coronet Theatre, 2022
It has been, again, two years since my last newsletter (here), and so so much has happened!
So back then, I was looking forward to 2022, with great collaborations on the way.
Little did I know that the next two years would be filled with soul and heart fulfilling projects, projects that only remind you what deep joy this industry can bring! And by “this industry” I mean both theatre and film all intertwined in my heart.
But first thing’s first - with childish joy I can jump up and down and say in May 2022: "I went to Cannes and walked the red carpet” with the most loving film family one could ask for, Serendipity and Crimes of the Future
Rewinding back to the beginning - I spent Boxing Day and New Year alone on my sofa, Covid ridden.
I can now fully disclose that as of the New Year and with a faint red line, I snack down the river during evening tides to get some air. I felt so alive.
I can only feel humbled by the collaborations that came my way - projects chose you as much as you chose them, after all, and when the stars align, they lead to long lasting bonds and friendships.
That is what happened with both The Coronet and the Norwegian Ibsen Company. Working with prolific Norwegian director Kjetil Bang-Hansen was a dream, even if I had to design the play in less than a week (yes, bloody covid was still leaving his print on jobs! What started as a minimal modern design needed up bringing old fashioned back in fashion
A journey of trying to be sustainable started too, rebuilding the stage with a twist as I believe we mostly reused reclaimed and repainted..
Fun fact one that many a member of the audience actually thought that was the stage of the coronet with a heap of stuff and a stream…
Fun fact two, I got an Offie Nomination.
..and a tour in Oslo
"Designer Mayou Trikerioti’s set looks like an artwork in itself, and cleverly incorporates a running stream alongside the aforementioned rubble pile." The Stage
Things started falling to place, as shows reopened after having stopped during lockdown. Koini Isihia (mixing performance with spoken word along with Vasilis’ Papakonstantinou incredible singing voice and stage presence opened again in Athens. And while Koini Isihia started its tour all over Greece
Underwater #Underwaterbabyshow finally opened in 2022 to sold out performances a long touring journey that is still happening! So that meant Xenia and I could dive from water to air, with Skydiver (all puns badly intended). A design born out of exploration and research and channelling Richter through fabric. With the Wonderful artistry of Caroline @rollinginfabric
and Skydiver has now also opened with Dance Umbrella at the `unicorn theatre and is touring.
I was part of this immensely important piece of theatre, with Lisa Goldman at the helm
Back in the theatre and a hugely important piece of theatre #dictatingtheestate #dtte #maxilla #specialmeasures
“This is no abstract enterprise. It’s a powerful piece of community theatre.” The Times
“Dictating to the Estate is an original documentary play about events leading up to the Grenfell Tower fire. Using only council minutes, emails and blog posts, it tells the story of the refurbishment of the tower and of residents' attempts to hold the Council to account.”
I built a camp compete with real smelly turf, twigs and fire on the stage of Chichester Showroom
And a sauna for a VR experience in a Victorian Horse Hospital!
“the Queer East Film Festival presents this work in a uniquely immersive way by transforming parts of The Horse Hospital venue into an actual sauna that viewers must enter to watch the film. Having to step into the physical sauna space before entering the virtual one creates a layer of “double immersion”, allowing audiences to become more fully a part of In the Mist’s world.”
https://clotmag.com/news/insight-in-the-mist-exploring-chou-tung-yens-surreal-vr-experience-for-the-queer-east-film-festival
2022 and 2023 was also about actually visiting Oxford -something I was not able to do during Covid -even Sweeney was done with me isolating in London. So these two years found me revisiting my favourite Oxford for Othello in 2022, Chicago 2023 and Christmas Carol last month. Once again the joy of working with friends that are also talented, dedicated nutters.. There is nothing like creating a safe environment to be playful!
As 2021, so 2022 and 2022 was sewn with lovely R&Ds. Some of these -I am so excited- will fully flower and bloom in 2024! That is not to say that with minimum R&D days and money we did not create magic..
I became Tamed in Norwich Theatre Royal, I felt the joys of a new opera at the Arcola with talented composer Kristina Arakelyan’s Penelope, found myself plotting an unexpected storytelling with After That and hanging bloodied handed people in Electra Untitled. I also created a fabric, I think.
…I dag deep into a precious piece of theatre: Eleni Randou’s My Life’s Party, a piece so close to my heart and a new collaboration with Anestis Azas, who’s cool and calm demeanour created wonders.
"Η Μαγιού Τρικεριώτη έχει φτιάξει ένα συγκλονιστικό σκηνικό που ίπταται είναι όλα στον αέρα γιατί είναι σαν τις μνήμες. Όλα τα έπιπλα είναι στον αέρα όπως και η μνήμη που είναι πιο αόρατη, πιο ρευστή. Είναι σαν να βρίσκεσαι στο βυθό και να βλέπεις προς τα πάνω. Είναι όλο τόσο ρευστό γιατί η μνήμη είναι ρευστή. Καμιά φορά θυμάσαι πράγματα έτσι, τα θυμάσαι αλλιώς και τελικά το παρελθόν καθορίζεται από το πώς θυμάσαι τη ζωή σου, δεν καθορίζεται από την ίδια σου τη ζωή. Το ίδιο πράγμα δύο διαφορετικοί άνθρωποι το θυμούνται αλλιώς ανάλογα με το ποιος είναι ο καθένας. Με τους υπέροχους φωτισμούς της Χριστίνας Θανάσουλα αλωνίζω την τεράστια αλάνα- σκηνή με απόλυτη ελευθερία και απόλυτη χαρά μαζί με τους μουσικούς που παίζουν ζωντανά.” Ελένη Ράντου
Ενα ευφυές σκηνικό της Μαγιούς Τρικεριώτη, ως επίφαση σπιτιού, οικογένειας ταυτοποιημένο με τη διάλυση.”
“A brilliant stage set by Mayou Trikerioti, as an epitome of a home and a family in dissolution.
Thank you Rea Vitali
A totally sold out 6-month run, followed by a transfer to Cyprus and currently on a second sold out season, wishing this one a long life!
2023 started with a bang! George Takes Allegiance, the chance to work with a true legend, amazing talent and the best director/choreographer a musical could ever ask for, Tara Overfield Wilkinson and an incredible cast. And it is true as it was rewarded with full houses and standing ovations over and over again. And, oh, my, what a great joy is working on a musical!
Heart warming and feel good as nothing else, a show I really want to come back, Onjali Q Raúf’s first stage play, The Hero Next Door, staged but the magical Face Front Inclusive Theatre.
And a fabulous collaboration for Sergi belbel's Blood and BSA
“The staging is a triumph. At first, it is simply dressed with a slightly raised square stage piece above an astro-turfed ground, consisting of mosaic tiles bordered by drains – not unlike what you’d find in a changing room. While initially a dark and scary space, it is amazing how versatile the stage becomes with only a simple few changes.” Bristol 247
Film was part of the journey these two years. Costuming Cynthia Erivo on the UK leg of Drift, to open in Sundance 2023, a film by Anthony Chen. Covid also flipped this one on its head, and I could not be more grateful for the costume team I had.
And Fantasmi in Viaggio finally opened -And this Italian Period DocuFiction is now in Post Production without me actually making it to Italy due to lockdowns and subsequent Covid related difficulties a cross between fiction and documentary, period and contemporary but so much fun designing during lockdowns. Grabbing the best film award at the 35th Panorama, it also gave me a nomination for Best Costume Design.
Free from Covid restrictions, I spent a lot of time in Angels and the National Costume Hire, the next best thing next to bookshops and the smell of books..
2023 is also going away with a bang. A most amazing meeting with Chris Evans and Gecko I will cherish forever. An R&D/Performance collaboration with East15 that pushed the boundaries of what can be expected..
I found myself in great company of theatre makers in Russell Luca’s interview:
And in the Rare Gathering at the Prague Quadrennial 2023 - my design for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin part of the Greek Pavilion.
Out of the box I begun a lovely collaboration with The Wine Place in Covent Garden. Proof again that working with lovely people is key (and the panettone is to die for!)
These two years did not come with challenges and difficulties. Relocating in order to make my flat structurally sound. For all you parents out there, preparation and transitioning between Primary and Secondary. Possibly one of the bigger stresses of parenting in the UK - lol.
Finally, funny how the brain rules out the bad stuff, but there is always room to mention them as a cautionary tale, my very own #metoo moment in 2022 with the worst verbal and emotional abuse I have ever encountered. From a person I actually never met Something that left me in deep fear of that person, emotionally and physically scarred,
It was two years with too many huge losses, Peter Brook, Marcello Magni, Mina Adamaki, Adam Brace, Μαρία Κωβαίου..
These two years also came with amazing and funky nominations..
Highlight must be my nomination for Best Costume Design for Crimes of the Future for the Canadian Oscars.
Funky alternative my nomination for the Sangria Chainsaw Awards for Costume Design for Crimes of the Future.
An Offie Nomination for the set of When We Dead Awaken.
A Greek Film Academy Nomination for Fantasmi in Viaggio
A Theatre Audience Nomination for the Set of Eleni Randou's My Life’s Party in Greece.
…And 2023 marked the year I was reminded the joy of teaching, sharing, and fostering ideas. I came to realise that in order to be a good educator you need to firmly have your feet on the ground and feel good in your own skin. It is the generosity and openness, something which also defines a good actor or performance. I am going to use the work serendipity and luck once again, as I always found myself in education by being asked to do something.. This time however I owe a mind changing shift to Donatella Barbieri. She is the one that reminded me of all of the above, that it is ok to be an artist and an educator, and to laugh out loud.
My love for community and bringing people together continues strong.. The highlight being that after 2 years, in December 2021 I managed to organise the first almost-post-pandemic Wapping Open Studios (Christmas ’21 mini edition) which saw 7 spaces and more than 20 artists open studios, sell art and offer free workshops.
So the stars ali
n again, and you may come to Open Studi
So this is it, Mary Christmas, with two words of advice: One from my daughter when she was 9: "you can’t really fall asleep when you are dreaming.” And the second one:
mayou trikerioti
e. mayoutrik@gmail.com
m. +44(0)7706101933
www.mayoutrikerioti.com
imdb.com/name/nm2840008/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayoutrik/