Lunchtime Talk with The Ice Book at Watershed

Lunchtime Talks are a series of informal presentations at Watershed's Pervasive Media Studio. They normally take place at 13:00 on a Friday, are free and are open to everybody who is interested in what they do.

This Friday's talk is with Davy and Kristin McGuire, the people behind the mesmerising The Ice Book which came to Mayfest 2011. The pair have recently joined the Studio to continue work on the project. In this talk, Davy and Kristin will speak about their previous work, their progress with The Ice Book so far and their plans for its development. Following the talk, there's also a opportunity to see a performance of The Ice Book here at the Studio if you missed it.

Full details available here.

Meet the Mayfest Crew: Chris Swain

What is your job at Mayfest?
Production Manager


Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year's Mayfest?
I Guess If The Stage Exploded... - A performance that is IMPOSSIBLE to forget sounds like a challenge. I'm excited to see how it is tackled.
The Ice Book - Gorgeous looking mini-show, part pop-up book, part film, part live performance.
Save Me - Where would a festival be without a semaphore soap opera?

I love Mayfest because…
It brings performers and companies to Bristol that are experimental, daring and exciting. And you get to dive in for two weeks and experience the true festival vibe of seeing loads of great stuff packed into a short space of time.

Sum up Mayfest in 3 shiny words.
Festival in May?  Hectic Theatrical Bonanza!

Venue Sorted for The Ice Book

It can now be confirmed that Davy & Kristin McGuire’s magical mini-theatre show of paper and light, The Ice Book, will be available to watch in the crypts of St Paul’s Church, Southville Road, Southville. The experience is for individuals and will show at 45 minute intervals between 3pm and 9.45pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May and then again on Friday 13th, Saturday 14th (3.45pm start) and Sunday 15th May. Capacity is therefore very limited so book your place here. The location of St Paul’s Church is available on the Festival Venues section of the Mayfest Blog.

Meet the Mayfest Crew: George Monro

What is your job at Mayfest?
Producing and Marketing Intern

Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year's Mayfest?
I am chomping at the bit to see Little Bulb's highly anticipated Operation Greenfield. My friends that have seen it appear to say it is simply er-mazing. The Ice Book looks completely innovative, beautiful and magical. One of those “I wish I’d thought of that” kind of shows – cannot wait. Sam Halmarack & Miserabilites will be fantastic too - who doesn’t love a bit of inspirational interactive stadium pop in May?

I love Mayfest because…
It is ten days of fun filled theatrical delights that cater for a host of different audiences. There really is something for everyone! Mayfest also provides many (free – I might add!) opportunities for artists and audience members to meet, chat and make robot costumes together – is that a good enough reason?

Sum up Mayfest in 3 shiny words.
Eclectic theatrical adventures!

Meet The Mayfest Crew: Kerrie Avery

What is your job at Mayfest?
Project Manager

Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year's Mayfest?
I am very excited about Fortnight, it will be a unique chance to let something beautiful take control of your life. Icebook will be incredible - a modern day fairy tale which will make you feel like a child again. Also, Ousia by Darren Johnston will be an awesome spectacle - unique and extreme, wholly absorbing and visually miraculous.

I love Mayfest because...
It makes me believe that there are no limits to implementing creative ideas.

Sum up Mayfest in 3 shiny words.
Mind opening experiences.

Harriet de Winton’s Top Mayfest Picks

Harriet de Winton is a Bristol-based theatre designer who has been primarily designing for Shakespeare At The Tobacco Factory during the past 3 years. She is also Creative Editor of Cloth Magazine.


Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year’s Mayfest?

Mayfest this year means cheese, pop-up books and Dame Barbara Cartland:

I certainly won’t be passing up the opportunity to join The Guild of Cheesemakers for an evening of cheese, bread and wine and what I'm sure will be a gripping evening of cheese code cracking.

I'm looking forward to Igor Corvette's Dirty Little Secret because it combines a series of performers who have been working in Bristol for quite some time, and who can claim to have brought burlesque to Bristol in the 90s, including a memorable Dame Barbara Cartland tribute.

The Ice Book's Mayfest trailer left me spellbound and regardless of my interest in design, it promises to be a breathtaking and moving piece like nothing I have seen before.

Tinned Fingers’ Mayfest Top Picks

Tinned Fingers are a group of artists with backgrounds in writing, theatre and visual arts who work collaboratively to create experimental live performance and interactive events. They work with a DIY aesthetic, inspired by the possibilities of making a performance in your living room and embracing the economy, satisfaction and inherent optimism of re-using everyday materials. Tinned Fingers are members of Residence, an artist led space creating space to make theatre and live art in Bristol and they performed at Mayfest 2009 and 2010.

Tinned Fingers are performing a work-in-progress version of their latest project, The Last Romance Club Ever, as part of Junction Sampled: Festival of Performance in Cambridge over the bank holiday weekend.

“We are hopeful. We are looking for love. We want to get lucky. We want to serenade you outside your window at night. We want to give you our last rolo. We can’t sing but, for you, we’ll try.”

Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year’s Mayfest?

The Ice Book: I saw this at the Dartington College of Arts Alumni Festival last year and thought it was very beautiful. A tiny, miniature story that comes to life like a living pop up book.

Save Me: I'm really excited to see how this unfolds over the course of the festival - Search Party’s last piece, Growing Old With You, is one of my favourite performances that I’ve ever seen. Knowing Search Party, I'd expect this new work to be just as considered, poignant and playful.

Fortnight: I've just signed up for this today, looking forward to some magical things to start happening...!

Bringing a Pop-Up Book to Life

Here's the beautiful trailer for Davy & Kristin McGuire's The Ice Book which is showing for 5 days this Mayfest. Venue to be confirmed.

The Ice Book

Davy & Kristin McGuire
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th and Friday 13th until Sun 15th May 2011

The Ice Book is a miniature theatre show made of paper and light. An exquisite experience of fragile paper cut-outs and video projections that sweep you right into the heart of a fantasy world. It is an intimate and immersive experience of animation, book art and performance.

The Icebook trailer has been watched online over 300,000 times, been broadcast on the international TV Stations and received overwhelming global attention from magazine publishers, theatre producers and film-makers. Now the live show will be coming to Bristol.

Davy and Kristin collaborate on projects ranging from music videos, commercials, animation films and installations to live theatre shows, dance performances and everything in between.

“A charming, fragile show” The Guardian