On 7th March Shrug Lady 1 embarked on her first outing since moving to New Zealand. She had a great time at the Newtown Street Festival in Wellington, dancing to some music, hanging out with friends and of course, sharing lots of tea and cakes with passers by! It was a lovely hot summers day and her sun parasol came in very handy for giving people a place to hide for a moment before moving on their way. She was even given a sticker by the police which said ‘Never talk to strangers’ hmm not sure what he was trying to say there!! x
Wirksworth Festival, Art & Architecture Trail 12 -13 September 2009
5 SHRUG Ladies set out on a fantastic weekend trip to Wirksworth festival. They were ready and prepared to present their newly devised performance piece as part of the ‘What is SHRUG’ research project. The piece included 3 sections entitled ‘SHRUG Tea Dance’, ‘Day at The Beach’ and ‘Sailor SHRUG Hand Jive’. The setting was superb; Wirksworth truly is a village of extreme beauty and quant character, which suited the SHRUG Ladies to a tee!! The SHRUG Ladies performed their piece at various locations on the festival trail including the station, the church yard, a bench on the square and the farm as well as doing their usual walk about meet and greet. There were so many amazing photo opportunities, not to mention the awesome new costumes well done our new SHRUG Lady Helen!!!!!
August 2009, London
The SHRUG Ladies joined again with the fantastic Fete Encounter this weekend to enjoy 3 days of performance and picnics on Abbey Green in London as part of the Lift Molten Festival.
This summer the SHRUG ladies are embarking on a new adventure! 2 ladies have become 4, expanding their company, their performance, their look and their selection of goodies on offer. Look out for this glamorous troop as they hit the streets of Wirksworth, engaging with all whom they meet. Will you stand and watch or will you come closer to join in this world of surreal glamour with an unnerving edge, the choice is yours!!!
September 2008 – The Bristol Do
A two-day SHRUG event in collaboration with the Fete Encounter. This event saw many children keen to interact with the SHRUG ladies or was it the tempting cakes?
Photos courtesy of Graham Shackleton.
June 2008 – Whitstable Biennale, Whitstable Beach, nr Old Neptune Pub
In collaboration with The Fete Encounter SHRUG ladies took their stall down onto a sandy beach. SHRUG ladies had a beautiful day out, sunbathing, building sand castles, and dancing with bears. As always interacting with passers by supplying them with a choice of cakes or a more traditional poke of chips.
May 2008 – Birmingham
SHRUG ladies joined forces with the fantastic Fete Encounter. Based on the traditional British fete, The Fete Encounter is an outdoor art event. It aims to blur the boundaries between art and the everyday and explores traditional outdoor popular entertainments such as vaudeville, seaside distractions, magic, circus and other fun and games.
April 2005 – Nottdance, The Red Shoe Delivery Service, Nottingham
The SHRUG Ladies became a live interactive installation, driving around Nottingham city centre with the Red Shoe Delivery Service, offering free lifts and tea to passers by.
April 2005, Chelsea Theatre
The SHRUG Ladies enjoyed a trip down to the big city! They spent the day taking photos around the beautiful borough of Chelsea followed by a duration performance at Chelsea theatre as part of the Chelsea Live festival.
Feb 2005 – National Review of Live Art at The Arches, Glasgow
SHRUG performed happenings in and around Glasgow city centre, followed by improvised interventions within the Arches during the festival.
We were uninvited performers to this event!
