May 2009 – Hatch ‘ONE’, Ropewalk, Nottingham
Hatch is a regional platform for new work from the East Midlands set to transform the live arts landscape.
Hatch: One responded to the theme of One to help celebrate the events first birthday. 14 artists took over their biggest venue yet with work that delt with one-ness. One night only. One of a kind. One to remember. Hatch: One.
4 SHRUG ladies sat together and played a game on a draft board made of cake for 4 minutes. This was followed by a variety of individual tasks alone for 1 minute. Tasks included a one-minute tap dance, a one-minute interaction, the knitting of one row of knitting in one minute, the placing of one sticker or a single pose for a single photo. Timing was everything the performance ruled by the constant ticking of time and ringing of the bell.
March 2009 – Our Style is Legendary Left Lion Exhibition, Malt Cross, Nottingham
First outing of 4 SHRUG ladies durational performance entitled ‘I am Waiting”. This piece was a new experiment for the SHRUG ladies exploring emotions and feeling around being alone and waiting in a public space and socialising as a group in a public space.
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.
Feb 2007 – Clipper event with Dance 4, Nottingham
SHRUG decked out their very own cave with all things SHRUG then invited their audience to experience an intimate 5-minute, 2 on 2 performance, making and serving pancakes. This was performed in both Nottingham and Leicester.
March 2006 – Nottingham Contemporary Launch Event, London
The SHRUG ladies were invited to make a keepsake to be included in some special artist Goody bags which were given to attendees at the launch event in London. The SHRUG Ladies chose to produce some very stylish yet practical tea towels for the event and this saw the launch of the very first piece of SHRUG merchandise.
Highly collectable you know!!!
Commissioned by Future Factory.
As the home town of the SHRUG Ladies, Notingham has hosted many city happenings. The Ladies have enjoyed the various sights and seasons the city has to offer!
June 2005 – Weekday Market around Nottingham City Centre
A project which mapped the city and linked the three main sites Bonington Gallery, Angel Row Gallery and CCAN. The SHRUG ladies wheeled a customised market stall full of goodies around the city of Nottingham, interacting with passers by and of course enjoying the occasional picnic.
Commissioned by ACE & Future Factory.
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.
March 2005 – Spare Parts at The Mint Lounge, Manchester
SHRUG improvised a performance as part of the debut night of Spare Parts, a glamorously unique and exciting night mixing art and Partying.
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!
Nov 2004 – ‘Showroom 2′ at The Bonington Gallery, Nottingham
Exhibition of Nottingham happening and Improvised performance during the Showroom opening event.
October 2004 – Green Room Manchester, Emergency
The SHRUG Ladies went out on a Manchester based city happening followed by one of their first duration performances as part of the Green Rooms Emergency event. The Ladies interacted with audience members, inviting them to enjoy their special SHRUG Lady shaped ginger bread biscuits.
Sept 2004 – Leicester ‘Emergency’ Night at The ‘Y’ Theatre
The SHRUG Ladies set out on their second ever gig to the city of Leicester with their new friend Penny. The Ladies developed a new version of their theatre performance ‘Tea 4 Two’ along side a mini exhibition of the days city ‘Happenings’.
June 2004 – Scratch night at Leeds Metropolitan Studio Theatre
SHRUG’s first performace of ‘Tea 4 Two’, one of our only traditional theatre pieces to date.
