About PartSuspended

PartSuspended is a multi-disciplinary group addressing issues emerging from the contemporary way of living through physical and visual devised theatre.

PartSuspended has established collaborations with artists from a variety of disciplines such as theatre practitioners, visual artists, photographers and writers. We look at the various ways in which the performance space facilitates, informs and influences the audience's experience.

PartSuspended believes that different disciplines can open up possibilities and enrich the creation of performance, as well as enhance the effect of it on the audience. Furthermore, we see the devising process itself as a key part of the final performance piece, due to its transformative effect on those involved.

Formed in 2006 by Hari Marini and Matthew Skelton, PartSuspended explores the concept of "space-specific performance" - that is, theatre performance inspired and influenced by the effect of a particular space on the participants - and has shown work in theatres, galleries, pavements, and car parks, using devised texts, projected photomontage, video, physical theatre and often audience participation.

PartSuspended is a not-for-profit company (limited by guarantee), which aims to promote the awareness and appreciation of the process, practice and performance of devised theatre and associated performance forms, and to provide training, educational and performance opportunities for people wishing to be involved in devised theatre.

Hari Marini

Hari is a performance maker who explores new ways of devising and performing in theatre and non-theatre spaces. Her work is based on improvisation and physicality; she draws inspiration from the spaces she works and lives in and seeks to create a stimulating experience for the audience. In 2006, she co-founded the performance group PartSuspended, where she has regularly led, devised and performed performance projects. With PartSuspended she pursues innovative work, incorporating concepts from other disciplines and practices, such as architecture, sociology and photography. Her devising and performance practice seek to explore new ways of producing inspiring environments, which engage the body and mind of the audience.

Hari's interest in working with the architectural elements, dimensions, materials, practices and atmosphere of urban spaces within the context of theatre performance led her to pursue PhD research at Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), following her MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at Central School of Speech and Drama (London 2005, scholarship from the Hellenic Republic Scholarships Foundation). Her PhD research explores the relationship between site-specific performance and urban spaces, providing, in addition, theoretical frameworks for her practical work. She has also a diploma in Acting from the Arhi Drama School (Greece 2002) and a diploma in Civil Engineering from the University of Patras (Greece 1999). Since 2006, she has been teaching undergraduate performance courses at Queen Mary, University of London. Hari has collaborated and performed in many performances both in Greece and the UK.

Conference papers include:

Links

Matthew Skelton

A co-founder of PartSuspended, Matthew oversees many of the technical and operational aspects of PartSuspended's productions, in addition to having a strong creative involvement. A software systems architect by training and profession, his experience in leading and delivering large-scale software projects provides PartSuspended with practical financial and professional experience.

He studied singing under Jane Anthony of Opera North and Nicholas Clapton. He has also attended photography masterclasses with photographers such as Marc Brome and Keith Barnes and is a member of PhotoFusion, London. Matthew has studied theatre producing with Nick Hennegan, and is particularly interested in the ways in which photography and performance can interact.

Links

Mary Bleasdale

Mary is a devised performance maker and teacher of the arts to adults with learning difficulties. She is studying Inclusive Arts Practice at Brighton University, where she is developing a new FE Inclusive Performance course as well as devising work with Access to Art students and the Rocket Artists.

She studied at Dartington College of Arts, Central School of Speech and Drama, Greenwich University and now Brighton University. Mary's devised performance work often focuses on the audience experience and participation in non traditional theatre spaces, in collaboration with different artists.

Arkadia Psalti

Arkadia is an actress and photographer, working in Greece. She graduated from the Further Drama School Arhi in 2002 and Focus School of Art, Photography, Video and New Technologies in 1992.

Arkadia is a member of Hellenic Theatre/Drama and Education Network, and she delivers seminars on theatre practice to teachers across Greece. She has also delivered workshops to children and directed many plays in secondary schools. She has worked as a drama teacher and director in MOSAIC KETHEA organization, which supports immigrants and refuges in Athens. Since 2008 she has been working as a theatre leader of young people in the Therapeutic Community OKANA - organisation against drugs - employing 'Playing-Through-Theatre' methods.

Download CV: Arkadia Psalti - English - (Word Document, 63KB); Arkadia Psalti - Greek - (Word Document, 69KB)

Saskia Fischer

Saskia Fischer lives in London where she writes stories, makes videos, takes photos, and teaches healthy cooking, amongst other things. I am Indian and Dutch, and grew up in Brussels. After studying media in Philadelphia, I worked for a number of years with community groups around the US as an organizer, challenging the media's active collusion with social injustices. I'm interested in the power of representation: how do people, states and corporations create and deploy identities and dreams through media? How do these move and immobilise us, and how can we create our own?

Download CV: Saskia Fischer (Word Document, 45KB)

Sebastian Hicks

Sebastian Hicks studied architecture in London and Vienna. He has an interest in projects which have an in-built critical polemic which tread and blur the line between myth and reality, where Architecture, movement, theatre and writing are one and the same.

He has realised projects in London and Northern Argentina.

Matthew Williams

Matthew Williams makes websites for a living, and writes in his spare time. He is also a filmmaker with a special interest in live devised performance, and the combination/interaction of these two 'languages' and its effect on audiences.

Theo Kominis

Theo Kominis is a translator and interpreter with an interest in live performance and film production. He holds a degree in Architecture, and has undertaken academic research into "virtual" spaces.

Ornela Kapetani

Ornela is a performer and a drama therapist based in London, working both in UK and Greece. In 2008 she graduated from CSSD with an MA in Drama and Movement Therapy (Sesame Approach). She also holds an BA in acting from Arhi Drama School (2004).

She has performed both in theatre and fiction movies. In 2008 she was awarded as the "Best Leading Actress", at the International Film Fest of Durres for her performence in the fiction movie "Correction" directed by Thanos Anastopoulos, a movie that represented Greece in the Foreign Language Oscar Contenders 2008.

Since 2003 until now she is an active member of the European Network Of Women, a non-profit organisation operating at the European Union, aiming to affect European policies for democracy and equality. It supports universal Human Rights and works to combat social exlusion, racism, sexism and all forms of violence. Currently Ornela acts as the organisation's representative in the UK.

Online CV: Ornela Kapetani.