Interviews

Five Reasons To See … Polarbear’s Old Me

| Off-West End |

22 November 2011

Spoken word artist Polarbear draws on his own experiences of leaving his life as a Brummie builder and heading to London to be an artist, and, soon after, a father, in Old Me which plays the Roundhouse’s Studio Theatre from 23 November (previews from 21 November) to 3 December 2011.

Directed by Leo Kay, the internationally renowned spoken word artist conjures a seamlessly integrated world where language, cutting edge projected visuals and live music from Daniel Marcus Clark combine.

His third full length performance piece, Old Me follows RETURN – A Spoken Screenplay (BAC and tour) and If I cover my nose you can’t see me (London Literature Festival and tour) as well as appearances on BBC Radio 1, 3, 4 and 6. Polarbear gives us his five reasons to see the show.

1. Old Me is a collaboration between spoken word, live musical score, lighting and projection

Not elements added to a poem. This is four elements combining to tell a story together. The story being the important part, not just the performer.

2. It is all about conviction

Where conviction comes from and how it manifests itself at different points in a life. Sometimes for good. Other for bad and occasionally for ugly.

3. There’s an LSD tripping scene

No more to say on that one.

4. It is about Parenthood

The idea of what it can and does mean to be a parent and the legacy we are left and subsequently leave.

5. It’s a lot of fun

The enjoyment of performance and spoken word are really at the heart of the piece. And at one point I pretend to be Bruce Lee. Old Me is the concluding chapter in a trilogy about the idea of where we come from and why we do what we do. And it has tigers in it.

Old Me opens at the Roundhouse on 23 November (previews from 21 November) where it runs until 3 December 2011.