House Mother Normal - Online
A digital installation inspired by BS Johnson's celebrated novel, directed by Tim Crouch.
Friend (if I may call you friend), these are also our friends.
Ron, Rosetta, Ivy, Charlie, Gloria, Sarah, Sioned and George. Under the watchful eye of House Mother, eight residents of the strangest care home recall their pasts and narrate their terrifying present: the twitcher, the song, the Christmas Crackers, the Pass the Parcel, and Ralphie’s ‘long, probing, red tongue’. Nine faces. Nine voices orchestrated into a spoken-word symphony of old age and absurdism.
In the early 1970s, BS Johnson was at the forefront of the English literary avant-garde. Marking its fiftieth anniversary this year, his celebrated novel House Mother Normal is given the equivalent of a digital remastering by Brighton artist and ‘the country’s pre-eminent experimental playwright’ (The Stage), Tim Crouch.
This piece is designed to be heard with headphones.
In addition, you have 48 hours to view it again and also watch a full performance version with captions. We also invite you explore the nine individual monologues which reveal the full beauty of each character.
‘New Perspectives has been a pioneer during the theatre shutdown.’ Lyn Gardner, Stagedoor
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With generous support from
5 Minutes With Tim Crouch
Tim has been making work with Brighton Festival since 2003 and tells us more about this timely new presentation of Johnson’s work for 2021.
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