Work with Metro-Boulot-Dodo
Metro-Boulot-Dodo was formed in 1997 by a bunch of friends in their last year of Theatre Studies at Lancaster University. Originally a theatre company, they made five shows (The Tupperware Tea Party, Reunion, The Final Fling, Gag & Blown Up). They toured nationally, workshopping local schools and colleges along the way, also winning Total Theatre’s Best Newcomer Award at The Edinburgh Festival.
They then moved into installation creating their Four Seasons series of work and, notably, FIB, a performative installation about lying.
They also did a lot of other weird and wonderful stuff from a treasure trail around Stockton Festival to Nightscene, a show that created a film in situ in nightclubs around The Black Sea.
The company toured nationally and internationally, was core-funded and won lots of awards and stuff!
Below are handful of highlights from the companies vast body of work.
Blown Up
Project role: Director
Blown Up was MBD's last theatre piece and the creation of the work was a bit magical. Co-Company Director, Esther Simpson, was collaborating on a project with photographer Roger Bradley. They became friends and she interviewed him about a lover and muse early in his life. Set to music, Roger talks about the photographic process and this relationship while dance and projection envelope the stage. Blown Up appeared at the ICA and won the Time Out's Critic Choice Award.
FIB
Project roles: Writer, Voice Actor, Actor.
FIB was a creative explosion for the company as they began to move away from theatre.
14 audience members, 14 boxes, 14 three-minute experiences about lying and truth.
A black box containing venom from a betrayed spouse, a chilled cloud box telling you lies about the afterlife, a disturbed telesales caller drowns in his lies and yours and a host of other boxes that challenged, amused and horrified.
FIB was a huge hit with the public at festivals and appeared at The National Theatre.
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Spring
Project Roles: Writer and Voice Actor
Spring was the beginning of their Four Seasons installation series and easiest the silliest. The audience are introduced to Polly and see a garden through her eyes. Stick your head in a beehive and listen to the swarm sing communist propaganda, a wishing well that puts you on hold, claustrophobic moles and peas too mushy on E numbers (check the sound element - it's very funny).
Aimed at children and stoned people, Spring was a glorious celebration of a child's imagination and sense of wonder. Appeared at The National Theatre and at festivals, notably Leicester's Summer Sundae music festival, and was thoroughly enjoyed by a more 'relaxed' public.
The Workshop
Project Roles: Education Officer, Actor, Devisor, Editor & Director.
David's favourite piece of education work for Metro-Boulot-Dodo. A mockumentary following "Dave" as he workshops a bunch of confused, unimpressed girls on the topic of bullying.
"Don't fight back ... think back!"
As the week unfolds and Dave becomes more unbearable a moment of bullying occurs within the group.
Funny, honest, moving: this 30-minute film investigates why bullying happens and wonderfully parodies "Arts Ed".
David had a whale of a time and the girls are, quite simply, brilliant. All devised, shot and improvised in a week.
David left the company in 2012 to pursue more personal and musical work. The company now goes by MBD and work with immersive media—from VR and AR to interactive installations and digital theatre. Check them out here: https://www.mbd.limited/
David's 15 years with the company were a bit like being in a band. They were always working and because of the eclectic interests of the members they were always pushing themselves as artists and doing something new. Amongst other skills, David learnt how to run workshops, perform and was constantly being challenged as a writer and creator.