This summer, Thanet performance group, Looping the Loop launched an ingenious solution to bring live performances to local households, despite lockdown conditions and widespread theatre closures. The Unexpected Performance Service (UPS for short) is a 20-minute doorstep show, delivered “contactless” by actors – think Just Eat but with food for the soul rather than for the stomach.
Throughout July and August, Looping the Loop’s UPS brought laughter and fun to 20 local households via a hilarious Dog Agility Show, featuring three puppet dogs Mabelle, Marjorie and Gladys.
The show was created and performed by Looping the Loop Director Ellie Jones, her husband Steve Jones of Nearly Normal Theatre Company, and their 10-year old son Sam! Alongside normal delivery hours, Looping the Loop, partnered up with Newington Big Local and Creative Newington this summer and invited members of the public to make a donation in order to perform to low-income family in Newington, Ramsgate, where an estimated 51% young people live in poverty.* Actors worked at half rates and reached 10 local families. CommunityAd had the pleasure of a chat with Westgate thespian, director and mother Ellie.
You’re a little like Westgate’s Von Trapps, aren’t you? Tell us about the joys and struggles of working with the family?
The project was born out of the issues of not being able to bring a group of actors together. I took a look around our house at the people available and it was just Steve (my partner), Sam (our son) and I so if we were going to do anything it had to be us! Working as a family has been great fun (most of the time) although as a director, I’m mainly used to being in charge and I’ve had to be third in command on this project as both Steve and Sam feel much more at home being silly in front of people than I do!
What has the reaction been like from those you have performed to? It must be lovely to be able to put smiles on faces during this time?
It’s been such a wonderful thing to do. Watching children’s faces light up when the dogs sniff around their ankles looking for sausages and the grown-ups laugh at Steve’s jokes has filled me with joy. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Newington Big Local, too, and people have been donating performances for families that might not be able to access them otherwise, those performances have mostly been my favourites, although we were booked as a wedding anniversary present and that was hilarious!
The Unexpected Performance Service is closed for deliveries on 31st August, however at the end of September, Nearly Normal’s Dog Agility Team are due to spend a day visiting families on Athelstan Road, Cliftonville to celebrate the new speed restrictions put in place by Kent County Council.
Looping the Loop is always looking or new adventures so if there’s something creative you’d like to see in the area please get in touch via [email protected] or check out the website for what they’ve got coming up.