Ockham's Razor, Produced by Turtle Key Arts Presents BELLY OF THE WHALE

Belly of the Whale from Ockham's Razor, winners of the Total Theatre and Jacksons Lane Award for Circus at the Edinburgh Fringe 2016, is an incredible meeting of circus and sculpture. This new outdoor show offers an innovative combination of cross-disciplinary curiosity and intuition.

The performers, like surfers on a wild sea, ride a giant semi-circular see-saw made of wood and steel which creaks and groans as it transforms from a catapult to a gently rocking cradle, to a tunnel, to a slide - creating an ever-changing land and soundscape. The concept of the belly of the whale is found in mythology around the world - what happens when we confront our fears and come face to face with the power and momentum of things we seemingly can't change?

The Belly of the Whale structure comes alive during the show, a sculpture in its own right and very much a fourth character. This unique and powerful see-saw, weighing 600kg, is able to reflect the narrative and aid the invention of the piece. By designing new equipment, Ockham's Razor are constantly seeking to innovate within the confines of traditional circus. They offer up the unexpected resulting in a compelling relationship of trust and reliance between the performers.

Musician Gabriele Pierros will fuse acoustic and digital compositions, playing live while also using real-time recordings of his sounds to create a unique accompanying soundscape.

Director Tina Koch comments, In this current climate it can often feel like you are fighting with giants, running against walls, being thrown, faced with challenges and changes seemingly beyond your control. Our work is a reflection of the world how we experience it. This show is about three people coming face to face with their biggest challenge and the different ways they deal with it. It is about daring to jump into the unknown, perseverance and ultimately discovering that you can go it alone but you can go further when you join forces.

Ockham's Razor are supported by Arts Council England. Belly of the Whale is commissioned by Without Walls, Stockton International Riverside Festival, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, Out There International Festival of Circus & Street Arts, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Lift Off! The opening weekend of Wiltshire Creative - Salisbury, Circulate, Stratford Circus Arts Centre and Basingstoke Festival.

There's something magical about British aerial theatre group Ockham's Razor. It's hard to say how they conjure it, with little in the way of props and "performance" - they are the epitome of unshowy - but it's a world where simple actions accumulate into something transporting (Evening Standard).

Ockham's Razor are an aerial theatre company who combine circus and visual theatre to make work that is arresting and entertaining. They specialise in creating physical theatre on original pieces of aerial equipment and create stories from the vulnerability. Since 2004, the company have performed in theatres and festivals throughout the U.K, Europe and Australia and have established a reputation for innovative, arresting, accessible performances.

The name Ockham's Razor comes from a logical principle attributed to the medieval philosopher William of Ockham. It states that between two plausible theories, the simpler is preferable. It is called a razor because it cuts out unnecessary elements. As a company they work with this simple approach.

Ockham's Razor are Company in residency at artsdepot and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Turtle Key Arts unlocks creative potential in individual companies and communities, producing and devising original, ground-breaking, inclusive art entertain and inspire.

Their work has a UK and international reach through a wide variety of innovative projects with many different collaborators and partners, currently including the companies: Ockham's Razor, RedCape Theatre, Amici Dance Theatre Company, Joli Vyann, Open Sky, AIK Productions and Slot Machine Theatre; and recent collaborations with: English Touring Opera, Royal College of Music, The Wigmore Hall, National Portrait Gallery, Opera North, The Royal Court Theatre and Oxford University.

They have played a committed role in advancing participation in the arts by disabled, disadvantaged and socially excluded people, and are widely recognised as a leader in this field, often charting new territories, such as Turtle Song for people with Dementia and The Key Club for young people with Autism.

Turtle Key Arts was formed in 1989 as a unique and ground-breaking accessible space; and accessibility for all continues to be a key philosophy of the company.

Belly of the Whale has been commissioned by Without Walls. Without Walls, managed by XTRAX, is a consortium of the UK's leading outdoor arts festivals and organisations, and brings the best in new outdoor performance to diverse audiences all over the UK. It provides opportunities for UK artists to develop bold new ideas - from large-scale spectaculars to more intimate pieces - and is inclusive of all art forms and genres. Since 2007, Without Walls has commissioned and supported the development of over 100 shows, many of which have toured beyond Without Walls to 22 countries across the world. For more information on the work of Without Walls, please visit www.withoutwalls.uk.com.

Belly of the Whale has been commissioned by Circulate, through the Ockham's Razor Artist Residency at Stratford Circus. Circulate is London's flagship outdoor touring programme, developed by a consortium of London venues, Watermans, The Albany, Millfield Theatre and Stratford Circus, with ISAN and the GLA. Since summer 2013, Circulate has been bringing outstanding, free outdoor arts events to London's places and spaces, enlivening the neighbourhoods where people live. For more information about Circulate, please visit www.Circulate.London.

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