Something (1) or Nothing (0)

A solo show about the nature of nothingness directed by Sinéad and written and performed by Guy Dartnell, a Time-Out Live Award winner and long time collaborator with Improbable Theatre.

Co-commissioned by and with performances in 2007 at:
Lilian Baylis Theatre at Sadler's Wells (London)
Colchester Arts Centre (Colchester)
Lakeside Arts Centre (Nottingham)
Merlin Theatre (Frome).

'Among the great things which are found among us the existence of Nothing is the greatest. This dwells in time, and stretches its limbs into the past and future... Nothingness has no centre, and its boundaries are nothingness.'
From 'Reflections on Life' in The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.

Following the sell-out innovative baby show Oogly Boogly and his coming of age adventures in Travels with my Virginity, Guy Dartnell presents an informal performance-lecture using body, words, blackboard and chalk.

According to the mystics the reality of the self might best be expressed through the number 0 since they say that the notion of the self as something (1) is an illusion. With this in mind Guy leads us, with his trademark humour and disarming frankness, around the thorny question of whether we are indeed something or nothing.

Guy's work spans the realms of theatre, music, dance, circus and film. Something or Nothing is his fifth solo outing. Previous to this were Unsung, Bottle, Travels With My Virginity and the Time Out Live Award winning Would Say Something.

'An extremely sophisticated performer. Blessed with an extraordinary voice and latex features, he's a master of vocal acrobatics and bodily contortion who can transform silly noises and movements into transfixing theatre. His stage performances are the theatrical equivalent of a Gaudi cathedral. breathtaking.' Time Out on Would Say Something.

'Dartnell's unabashed inventiveness marks him as a performer who in future will need little talking up.' The Independent on Unsung

Conceived, created and performed by Guy Dartnell
Directed by Sinéad Rushe
Lighting by Katharine Williams
Development filming and editing by Paul Redman
Film documentation by Julian Richards
Photography by Julian Hughes and Phil Eddolls

Text quoted in the show from Douglas Harding's On Having No Head and from his website, www.headless.org

Music:
Jon Hassell, 'Dream Theory,' Dream Theory in Malaya.
François Couperin, 'Antienne,' Leçons de Ténèbres.
Jon Hassell, 'Chor Moiré' Dream Theory in Malaya.
Claude Challe, 'Jolly Mukherjee with the Madras Cinematic Orchestra, Kirwani,' Buddha-Bar Dinner.
Triology, 'Les Oiseaux,' Around The World in 77 Minutes.
Henry Purcell, 'O Solitude,' Music For A While, Alfred Deller.

Funded by the Arts Council England.