Kings of England Field Trip / PhD

A joint post. Kings of England (my Father and I) went on a field trip to the pub last night. Normally we never...ever...do that, but this was something of an occasion. Last week I graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a PhD, entitled 'Towards an Ethics of Voice as Hospitable Space'. The thesis draws on the ethical philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, and concerns as a performative space, and as a gesture of welcome. It took 4 years to research and write, and is a sprawling 73,000 words, a proper bastard, but it's over and done with now.
We walked out to the Sportsman, which was shut, so we went to the Royal where we met another father (Keith) and son (Chris), who also live down our road.
So we put the world to rights - topics included the weather, chemistry, hiking, the theatre, types of hats, osteoporosis, ants and helicopter rescues. I made a mental note to induct Keith and Chris into some kind of K of E club if we ever start one. But besides all that, I haven't seen my dad squiffy in a long time and it was good to see him loosen up a bit. He was supposed to be going to listen to a choir somewhere this morning but awoke at 11 after an unintentional lie in.

Just got back from Hauser researsals...

I have been keeping this a bit quiet, but I am currently working with an ensemble under the direction of Swen Steinhauser (former artistic director of Deer Park). Also in the company are Anna Wilson (CHIRP, Plane, imitating the dog), Alice Booth (itd), Simone Kenyon (Brief Magnetics, former Deer Park), Neil Callaghan (Propeller) and Anthea Lewis, a London-based dancer and choreographer.
We have just spent two fatiguing weeks in rehearsal at the Gregson Centre and the Nuffield, Lancaster. Its an interesting process, having never been directed in a piece of theatre before, and I count myself lucky to be working with these performers. More on this soon.