Claire French

POLYFON BLOG

A personal space for reflection that shares the meandering processes of knowledge creation in practice research. An ear toward vulnerability and claims to selfhood, attempting to interrogate some of the ethical problems within applied and social justice theatre.

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November 20, 2023

I have a routine to prepare for change

This is a short autobiographical poem that I recently wrote as part of our storytelling process for my upcoming play Courage Songs. I have a routine to prepare for change. I turn on all the lamps in
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March 22, 2023

Migration and my songs of courage

For the past two years I have been slowly developing a new play that is inspired by the female-led migration story and told through a memoir of songs. Courage Songs has plagued all aspects of my
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November 21, 2021

Capturing courage

Since autumn, I have been quietly turning to an artistic practice that firmly situates my identity and value as an insider to the work. A yearning to locate my cultural stories and find the tools and
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April 18, 2020

Performing the languages we live

This blog post is a copy of its original publication on the Creative Multilingualism blog here ‘We breathe English, but we don’t live it’ says Dion Nkomo, educator at the University of Cape
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December 11, 2019

Celebrating the PhD, onwards ECR

Yesterday I experienced the PhD viva and left unscathed (!), enthusiastic about the nature of the PhD reviewing and examining process, and able to celebrate, for the very first time, my own prospects
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April 21, 2017

Podcasting with Visible Theatre

I was lucky enough to have access to enough equipment to cobble together some podcasts featuring the post-show panel discussions and artist talks that I led for Visible for their most recent
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July 21, 2015

All we need is space: Old Vic New Voices

This stunning rehearsal studio at Jerwood Studios in London was the beginning of some my key current practice as research inquiries regarding ethics and engagement in auto/biographical performance
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This is a short autobiographical poem that I recently wrote as part of our storytelling process for my upcoming play Courage Songs.

I have a routine to prepare for change.

I turn on all the lamps in the house, put on some music, sit myself on the rug, in front of a window.

Take a duvet and leave it close by, for comfort.

I usually have a film on in the background that I know, and love – something a bit trashy, blooming with positivity, a romance too. 

But I never really watch it. I sit there preparing for the storm.

It is like hearing the rain pummel down on a tin ceiling and knowing that you have to eventually walk out into it.

I was in Berlin, and it was 2013.

I have a routine to prepare for change.

I sit by my dog, wishing that I could tell him what was ahead. ‘You are going to be in a small box for 22 hours and then you’ll see me again. You are going to be looked after by a friend for five months while I find a flight for you’. 

I didn’t know what was ahead, not really.

I was in Birmingham, and it was 2020.

I have a routine to prepare for change. 

I pack up all of my photographs, taking them out of their frames and placing them in an envelope, for new frames. 

When I unpack them, I was in Perth, it was 2022. 

I had to give my books to charity.

I try not to own books now.

I have a routine for dealing with change. 

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