mule
start
Creating changed for me three years ago when I became obsession with the idea of producing content.
I was feeling ashamed with myself. I had many ideas but never ended up capitalising on them and finishing products.
I was lazy.
I started making heaps of short films. Never with any true intention, it was creation for the sake of making something.
The more I created, the more I began to refine and develop meaning to the work. My good friend and fellow actor Jules Smekens was involved with me the whole way.
We began dreaming bigger.
At the end of 2022 we began “Mule Productions”.
about
I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of companies. I have a communist mindset when it comes to creation. It’s must always be about sharing. Serving something that is larger than yourself, above your own selfish desire.
We created “Mule Productions” as a multi-disciplinary company under which we developed many different creative projects.
The most notably for me, was a series of five short movement based pieces. With the help of a cast of ten contemporary dancers, we built the work from scratch. The performance took place in May 2023 but the whole three month creation process of working in a rehearsal room with eleven other passionate people was moving.
My favourite piece was titled “the lonely boy” in which I choreographed with Johanne Skogstad. She has one of the greatest minds I have ever witnessed when it comes to creation and she is large reason I am who I am today.
I fell deeply in love with her during this period of my life.
Notably, another one of these pieces, “the soothing sleep” was nominated for an award in the October 2023 ‘Choreoscope Barcelona Dance Film Festival.’
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024
After the short films, we were eager for something we now viewed as a challenge.
We settled on building a play from scratch.
The endless writing, planning, budgeting, marketing and general planning that went into the making of the show was mega.
In August 2024 , we took “A Play By John” to Edinburgh for a two week run.
I want to preface that, being able to experience this festival is something I have desired since 2019.
Without Jules and his devotion to the piece, this couldn’t have been a reality and I thank him deeply from my heart.
The Fringe itself was an experience.
I have a mentor called Cristian Izzo, whose roots are based in Italian Commedia Dell'arte and from him I have learnt a lot about street theatre and the origins of our craft.
I am huge fan of the message behind street theatre and being at the festival ignited this almost animalistic drive that I always search for.
Fringe theatre is hard work and I admire those artists that do it year in year, year out.