Call Out for Volunteers to Perform: Join the Chorus of The Trembling Forest

The Trembling Forest - A Live Art Ballet is one of DIG's opening shows. We're looking for volunteer participants to join the Chorus of this production, choreographed and directed by emilyn claid in collaboration with Martin O’Brien. 

About the Performance
The Trembling Forest is a queer ‘live art ballet’ drawing on the spontaneous physicality of live art practices together with the scenic, choreographic structures of balletic traditions.

Some of the ideas for this work emerged through a short collaborative piece made by emilyn and Martin O'Brien, reflecting on desire and death. It was poignant and moving, and also full of humour. The Trembling Forest continues emilyn's engagement with ideas of letting go, collapse and decay. The performance envisions a Chorus, undressed and painted in clay, collectively creating a metaphorical image of a decaying interconnected forest. Each member of the chorus will work with emilyn on a simple action-based score that requires no specific professional skills. 

As this is a work in development it is difficult to specify the nature of this score at this moment, though we will know more by the end of April. Decay and collapse are celebrated in this work - and it is possible that joining the chorus will bring up things for you relating to death and dying. You may also find another way into the actions. No one will be asked to share personal experiences verbally relating to these topics, but we'd ask that you consider if this process is right for you at this moment.

Performers must be available for the following dates:

Meal for everyone: Friday 2 May (6.30pm). This is optional to attend but we would love to bring everyone together to share food before working together. This will be covered by the company.

All day workshop with emilyn: Saturday 3 May (11am-5pm)

Performance: 10 May, 7:00-8:15pm (everyone should be there from 1pm. Dress rehearsal at 3pm, show at 7pm).

Queer identifying people of all ages (18+) and physical abilities 

you will need to follow directions as required
you will contribute to a supportive and caring environment
you will be confident to perform in minimal clothing (your choice of underwear will be consulted) 
you will be comfortable to be painted with clay slip (which will dry on your body) and crumbling quantities of clay into dust
you will feel confident and comfortable having your body witnessed by an audience, standing for extended periods, (or participating in a wheelchair or seated if needed), moving slowly, and working collaboratively
you will have an interest in or experience of working with movement
you will be photographed and filmed as part of our festival documentation

Participants will receive a travel stipend of £10 for the Workshop and Performance Day, plus refreshments and a free ticket to a Tramway T1 Performance of their choice during the festival.  

How to join us
Thanks for your interest! We are collecting expressions of interest for this unique performance via this form.
Please submit your expression of interest by 25 April. 

Thank you for considering being part of The Trembling Forest. We look forward to creating something extraordinary together!

This project is organised as part of DIG (Dance International Glasgow) 2025.

The work was originally shown at CEREMONY: a festival of performance, organised by Future Ritual.

Some of the ideas for this work emerged through a short collaborative piece made by emilyn and Martin O'Brien, reflecting on desire and death. It was poignant and moving, and also full of humour. The Trembling Forest continues emilyn's engagement with ideas of letting go, collapse and decay. The performance envisions a Chorus, undressed and painted in clay, collectively creating a metaphorical image of a decaying interconnected forest. Each member of the chorus will work with emilyn on a simple action-based score that requires no specific professional skills. 
As this is a work in development it is difficult to specify the nature of this score at this moment, though we will know more by the end of April. Decay and collapse are celebrated in this work - and it is possible that joining the chorus will bring up things for you relating to death and dying. You may also find another way into the actions. No one will be asked to share personal experiences verbally relating to these topics, but you we'd ask that you consider if this process is right for you at this moment.