Artist and self-described ‘forward-facing fatso’ Scottee brings Fat Blokes, his signature take on dance, back to HOME in March following its sell-out run last May at the venue. It will be Scottee’s third appearance at HOME, following Bravado in our ORBIT festival in September 2017.
In Scottee’s own words, Fat Blokes is “about flab, double chins and getting your kit off in public”, uncovering why fat men are never portrayed as sexy but always as funny, always the ‘before’ but never the ‘after’ shot. “
Made in collaboration with renowned choreographer Lea Anderson and four plus-sized male performers – Asad Ullah, Joe Spencer, Sam Buttery, Graham Mercer, all of whom are new to dance, plus Scottee himself – Fat Blokes is a show about pent-up aggression, riot grrl, and the hokey-cokey: contemporary dance as a form of ‘fat rebellion’.
“Fat Blokes sees me taking my trademark mouthy and messy work kicking and screaming into the world of dance,” says Scottee. “It’s a riotous show about bad fatties, like me! A call to arms for those of us who don’t intend to diet despite television doctors telling us our fat bodies are embarrassing. Fat Blokes is a fat rebellion to everything you hold so dear.”
“It is fascinating to work with Scottee who has so much to say about fat male bodies,” says Lea Anderson. “I’m looking forward to working with a group of men who have such diverse performance experiences and exquisite silhouettes, and I hope to have a chance to make something beautiful.”
After the performance on Thu 21 March, we invite audience members to stay for a post-show discussion ‘Death and Diabetes: A Big Queer Fat Chat’. Join Scottee and the Pride in Practice programme from Manchester’s LGBT Foundation, who will invite a queer, fat panel to share their experiences of accessing health services and highlight the things that our health providers need to know about the intersection between fatness and queerness.
Pride in Practice is the LGBT Foundation’s programme to ensure that communities in Greater Manchester have access to GP practices, dental practices, pharmacies and optometry outlets that are LGBT inclusive. The service is funded by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, and NHS England.
LGBT Foundation has a Men’s Programme that works with gay, bi and trans men. Some of the work they cover is around men’s body image and self-esteem, similar to the themes covered in Fat Blokes. LGBT Foundation may be able to facilitate interviews/case studies with service users or volunteers as part of any features or awareness raising of these issues.
Scottee’s next show at HOME, Class, is all about the class divide, and what it is to be embarrassed of who you are and pretending to be posher than you are. Class runs Wed 23 – Sat 26 Oct 2019.
FAT BLOKES – PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
Tue 19 March, 19:45 (press night performance)
Wed 20 March, 19:45 (plus post-show cast and crew Q&A)
Thu 21 March, 19:45 (plus post-show discussion – ‘Death and Diabetes: A Big Queer Fat Chat’ in association with the LGBT Foundation)
Fri 22 March 19:45 Sat 23 March
