Next Performance:
Website: www.jimpinchen.com
Jim Pinchen has dedicated many years to writing, producing and promoting original music. His love of music extends to a multitude of genres and he has worked extensively in various styles including rock, funk, RnB, soul, jazz, latin, classic and more left-field genres.
Jim has collaborated with a variety of musicians from many different cultures, musical backgrounds and artistic genres as a songwriter, and on other projects such as film, theatre and (more recently) dance.
His recent collaborations with StopGAP, have allowed Jim to further explore music composition for contemporary dance — and is now working on a collaboration with Thomas Noone.
Jim consistently offers more than expected creatively, which is exciting for performing artists, as it often inspires a different direction.Vicki Balaam — StopGAP Artistic Director
Website: www.gregmatthews.co.uk
Greg Matthews has played an integral role in the evolution of StopGAP Dance Company’s brand and marketing in the past 10 years, helping to craft its public image as a world-class integrated dance company.
An accomplished Graphic Designer and Art Director, Greg has worked on an extensive range of projects for over 30 design studios, marketing and promotions agencies throughout London and the home counties over the past 15 years. In that time he has built an impressive multi-disciplinary portfolio of work spanning: Advertising, Branding, Packaging, Merchandise, Publishing, Web Design and Video Production.
From the design and development of the StopGAP website, to the design and production of various posters, flyers, banners, programmes and merchandise to accompany each new dance project, Greg has worked closely with both the company and the dancers. Creating eye-catching designs that visually communicate the dance pieces themselves as well as the underlying principles of integration.
Through his work with StopGAP, Greg has been able to explore accessibility in design — to move away from the idea that in order for something to be accessible, it must also be simple or functional; to focus instead on the core message as the foundation for the design and let creativity grow organically from it. Ultimately creating a beautiful AND functional work of art.
Just because something has to be accessible doesn't mean it can't also be a fantastic piece of design.Greg Matthews
Website: www.wevoices.co.uk
Willie Elliott has worked all over the UK as an actor and director for over twenty years and has been working as an Audio Describer since 2003.
Having initially worked with Graeae Theatre Company in their production of The Changeling, Willie became a regular describer for Vocaleyes for whom he described The Lion King, The Jersey Boys as well as many productions for the Almeida and the Donmar Warehouse theatres. Willie also worked on a wide variety of events from opera to drama to circus, and live street events such as the Liberty Festival at Trafalgar Square, where he was first introduced to StopGAP.
After accepting the challenge to write the description for all seven choreographed parts of Portfolio Collection, Willie has continued to work closely with Artistic Director, Vicki Balaam to explore ways of pushing the boundaries of audio description, making the experience of seeing a StopGAP performance truly integrated.
Willie has also worked with Blue Eyed Soul — another integrated contemporary dance company — adding a third voice to a description pre-recorded by the dancers and adding a new dimension to the performance. With Rambert Dance Company and Vocaleyes, Willie experimented on the differences between describing from a dvd, of an existing piece, and working in the rehearsal room with choreographer Siobhan Davis and the dancers.
Willie recently described Strictly Gershwin a production by English National Ballet, performed at the Royal Albert Hall — an eclectic mix of dance styles, including classical ballet, tap and ballroom performed to the music of George and Ira Gershwin — and has also just completed Swan Lake in the round.
