Published: February 8, 2022 | Updated: 9th February 2022
This month we learn how doing nothing will help your creativity flourish, writes Jason Ward.
We find out what inspires Dorset-based actor Nicole Faraday, star of ITV’s Bad Girls, and brand new musical Soul Sisters.
The Solem Quartet’s recent sold out concert in Bridport is reviewed and you can dip into an eclectic choice of wonderful Arts and Culture to enjoy around the region.
Coming your way in the next month:
28th February-5th March – Hairspray. The perfect antidote to winter chills.
The smash hit West End musical kicks off a major national tour at Lighthouse, Poole. Brenda Edwards leads an amazing cast. Tickets: lighthousepoole.co.uk
14th February – Touched Short films by female and non-binary film makers exploring lust, sex and desire. Co-curated by TAPE & Invisible Women at the Boscombe Arts Depot. More details here.
5th March – Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion. Funky rocking blues with a powerhouse band and Zoe’s Majestic vocals make for an exciting musical night out at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester. More info here and zoeschwarzmusic.com
Review: Solem Quartet – Bridport Arts Centre
Any questions about the importance of culture, the relevance of classical music and the wisdom of presenting concerts at 11:30am were all answered by this event.
200 people filled the Arts Centre to soak in the energy, talent and expressiveness of the Solem Quartet.
The group brought a fresh energy and view point to pieces by Purcell, Gurney and Beethoven.
Some view the Solem Quartet as the future of classical music and, judging by this concert and their new album The Four Quarters, it is easy to understand why.
Catch them in our area again on 16th and 20th February.
solemquartet.co.uk and The Four Quarters: orchid-music.lnk.to/solemquartet
The Solem Quartet played as part of the excellent 2022 Concerts In The West season. Find out more by clicking here.
Nicole Faraday
Nicole Faraday, known for her leading TV roles in Bad Girls, Casualty and Emmerdale, is also an award-winning theatre actor, cabaret performer and photographer. Based in Dorset, Nicole is preparing to take a new musical on a national tour and to present her own cabaret at West End venue Crazy Coqs in March.
Picture: PND
What inspires your creative ideas?
As an actress I love working with new theatre writing, being the first to bring a piece to life and having a creative input when originating a character. Working with fellow creatives in a collaborative process that remains true to the author’s vision but putting our own stamp on the roles. I love learning from talented people in the same creative process as this often leads to new ideas of my own.
Creativity and inspiration can also develop through circumstance: during the pandemic with theatres and film and TV sets shut down, I had to think outside the box to maintain my creativity and my sanity! I turned to photography and started a business designing bespoke facemasks with my own photographic prints of the beautiful landscapes and seascapes of my surroundings here in Dorset. Arts Council England chose some of my designs for the Coronavisions exhibition showcasing art inspired by Coronavirus.
Why are arts and culture important to everyone?
I believe Arts and Culture are vital to the lifeblood of humanity. Sometimes providing necessary escapism. How would we have survived the horrors of coronavirus lockdowns without literature, creative multimedia or Netflix? Conversely, art and creativity can change society, how we feel about life and how we interact. Art brings a way to empathise and communicate personal and emotional experiences that are hard to express in language.
What advice would you give to a business to help them become more creative?
Allocating time to appreciate and experience creative arts is vital to a company’s wellbeing. Number crunching, processes and functionality are all very well but for a happy, healthy outlook and employees who value and feel valued in their place of work I would recommend regular creative team building. I would also encourage thinking outside the box and brainstorming new ways to drive innovation. Listen to everyone’s ideas, as creativity is often a collective activity.
Who is your creative hero?
I steer away from hero worshipping one particular creative. My work is very eclectic: singer, presenter, actress, photographer, journalist and teacher so I admire different people for different reasons. I love it when people put their own spin on things; Eva Cassidy with her beautiful take on classic songs, or endlessly creative theatre companies like PunchDrunk, Fiery Angel, Knee High and Spitlip. In Boscombe I admire Black Cherry for their weekly improvisation and creative space. I hope to work with them soon!
What piece of creative work are you most proud of?
I am extremely proud of my photographic mask business as it stopped me curling up in a depressed heap when all of my work was cancelled. I felt stifled and locked down when I should have been performing around the world and it gave me a reason to get up every day.
I enjoyed rediscovering our beautiful local landscape and loved the quest to take “that perfect shot” to turn into a print. As an actress I am most proud of creating the Shell Dockley role in the Bad Girls Musical. This won me critical acclaim, a TMA award, a WOS nomination and a feature on the original cast DVD and soundtrack album as well as several offers to direct the show. My performance as Blanche Dubois in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ at Lighthouse, Poole makes me very proud as it was a tough but extremely rewarding role to crack.
What are you working on right now?
After nearly two years of disruption live theatre is slowly but surely coming back! I have been cast as a lead in a brand new musical ‘Soul Sisters’ – pictured above – heading out on a national tour and coming to both Poole and Weymouth. I am working alongside some fantastic performers and we start rehearsals any day. I also work with Organise Events which is a fab murder-mystery company – there’s lots of creative improvisation!
Finally I am preparing for a cabaret evening on 14th March at the prestigious London venue ‘The Crazy Coqs’ singing ‘Songs From the Heart’ accompanied by my guitarist Gus.
See more details here.
Last month we talked about the preparation needed to start your creative project.
This month we enjoy the benefits of seemingly doing nothing!
The four steps of the creative process include both thinking and doing. Step two is INCUBATION and this step is about thinking.
Once you have gathered your information, and you have immersed yourself in the project you need to take a step back and let all your brain’s new connections do their work.
JK Rowling suggests ‘filling up on life’ while your subconscious works – take the dogs out, enjoy a stroll along the beach, or have a drink with friends.
The important thing is to distract yourself from the creative task and trust the process.
Remember the old saying ‘A watched pot never boils!’
Check out next month’s column for what to do when you experience your Eureka moment!
And contact me directly for insights and support
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