Victoria Firth

05/09/2022

Knowing when to stop – Victoria Firth

This Saturday I'm doing the last performance of 'How to be amazingly happy!' at StoryhouseLive in Chester. It feels a big moment, sad, and something to celebrate as I realise I made my ambition of doing 50 shows! I'm delighted it will be part of a fantastic day long event for people who don't have children by choice, not by choice, or both and their friends.
I wrote a blog about why it's the last one and how you decide when to stop doing autobiographical work. You can read it here ...
http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/knowing-when-to-stop/

If you'd like to come and see the show tickets are available here...
https://www.storyhouse.com/childless

Thanks to everyone who helped me make the show and everyone who's come to see it over the years - I'm very grateful and it has made me amazingly happy! x

Posted on by Victoria FirthKnowing when to stop 5th September 2022 In 2018 I made an autobiographical one woman show called ‘How to be amazingly happy!’. It looked at identity and reinvention through the lens of not having children. It’s personal, intimate and increasingly has enabled me to pl...

30/06/2022

I'm privileged to be part of this event on Saturday 10th September at StoryhouseLive
Storyhouse Childless is a day for people who don't have children, either intentionally, or not by choice.
It will also be the LAST EVER performance of 'How to be amazingly happy!'
More details and tickets here:
https://www.storyhouse.com/childless

30/05/2022

The Butter Piece

Hi Everyone, If you didn't get to see my live art performance THE BUTTER PIECE last autumn you can have a look and a listen to what audiences were talking about in this montage. If you want to know more all the writing from the project is still available, free, on my website.

www.victoriafirth.co.uk

20/05/2022

THESE FOUR WALLS

Delighted to be part of this new short film, THESE FOUR WALLS, by
The Grief Series based on research about experiences of grief in the pandemic.
THESE FOUR WALLS was written, directed & designed by Ellie Harrison with cinematography & editing by Matt Rogers & sound by Jack Sibley. It was made with the Good Grief Festival and Marie Curie UK.
You can watch it here: vimeo.com/709404846

This is "THESE FOUR WALLS" by Good Grief on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

05/04/2022

Sile Sibanda - 31/03/2022 - BBC Sounds

If you want to know more about my one woman show 'How to be amazingly happy!' coming to Enable Us Project, Sheffield TOMORROW, 6th April - have a listen to me chatting to Sile Sibanda on the BBC sounds app (Jump to 1:11:40) https://bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0bt9z0d
and if you want tickets you can get them here!
https://performancevenues.group.shef.ac.uk/event/how-to-be-amazingly-happy-bsl-performance/

Fun and conversation with Sile, plus up-and-coming local talent.

01/04/2022

NEWS:
Just passing on that wonderful Victoria Firth, of the
Care, Courage & Comedy
Emotipod episode (links in bio if you’d like to listen)
wanted to let you know about
PUSHING BUTTER (accompanying her live performance The Butter Piece) - has curated a collection of writing featuring amazing contributors and images.
Take a look (link below or via Victoria Firth]) -
wonderful stuff 🧡🧡🧡
http://tiny.cc/pushingbutter
blackstock
Victoria Firth]

31/03/2022

Oh LOOK!
Some spring dates for my show HOW TO BE AMAZINGLY HAPPY! have popped up🌼🌱🌿🌻🌺

Wed 6th April @ Enable Us Project Sheffield
Wed 27th April @ The Old Courts Wigan
Sat 14th May The Civic, Barnsley

Be lovely to see you there - all the details here🔻
http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/howtobeamazinglyhappy/

30/03/2022

"What if, like a ploughed field,...Our bodies could open"

Writing that moves me every time I read it, from Orrow Amy Bell in PUSHING BUTTER - a collection of thoughts on bodies, materials, ageing, shame, queerness, performance and live art.🔻

Read more here, alongside other inspiring contributions from Ursula Martinez
Holly Revell
Jade Blackstock & Gillian Dyson

Photography by Matt Rogers & Coralie Datta with thanks to Ellie Harrison. Editing by Jodean Leigh Sumner. Design by Shelly Ramsdale.

https://issuu.com/victoriafirth/docs/pushing_butter

29/03/2022

"I was worried that I might not be able to hide my waning confidence, and if so, the act, which requires uber confidence would be compromised."

Ursula Martinez writing in PUSHING BUTTER - a collection of insights and artist thoughts from behind the scenes of live art, performance & photography about the body.

Read more here, alongside other inspiring contributions from
Orrow Amy Bell
Holly Revell
Jade Blackstock &
Gillian Dyson
Edited by Jodean Leigh Sumner
And with images from Matt Rogers & Coralie Datta

https://issuu.com/victoriafirth/docs/pushing_butter

25/03/2022

"I suggest that performance actions...contribute to a destruction of the clean and proper body, in order to challenge notions of the feminine."

Gillian Dyson in PUSHING BUTTER - a journal of beautifully radical thoughts about our performing bodies.

Read more here, alongside other inspiring contributions from
Orrow Amy Bell
Ursula Martinez
Holly Revell
& Jade Blackstock

https://issuu.com/victoriafirth/docs/pushing_butter

24/03/2022

"I've been interested in acts of compaction and materials that have gone through a number of processes or some sort of state change. It's partly to look at time..."
blackstock in PUSHING BUTTER - A new collection of writing on art making and the self inspired by THE BUTTER PIECE.

Read more here, alongside other inspiring contributions from Orrow Amy Bell
Ursula Martinez
Holly Revell
& Gillian Dyson

https://issuu.com/victoriafirth/docs/pushing_butter

23/03/2022

"In my photography I've always seen my desire rather than myself...'
Holly Revell in PUSHING BUTTER - my new collection of writing by female and non-binary artists on the art and life of the body.
Read more here:
https://issuu.com/victoriafirth/docs/pushing_butter

22/03/2022

Pushing Butter

PUSHING BUTTER - available to read now!!!

Hello everyone, I'm really delighted to share this collection of writing that I've curated by some amazing artists on performing with your body, materials, ageing, shame, queerness, looking and lots of other important stuff. I'm so proud of it and I hope you might like to have a read.

It's got musings and provocations from me &
Holly Revell
Orrow Amy Bell
Ursula Martinez
Gillian Dyson
& Jade Blackstock

Plus images from THE BUTTER PIECE by Matt Rogers & Coralie Datta. All edited by Jodean Sumner.

Please do have a look & share x

A collection of writings by female and non-binary artists on the art and life of the body. Inspired by Victoria Firth's THE BUTTER PIECE.

17/02/2022

In another Victoria Firth one-woman show, ‘In the next room’ (inspired by the famous poem of that name), she explored our emotional and physical reactions to loss & grief by putting herself in various physical states to convey these stages of distress.
Someone in the audience wrote afterwards, “So moved was I that I turned aside to hide my tears only to find another person similarly weeping – so we laughed through our tears together.”
I can’t think of a better example of the power of the arts to bring people together and feel their shared experience of being the feeling, compassionate creatures that we are. Listen to our conversation now:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1608880/9829695
Photo credit Kier Feamie

15/02/2022

Care, Courage & Comedy w. Victoria Firth - Emotipod: Arts & Emotions

Tour dates for 'How to be amazingly happy!' coming up here...

Solo performer Victoria Firth creates entertaining, courageous one-woman shows tackling emotive issues, using elements of comedy, clowning and performance art.Victoria talks to host Frances about her journey from arts administrator to solo perfo...

15/02/2022

Perhaps the greatest example of the courage of this episode’s title ‘Care, Courage & Comedy’ (at least IMHO) is ‘The Butter Piece’, in which Victoria Firth looked into female sexuality, sensuality and shame, how the female body is displayed, and how we ‘manage’ our comfort with ourselves by engaging or disengaging with the reality of our real bodies.
Victoria performed this show solo, naked, her only prop a pat of butter to slide around on; and in 2021, she presented the piece again after 10 years’ worth of ageing.
How comfortable are you with your own body? Can you imagine sharing your naked self with an audience? Hear how Victoria experienced this piece in our conversation now, links in bio 🧡
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1608880/9829695

13/02/2022

12/02/2022

Care, Courage & Comedy w. Victoria Firth - Emotipod: Arts & Emotions

📣 Delighted to be a guest on this lovely podcast about emotion and the arts with the sublime Frances Butt. Do have a listen 🔻

Solo performer Victoria Firth creates entertaining, courageous one-woman shows tackling emotive issues, using elements of comedy, clowning and performance art.Victoria talks to host Frances about her journey from arts administrator to solo perfo...

06/01/2022

Self-care for Theatre Makers & Creatives with Victoria Firth | Lawrence Batley Theatre

I'm running my New Year Self-Care course for creatives again with Lawrence Batley Theatre and courtesy of them it's free!
It's runs evenings from Monday 24th - Friday 28th January.
Places are limited and last year it was oversubscribed so register your interest early if you fancy it.
Bookings are now open here:

We have partnered with theatre maker and performer Victoria Firth on a free, week long experience for creatives to connect with their self-care needs.

08/12/2021

I've re-made my live art work, THE BUTTER PIECE, 10 years after first performing it.
Here's the fifth and final entry in an journal about the making process & themes - it's about the doing of it...
http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/pushing-butter-5-of-5-the-material-facts/

01/12/2021

I'm re-making my live art work, THE BUTTER PIECE, 10 years after first performing it.
Here's the fourth entry in an open journal about the making process & themes - it's about shame...
http://victoriafirth.co.uk/pushing-butter-4-of-5-shame-safety/
The live performance is tonight! at Colchester Arts Centre
Tickets here:
https://colchesterartscentre.com/events/performance/victoria-firth-the-butter-piece/

Photo credit Coralie Datta

30/11/2021

Thanks so much to the lovely Leeds audience who came out in full on weather and travel challenges to see THE BUTTER PIECE
CLAY: Centre for Live Art Yorkshire last Friday. It was amazing to have you there x

Next stop Colchester Arts Centre tomorrow!
Tickets here: https://colchesterartscentre.com/events/performance/victoria-firth-the-butter-piece/

Photo credit Coralie Datta

25/11/2021

This is how it started. This is how it's going...
THE BUTTER PIECE
Female
Body
Shame
S*x
Looking away
Looking toward
Q***r
Ageing

Live performance tomorrow CLAY: Centre for Live Art Yorkshire
Tickets https://clayleeds.co.uk/event-details/victoria-firth-the-butter-piece

Next Wed Colchester Arts Centre
Tickets https://colchesterartscentre.com/events/performance/victoria-firth-the-butter-piece/ https://pic.twitter.com/RTcSfsFRsM

Photo credits Tamsin Drury & That Matt Rogers Project

22/11/2021

Pushing Butter #3 of 5 – Q***r Considerations – Victoria Firth

I'm re-making my live art work, THE BUTTER PIECE, 10 years after first performing it.
Here's the third entry in an open journal about the making process & themes - it's about queerness..
http://victoriafirth.co.uk/pushing-butter-3-of-5-queer-considerations/
The live performances start this week!
26/11 CLAY: Centre for Live Art Yorkshire
1/12 Colchester Arts Centre
Do come if you live near by x
Photo credit Coralie Datta

Posted on by Victoria FirthPushing Butter #3 of 5 – Q***r Considerations This is one of a series of writings that reflect on my journey toward re-making a performance art work called ‘The Butter Piece’. I first made it in 2011 and I’m revisiting it now a decade later. ‘The Butter Piece’ ...

15/11/2021

Pushing Butter #2 of 5 – My Mother’s Cellulite – Victoria Firth

I'm re-making my live art work, THE BUTTER PIECE, 10 years after first performing it.
Here's the second entry in an open journal about the making process & themes - it's about body ageing ...
http://victoriafirth.co.uk/pushing-butter-2-of-5-my.../
The live event is on
26/11 @ CLAY: Centre for Live Art Yorkshire - BOOK NOW!
1/12 @ Colchester Arts Centre

(Photo credit Coralie Datta Photography)
x

Posted on by Victoria FirthPushing Butter #2 of 5 – My Mother’s Cellulite This is one of a series of writings that reflect on my journey toward re-making a performance art work called ‘The Butter Piece’. I first made it in 2011 and I’m revisiting it now a decade later. ‘The Butter Piece....

09/11/2021

Pushing Butter #1 of 5 – Preparing the body – Victoria Firth

Hello Everyone!
I wanted to let you know I'm currently re-making my live art work, THE BUTTER PIECE - 10 years after first performing it.
I'm doing a lot of writing and talking about the ideas in it as part of the project.
Here's the first entry in my open journal about my musings and the making process - it's about getting ready ...
http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/pushing-butter-1-of-5-preparing-the-body/
If you want to come and see the live event it will be on :
26th November Clay Leeds
& 1st December Colchester Arts Centre
xx

Posted on by Victoria FirthPushing Butter #1 of 5 – Preparing the body This is one of a series of writings that reflect on my journey toward re-making a performance art work called ‘The Butter Piece’. I first made it in 2011 and I’m revisiting it now a decade later. ‘The Butter Piece’ wi...

13/10/2021

Delighted to be supported by to revisit 10 years on.
The live event will be coming soon to CLAY, Leeds and Colchester Arts Centre.
Lots to unwrap...

22/09/2021

📢NEW BLOG - 'The Shape of Water'
Some thoughts on why touch, connection and empathy matter and the magic they can make happen (also a duck's bum)🔻
http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/the-shape-of-water/

22/09/2021

Fleur Ostojak - 20/09/2021 - BBC Sounds

You can have a listen to me in conversation with the lovely
on BBC Radio Oxford talking about 'How To Be Amazingly Happy!' at Oxford Playhouse tonight.
🔻listen here from 2:10:30 - https://bbc.in/3lO37v3
& book show tickets at https://bit.ly/39rAG05

Fleur finds out what Gen Z are collecting...and it may surprise you!

20/09/2021

BBC Radio Leicester - Rupal Rajani, 18/09/2021

If you missed me chatting to Rupal Rajani on BBC Radio Leicester about 'How to be amazingly happy!' coming this Friday to Upstairs at the Western then you can listen again here from 2hr 38 mins x

Start your Saturday with the latest news, music and entertainment with Rupal.

20/09/2021

Childlessness and S*xual Intimacy 2021 — World Childless Week

If you missed the extra-ordinary webinar on 'Childlessness and sexual intimacy' you can now watch and share it online.
It was part of World Childless Week and hosted by and 8 amazing guests

org



The Pleasure Anarchist
and me!
https://worldchildlessweek.net/childlessness-and-sexual-intimacy-2021

This webinar was hosted by Jody Day: psychotherapist, author of ‘Living the Life Unexpected’, founder of Gateway Women and World Childless Week Ambassador. She leads an open and honest conversation exploring all aspects of intimacy with or without a partner.

12/09/2021

- How has childlessness impacted your intimate life?

Join and 8 amazing guests for this safe, totally anonymous free World Childless Week webinar with:

org

(me)


The Pleasure Anarchist

Tuesday 14 Sep, 7pm UK (& recorded) for this webinar

Register here to attend live and receive a copy of the recording: [[https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YM8oCoLnTIy0LTbZOmcAJQ]]

07/09/2021

'How to be amazingly happy!' is back!
Tue 21st & Wed 22nd Sept Oxford Playhouse
Fri 24th Sept Upstairs at the Western
& spring dates to come...
If you fancy fun, funny, feminist, live entertainment that speaks to new identities and re-invention check it out here
https://victoriafirth.co.uk/howtobeamazinglyhappy/

10/05/2021

By, For, With: Self Care for Theatre Makers and Creatives | Leeds Playhouse

My introduction to self-care for theatre makers is NOW BOOKING with Leeds Playhouse - more details here ....

An interactive introductory session offering reflective time and peer support to explore and articulate what self-care means for professional artists. This is an opportunity to think, write and talk about what you might need for self-care in relation to each stage of your creative process, offering....

05/05/2021

Got a new role...

We are delighted to announce our new Company Manager
Victoria Firth
We feel honoured to welcome Victoria and her wealth of creative and organisational experience to Team Grief.

"Hello everyone, as a long standing fan of Ellie's work I am delighted to be joining the team and being part of supporting this life and death changing series to happen. In these times it's more important than ever and I look forward to all the amazing initiatives we have planned for the next year and beyond."
Victoria x

08/03/2021

WriteMentor on Twitter

Absolutely delighted to have my picture book 'Violet Dancer' mentioned as a reader's favourite in the 2021 WriteMentor Children's Picture Book Awards.
It was a bit of a test to see if it had legs (or wings). So I shall now work on it more in the hopes you might get to read it one day!
🎉 🐝🌻❤

https://twitter.com/writementor/status/1368894275572834306?s=19

“The 2021 WriteMentor Children's Novel and Picture Book Awards. The Longlists Congratulations to everyone on the lists. And do check further down for our readers faves. Feedback will begin to be sent out today, but may take up to a week. https://t.co/dBEfkGUlrN”

13/02/2021

A joyful piece of 'research' for my new theatre show in development - 'Batty'...
Been Magickal Fragrance making with TarotPunx and PacittiCompany. I'm wondering if you would you like to go see a show about witches and wild women and leave with your own potion or full moon ritual kit?
In the meantime lots of other alternative valentine invitations are available on their website. My kitchen has never smelt so good! 🍋 ❤🌘
https://www.pacitticompany.com/alternative-valentines

01/02/2021

The full box set of is now online courtesy of Waterside Arts.
If you fancy holding your own hand, self hugging and other at home contact sports, then you can watch and share them here 🔻🔻 x
https://www.divergehub.org/hub/touchingmoments

27/01/2021

Episode 5 of is released today at Waterside Arts.
It's the last part of this playful 'how to' performance project for the touch hungry and skin starved.
Today we're giving 'Face' 💋 ❤
https://www.divergehub.org/hub/touchingmoments