Ferment Fortnight Preview | We Can Time Travel

Following a blinding week of work at Arnolfini, Ferment Fortnight continues its work-in-progress mini-fest in our theatre 18-20 July. Here, Dom Coyote gives us an inside look at the upcoming We Can Time Travel, on-stage Thu 20 July.

Tell us a bit about yourself…
Hello, Dom Coyote here. I’m a musician and theatre maker. I sing, write songs and play lots of instruments like analogue synths and electric guitars and some strange instruments from far off climbs. I like making stories and building worlds to tell them in. I’m a big collaborator with Kneehigh Theatre and they taught me everything I know pretty much. When I’m making my own work, I make Gig-Theatre, a cross pollination of music gig and theatre. It’s different from a musical, in case you’re wondering. I recently made a show called Songs for the End of the World, which just finished a UK tour. It’s a big noisy show inspired by Bowie, Tom Waits, and the End of the World.

What are you presenting at Ferment Fortnight?
I’m presenting the first public experiment of something new. It’s called We Can Time Travel. I’m ridiculously excited about it. It’s an experiment in Time Travel, and a story about a version of me from an alternate reality; a hack scientist who believes he’s receiving messages from a Victorian Time Traveler watching the sun die at the edge of Time. It’s a solo piece with loads of live looping, electronics, acapella singing, analogue synths, and storytelling. I’m throwing the kitchen sink at this one.

What inspired/influenced your piece?
Well I wanted to make something about now. I am a huge sci-fi fan. And for me, the best science fiction sheds a light on the present day, It holds a mirror up to society, and often the reflection is pretty ugly. The last few years have seen monumental shifts in our world , Brexit, Refugee Crisis, massive political shifts, evil presidents, monstrous prime ministers, huge inequality - it’s an epic, frightening time and it keeps on coming. And sometimes I feel totally numb to it. I wanted to make something about the pace of change, and how to regain hope, to believe that we can change the future and learn from our past….and also I got a new synth. And it sounds awesome.

What does the work that Ferment do mean to you?
The work Ferment does is vital. Bristol is brimming with inspiring, independent artists, making exceptional work. Ferment gives this community of wonders a platform to take that work to the next stage. And it’s fantastic that Bristol has an audience that’s hungry for new work and to be challenged and surprised by what artists have to offer.

What would you say the audience can expect in three words?
Epic Gig-Theatre.

Ferment Fortnight returns to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre stage 18-20 July. For more info and to book tickets, click here.