- ‘Cupola’ exhibition, Cartwright Hall Museum and Art Gallery, Bradford October 2017-march 2018
- ‘Subveillance’ exhibition and symposium-Bradford University Gallery 11 23rd September-8th December 2016
- ‘Chameleon Costume’ exhibition Theatre and performing arts permanent exhibit the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2012-current
- ‘skyhooked’ exhibition, The Yorkshire craft centre, Bradford 2012
- ‘skyhooked’ exhibition, the Netherlands national circus- Brighton 2011
- ‘175 Heroes’ exhibition, the Dyehouse Gallery, Celebrating the successes and contributions of 175 former staff and students drawn from our 175-year history, Bradford 2008
- 1988-93 licentiateship of the society of designer-craftsmen – exhibition central school of art and design-London 1988
Installations
Performances
‘Rubicon’ 2002
‘To pass a point of no return’ The most experimental Skinning The Cat show (largely thanks to being Arts Council Funded for the first time!) taking aerial skills to a dimension beyond the trapeze, using a flying bicycle, bungees and straps on an electric winch. The story of this show came originally from a clown Becky met in Sarasota who told me about his act about releasing a small bird from a cage. The costumes in this show are more extravagant as working more experimentally allowed. ‘I use more extreme characters and make my own interpretation of the fairground freak show. ‘ Becky
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic Director Becky Truman, music by Carl Stipetic, Helen Forshow and Rizzy. video by …
‘The show is a luxuriant and abundant melee of ideas and images, referencing traditional circus and music hall but with a contemporary buzz. Many of the elements are familiar from stc’s previous productions-the exploration of the decadent pleasures of domination and submission and the creation of colourful characters such as the spooky ring mistress, exotic creatures and valkyrie like women.’
Circus Arts News 2002
‘Warrior Princesses’ 2001
A doubles trapeze act performed by Becky Truman and Rachel Hyde in Circus of the Streets. Using warrior style movements and the look of Zena warrior princess, this was our most commercial act.
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic Director Becky Truman, Music by Helen Fanshaw and Rizzy.
‘the class acts are evident. The warrior Princesses place themselves firmly in the lesbian fantasy market, their aerial display is awe-inspiring’
Vicky Frost.
Bristol Evening Post, 2001
‘Firebird’ 1988-2003
Becky Truman’s solo act, performed mainly for cabaret’s and variety shows and famously in ‘The Good Old Days’ and the London mime festival. In Leeds City Varieties. The act was an exuberant and exotic display of ‘corde lisse’ and cloud swing. The simplicity of rigging for just one person also meant that this show travelled further performing as far away as St Petersburg in the Moscow State Circus and in strange situations off viaducts in Spain and cranes in Germany…
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic Director Becky Truman, music by Carl Stipetic.
‘simply takes your breath away. The secret- filled, dramatic fantasy creature on trapeze and rope unites the exotic with breath-taking, nerve tingling, and weightless aesthetics’
Die Rheinpfalz, 1994
‘Claire de Lune’ 2000
On a moon shaped rig on wheels, this was our only street show and it could be pushed around during the performance. It was inspired by a site-specific collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts at Arundel Castle, developed for a season in The Millennium Dome, before eventually becoming a street show. The simple storyline is dominated by the evil Sideshow Barb who is exhibiting some bizarre creatures…
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic Director Becky Truman, music by Carl Stipetic
‘Enchantress’ 1996-2001
A wicked sorceress weaves a spell…the shows main character, the enchantress was dictated by the fact that Becky Truman was walking with crutches at the time! The character hobbled on and the crutches were decorated with a large prosthetic eyeball on top. It was performed on the Silver Tree rig which became Skinning the Cat’s most popular piece. The show was originally performed with live band Urban Strawberry Lunch with their stunning sculptural instruments.
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic director Becky Truman, music by Urban Strawberry Lunch.
‘…put simply, Skinning the Cat’s show Enchantress … was enchanting. […]The Enchantress cast a spell, her alchemy turning the ugly sisters into puck like creatures. A shimmering 8 metre silver tree dominated the set and the trio, clad in stunningly elaborate costumes, worked on all manner of aerial equipment suspended from it.’
Liz Aratoon.
The Stage
‘Reclamation’ 2000
A site-specific community show commissioned by Newark and District Council for Newark Castle. A dramatic celebration of the regeneration of land and water at Riverside Park. Music, dance, and drumming combined with giant puppets and aerial shows created the backdrop for local community groups to celebrate the transformation of the former car and lorry park into the spectacular setting of Newark’s Riverside Park.
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic Director Becky Truman, music by Mick Wilson.
‘the procession was led by aerial theatre company Skinning the Cat, who had worked with community groups in Newark prior to the festival. The company’s aerialists performed feats from three rigs in a mythical show called Reclamation, which celebrated the regeneration of riverside park.’
Newark Advertiser, 2000
‘Chameleon’ 1992-95
This was performed on the triple arched rig, this was Skinning the Cats first show with a full narrative. There is one special costume from our early show ‘Chameleon’ which has been chosen by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to represent modern circus in their performing art collection. The costume itself is the chameleon. It is one of a pair of costumes made for the doubles trapeze. Its partner is a bird. The story was about a woman who, while shopping in a supermarket, found that her trolley was magic. It danced around the stage and bizarre creatures sprang out of it, performing acrobatics around her. The shopping trolley flys into the air – growing wings and flashing lights and taking the woman with it. The show was about escaping mundanity. The chameleon symbolised change.
A Skinning the Cat production, artistic director Becky Truman, music by Carl Stipetic.
‘They move high up with daring dances and wild leaps. They fly weightlessly through the air … they set new standards for acrobatic theatre on the trapeze with their visually and emotionally compelling shows. They put the audience under their spell’
Sudwest Press, Germany
‘Snakes and Ladders’ 1988- 1991
Originally made for the Fashion Cabaret in Bradford Festival in1988 this was Skinning the Cat’s first show. The show was very simply a series of routines strung together with ethereal music and mystical looking costumes. We played characters which evolved from our own personalities.
A Skinning the Cat production, Artistic Director Becky Truman, music by a mixture of pre-recorded artists.