Devolution Evolution: Impossible Monsters

by Fiona Watson   Devolution Evolution beginnings. On July 17 2020 mid first pandemic lock-down, I received a wonderful surprise email from Kat Joyce co-artistic director inviting me to join an R&D project called Devolution/Evolution. Tangled Feet proposed to support associate artists with whom they had strong working relationships "with some time, space and resources to develop some new creative ideas’’.  The initial support involved 6 paid days, a mentor meeting with one of the co-artistic directors Kat Joyce or Nathan Curry, the potential to set up training workshops and Zoom meetings with the other Devo/Evo creatives, to introduce each other and share work. The timing of this email was significant as we were by now several dismal months into Covid lockdown and as theatre maker I had no idea when I would work again. So to be reminded that I was a theatre maker with strong working relationships was pretty special!    To quote Kat’s first brief again;   "’The theme we are asking artists to respond to is 'the catalyst'. What's the straw the breaks the camel's back and instigates a change?’’and ‘’ It could be a tiny thing or a huge one. Interpret as you wish.’’