Presents

Buttons
Touring
Resources
Pack
About The Show
As we approach the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz (27th January 2015), it is
important to continue preserving and sharing the stories of both victims and survivors of the
Nazis' biggest concentration camp. Although seventy years have passed, the impact of these
events still resonates in the public today; not only with direct relatives of those affected, but with
the wider public.
Buttons was originally developed for the Little Angel Theatres HATCH Festival and it received its
premiered to a sold-out audience at the Little Angel Theatre FIRST Festival in March 2014. With
the centenary of World War One this year, and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
in 2015, the production is responsive and timely to these signicant historical events.
Buttons by Sort of Theatre
Show Copy
Joni is a puppeteer. Dana is not.
Dana is a Jew. Joni is not.
Buttons is a show about their journey to Auschwitz and the stories they discovered on the way.
Using a mixture of live performance, spoken word, shadow puppetry and object manipulation
Joni and Dana attempt to recount the story of their sort of holiday, whilst exploring the themes
of memory, family, war and the Holocaust.
Synopsis
The show performed by both Dana and
Joni, is a direct address piece to the
audience. The show has moments of
heightened deep emotions such as
sadness and nostalgia, juxtaposed with
lighter moments of comedy. The show is
delivered in a natural style although we
follow a script, we perform as ourselves
rather than characters or constructs of
ourselves this is to highlight the honesty
within the storytelling as well as creating a
feeling of 1-2-1 interaction between us and
each audience member. We aim for the
audience to go away feeling that they know
us better.
The show begins by us telling the story of why we wanted to go to Auschwitz. We then focus
on aspects of our journey in sections, in the style of a travel guide: Packing, Travel, Language,
Food, Sightseeing, and nally the camp itself, Auschwitz. We interweave stories from Danas
family history as well as other stories we found along the way. We also have two sections of
the show where we step outside of the story of the journey and discuss the reasons behind
doing the show one at the beginning and one at the end. Throughout the show a tension
builds between the dichotomies of the performers relationships to the subject matter which
culminates in a constructed argument between Joni and Dana, and a resolution which
concludes the journey.
Contact Details
Email address: sortoftheatre@gmail.com
Telephone number: 07429582110
Website: sortoftheatre.wordpress.com
Twitter: @SortOfTheatre
Facebook: Facebook.com/SortOfTheatre
YouTube: youtube.com/Sort OfTheatre
About the Company
Sort Of Theatre is a contemporary collaborative performance company which puts the art of
honest storytelling at its heart. We dont just tell stories because we want to, we tell them
because they need to be told. This is what denes us.
We are process based devising company, taking on stories around identity and morality that
make the biggest impact on us as artists. We use puppetry not to just illustrate these stories; but
to illuminate them. We use the power that puppetry has to bring a visceral emotive response to
our audiences.
Creative Team
Joni-Rae Carrack and Dana Segal (performers and devisers)
Phil Maguire (composer)
The staging is simple one table and two chairs. We use an Over Head Projector, and a
Slide Projector, so would require space on stage to project (a free standing screen or white
wall). These are placed onstage prior to performance and remain there throughout the show.
We have a variety of props including paper plates, a jar of buttons and a photo frame. All our
props t into the two actual rucksacks we took on our journey, and throughout the course of
the show we take them out and place them onstage. They are then packed back into the
bags towards the end of the show. We use a variety of puppetry techniques shadow
puppetry, object manipulation, and bunraku-style puppets.
We commissioned musician Phil Maguire to create a soundscape to underscore moments of
tension or action. He can perform live with us, or we can supply a recording. The major
themes of the show are family, memory and war. We explore the fragility, strength and layers
of these themes through the visual aesthetic of the show, and through our performance
delivery style.
Further Details
Running Time: 60 minutes
Age Restriction: 14+ due to sensitive
nature of subject
Buttons Trailer -2014
http://youtu.be/OgWc5V7jh1g
Images
Example E-Flyers
EMAILS
I found it to be so polished, it had the perfect balance between depth and light hearted humour, you
were so spot on. I also found it far more hard hitting than before. The amount of hard work you'd put in,
between the autumn and now was so evident, well done! The final touch of giving out the buttons on the
way out was perfect, I loved that. Judith Hope
I knew that you were going to rip my heart out and stamp all over it but you did it with such humour,
honesty and sincerity. Really, my heartfelt congratulations, Buttons is a production to be so proud of.
Sandie Mattioli
I loved the style, how informal and familiar it is in contrast to the button projection and the puppetering.
I felt it was a s much a celebration of life as it was an important showcase of history thats not far in the
past at all. The informal style I think really helped to hone in on this point, that this history affects all of
us (even if we aren't kosher!). It has also inspired me, in a way, to visit Auschwitz and many other
places where humanity was at it's worst and greatest. I loved the final image of art will set you free and
am quite in awe as to how you and joni made such a massive massive tragedy into art that is digestible
but not forgettable. The button at the end was a blessed touch. Deanna Rodger
I loved it so much. I cried in an alleyway afterwards Anonymous
FEEDBACK FORMS
The avoidance of the main subject made it even more powerful at the end. I didnt like the taste of
emotion being taken away from me but this added to the waterfall at the end Gavin Mathers
Loved the fact that it was a direct recount of past experience, linked with the hard hitting subject
Powerful, honest story, unique use of puppets and props Ed Stone
Very powerful delivery and use of puppetry. Conveyed the emotional side of it very well
Very well written and naturally performed. Interesting puppet concept. Yes, I expected more puppets
as such, but it had its puppets so, I liked it Mabel Enainas
The freshness of the reminder of historical horror we cannot afford to allow to forget Isabel Ros
Lopez
Compelling storytelling, great balance of light and dark, great design
Loved it! Natural, clever, moving, funny Stephanie Graham
Amazing so powerful and emotionally charged. Puppetry used to compliment a moving narrative
Emma Pickering
It felt very natural and personal. Very thoughtful and balanced
Moving, perfectly judged storytelling. Fantastic
Simplicity and raw honesty. Nature of how artistically dealing with with something as sensitive
Great comedy and puppetry is great!
Beautiful imagery, touching, full of heard and honesty
Great music, atomospheric lighting and you could hear a pin drop in the emotive silent scenes...
Feedback
Loved the honesty and pace
Very well structured, entertaining and informative
Brilliant emotional performance
Brilliantly conveyed the experience I have done the same trip and this was truly a great description of
the experience
Loved the theme and the way it was portrayed in a way that didnt dumb it down but made it
accessible
Witty and honest
Really wonderful. Enjoyed the natural style and clever use of objects. Im working on an event on
objects * performance so this was very interesting how objects can be activated and transformed by
their use. Touching, funny and sad. Great storytelling! Natalie Coe
I liked the intensity and honesty of the show the courage of the emotional heart and the structure/
shape of it, rising and falling. I love that you are telling the stories. I felt a bit uncomfortable on the
shifting sounds of the beginning but that too was good, because that big of discomfort prepared me for
the whammies VERY GOOD SHOW!
A very good first performance. Would see them again
Very moving and brave. Balance of funny dark. Felt personal and genuine. So evolved since HATCH
Festival. I have Jewish family, and it really made me think and reflect
So heartfelt and honest. A real insight into how a Jewish person felt about it. A wonderful performance
by them both. Thank you
I thought it was brilliant and enjoyed the mixture between objectionable and in character
I like the puppetry and symbolism of buttons
Very strong, accessible show. Movingly told
Liked the OHP and light projections very emotive. Good storytelling, informative without being
preachy
Loved it. Really moving, funny, honest and informative. Has inspired me
Lighting Cue Sheet
Music Cue Sheet
Risk Assessment