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Stacy Makishi

Profile

Stacy Makishi is a transplant from Hawaii who found paradise in Dalston, East London. Like a bonsai plant, Stacy is small but old. She has been making art for over 30 years.

A cross-fertilisation of theatre, comedy, film and visual art, her work is as complex as it is accessible; humorous as it is challenging; visual as it is literate. It ranges across solo performances for stage, large-scale outdoor participatory projects and intimate one-to-ones. Also a teacher, director and mentor in international demand, Stacy believes in art’s transformative power and strives to share her creative process with others in order to put more aloha into the world.

Her past solos for theatre include The Comforter, The Falsettos and Vesper Time, all of which have toured extensively in the UK. She also directs devised works, notably with Contact Manchester Young Company. Commissioned by Contact as a performance response to the Wellcome Collection’s 2015 exhibition Sexology, Under the Covers examined young people’s attitudes to sex, questioning myths and breaking down taboos. Initial performances at Contact were followed by Southbank Centre and the Traverse Edinburgh.

“I wasn’t expecting such a delicate and sophisticated piece of work. It left me deeply moved; humbled by the willing transparency of the performers to tell their truth with humour and sometimes bewilderment. I can be afraid for newer generations; how in the midst of this hyper sexualised society with its expectations and assumptions, will they find their way? I wept at the end of their performance in relief and pride. It seems, we’re going to be okay.” 
– Dr. Rachel Morris, Sex Therapist and broadcaster

Stacy has since made a second piece with Contact, this time with their international exchange project for young people. 

Selected past works

The Comforter (2017-18) Touring solo show for theatre commissioned by The Marlborough, The Yard, Colchester Art Centre, Norwich Arts Centre.

Vesper Time (2015-17) Touring solo show for theatre co-commissioned by Chelsea Theatre and Colchester Arts Centre supported by the National Theatre Studio.

Under the Covers (2015) Directed by Stacy Makishi and devised with Contact Young Company, supported by Contact, the Wellcome Collection and SICK! Festival. Toured to Southbank Centre, Battersea Arts Centre, Traverse Edinburgh.

The Falsettos (2013–14) Solo show for theatre co-commissioned by Chelsea Theatre, Colchester Arts Centre and The Basement which toured the UK and to BRUT, Vienna.

The Making of Bull: The True Story (2010 – 13)
Solo show for theatre which toured to New York, Turkey, Slovenia, Austria, The Netherlands and around the UK.

And The Stars Down So Close (2012)
Large-scale participatory work with an audio walk and installation on and around Newington Green, London.

Love Letters to Francis (2009)
Film made with Nick Parish commissioned by TATE Britain and B3 Media.

For further information please contact Reena Kalsi on reena@artsadmin.co.uk.

Date Title Venue City
15–29 November 2022 The Ritual
24 May 2022 The Ritual
7 September 2021 Psychic Encounter The Yard London
19 May 2021 Artsadmin Youth: Stacy Makishi
6 February – 13 March 2021 Saturday Night Live Art Fever Creative Folkestone Quarterhouse
31 January – 7 March 2021 Church of the Latter Day Sinners Creative Folkestone Quarterhouse
6–20 December 2020 Homeward (house) Bound
5–7 November 2020 Homeward (house) Bound
17 May 2020 The Promise The Yard Online
21 November 2018 The Comforter Word of Warning's WTF Wednesdays, The Lowry Manchester
11 October 2017 Vesper Time Glasgow
27 May 2017 Vesper Time Normal? Festival of the Brain, Folkestone Quarterhouse Folkestone
9–10 February 2017 Vesper Time In Between Time, Arnolfini Bristol
16 November 2016 Vesper Time BUZZCUT : DOUBLE THRILLS at CCA, Glasgow Glasgow
11 November 2016 Vesper Time Compass Festival Leeds
6 June 2015 #2DegreesFestival | Climate Couch Toynbee Studios
6–7 February 2014 The Falsettos Toynbee Studios
1–2 February 2014 Killing Time Toynbee Studios
18 October 2013 Killing Time Arnolfini Bristol
22–23 June 2013 Instructions with Stacy Makishi Southbank Centre
24–25 May 2013 The Falsettos Chelsea Theatre London
20 May 2013 The Making of Bull: The True Story Chelsea Theatre London
16–17 May 2013 The Making of Bull: The True Story MC Theatre Amsterdam
18 November 2012 There's A Hole In My Heart That Goes All The Way To China The Pound Corsham
13–14 October 2012 Killing Time The Basement Brighton
8 May 2012 The Making of Bull: The True Story International Blacksea Theatre Festival Trabzon
8 March 2012 The Making of Bull: The True Story Contact Manchester
1 March 2012 Midlife Cowboy Toynbee Studios
11 February 2012 The Making of Bull: The True Story Coastival Scarborough
10 February 2012 Bull: Your Own True Lies Coastival Scarborough
24 November 2011 The Making of Bull: The True Story Chichester Showroom Chichester
5 November 2011 The Making of Bull: The True Story Colchester Arts Centre Colchester
21 August 2011 The Making of Bull: The True Story Mladi Levi Festival Ljubljana
9 June 2011 The Making of Bull: The True Story Seven Arts Centre Leeds
10 November 2010 The Making of Bull: The True Story Chelsea Theatre London
27–29 August 2010 There's A Hole In My Heart That Goes All The Way To China
13 March 2010 When I Fell For You I Fell Like The Bomb / Sleeping With Your Enemy (performance) Stanley Picker Gallery London
9 March 2010 When I Fell For You I Fell Like The Bomb (workshops) Stanley Picker Gallery London
22 February 2010 Telling Stories In The Dark Tate Modern London
1 February 2010 Around The World In A Lunar Day Turbine Hall, Tate Modern
24–25 October 2009 Artsadmin Weekenders Toynbee Studios
24–29 August 2009 Stay! The Zoo (Venue 124)
11–13 May 2007 Bull: The True Story Brewery Arts Centre Kendal
Photo by Tamsin Drury

www.stacymakishi.co.uk

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