DIY inspired workshop where participants can create their own mini-figures to explore identity, interdependence and community, by realising what makes someone unique. Creations can be taken away by individuals or given to the Squeeze Box, forming an ever-growing set of colour and identity. Instructions to make and get involved are simple from the start, creating space for each to take the activity on their terms. From colouring and sticking, to writing and cutting, there is no right way to make an Anon.
The Birth of the Anon
As part of Squeeze Box 2023, we wanted to ensure a wide range of disabled voices were involved, in order to tell a rich and powerful story of what it means to care and what it means to have to wait for care? Do to this, we held a mini-workshops-series in a community with different culture, politics and social-economic grounding to Torbay. Reaching out to organisations that were based in an urban setting, we develop a fruitful partnership with Proforma/Longsight Art Space Greater Manchester, who are embedded with local commutates.
With Arts Council England project grant, we began to devise a space where people could come and talk to us. The question was how do we create a relaxed, open and accessible space with a group who we were new to us and might well be strangers to each other? Our conclusion was Anons; a way for people to make and chat over refreshments and learn about themselves and each other. The layered instructions with autonomy and freedom to find your own way into making, was (and is) a formidable tool to start complicated conversations. How we imagine a more accessible and equity powered world start with individual and then builds connections from there.
Totnes Fringe festival ,2025
Hi, I’m an Anon
Anons begin as anonymous 2-dimensional card cut-outs roughly in the shape of a humans. From that starting point, participants are invited to their own mini-character. The character doesn’t have to be based on their own self or someone they may know, but can be. The activity starts by focusing on physical characteristics: hair, facial features, clothing etc. The next layer is to add personality, friends and family networks, likes, hobbies and professions. Additionally, participants are steered towards considering access needs, care responsibility and how they navigate the wider world, with equipment or support.
Anons may be named or not. Some participants are very literal when creating Anons, making and adding physical creations, others draw and write their characters into existence… some are more abstract, focusing on emotions or metaphor. Some create a whole body and focus on external factors; others consider the mind and internal feelings. The ultimate brilliance of this activity is that there is no right way of doing it, and inspiration is always there in the form of previous creations.
The Anons activity comes in many shapes and sizes. From full workshops to online experiences and installation, to suite multiple spaces and digital platforms:
· Two-five hour+ workshops, with a community group
· A welcome activity to a theatre piece/gallery
· Drop-in workshop, in-situ for multiple days in a foyer-like space
· One-three hour online workshop, reaching participants with an interactive zoom
In whatever format, the Anons activity introduces conversations around these two questions
Within Wide Work
As mentioned above, the Anons are a powerful tool in creating relaxed and accessible spaces for audience. They not only introduce themes of identity, community and care but also encourages all to engage with access material. The creative colourful tools we have in the space to make Anon figures are amongst other access measures – ear defenders and fidget toys occupy the same space as pens, blue tack and other tactile objects.
Moreover, the creation of Anon figures can channel nervous energy or support with bringing the mind into space. With permission, new creations are added to the set around; an inclusive way to transform stages (especially black box spaces) into a 3D collaborative experience. Colour and identities surround – an installation wrapped up in a performance, wrapped up in an installation, and ever-growing. A formidable conversation starter, filling the space with positive identity, acceptance, empathy and love.
