Grief Series
The Grief Series is a sequence of seven projects by Leeds-based artist and performance maker, Ellie Harrison. Using a seven stage Grief Model from psychology as a starting point, each installment is a collaboration with another artist.
Etiquette Of Grief
The Reservation
What Is Left?
Journey With Absent Friends
All That Lives
Team Grief
A playful and provocative solo show celebrating the freedom of expression, even in our darkest moments
"Etiquette of Grief is a gem of a show. Ellie Harrison is definitely one to watch!"
Robert Pacitti, SPILL Festival
Ellie Harrison punctures the pomposities - both personal and collective - associated with grieving. Her gently ironic delivery keeps you constantly guessing: is this serious or not? It's both. One in a series of seven grief projects by Harrison, I look forward to more
Breathtaking ****
Etiquette of Grief is a playful and provocative solo show by performer Ellie Harrison, who takes audiences on an irreverent journey and suggests a guide for dealing with both private and public grief in all its gory and glorious manifestations.
In a piece which is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming, Ellie explores the wide-ranging emotions that follow an overwhelming loss and the ways in which grief touches us all, in a distinctive, interactive and powerful performance that includes her on screen alter-ego, in a celebration of our freedom of expression.
For current and upcoming chances to see Etiquette of Grief go to the events page.
This thought-provoking performance asks questions about the nature of public grief, often witnessed when a famous figure dies: does the British 'stiff upper lip' help or inhibit how we deal with our emotions, and is there such a thing as a collective identity that effects how we grieve? Ellie takes audiences through the sometimes uncomfortable, but also funny and peculiar, rituals of mourning, offering coping mechanisms, moral support, a little musical accompaniment and even a large splash of port.
Yorkshire Post ****
Pickled Egg
Yorkshire Post Preview
For further reviews from The Public Reviews, Whatsonstage and The Pickled Egg - please visit the tour schedule on the Events page.
Etiquette of Grief is a playful and provocative guide to on how to deal with bereavement. Thousands of people struggled to cope with the deaths of Princess Diana, Jade Goody, Michael Jackson and even occasionally their own loved ones. Ellie knows it can be difficult to express feelings of anger, sadness and loss. She would like to provide some moral support, some Dutch courage and perhaps even a little musical accompaniment to help you at this testing time.
Ellie's distinctive brand of solo performance combines a digital alter-ego, audience games and plenty of port in a celebration of our freedom of expression, even in our darkest of moments.
"I genuinely wanted to be brave enough to give you a standing ovation as I've never seen anything quite like it, either as meaningful or as funny"
"Etiquette of Grief is a remarkable piece of work. The atmosphere was fantastic. I'm delighted to be given the chance to recommend this show."
Audience Feedback from Leeds Met Gallery & Studio Theatre 2010
Devised and Performed by Ellie Harrison
Film by Matt Tullett
Design by Pav Ghir and Hannah Sibai
Outside Eyes were Matt Rogers and Simon Brewis
Etiquette of Grief was developed with support from Leeds Metropolitan University and the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It was also supported by Leeds University through the Incubator Fund and the LCCT.
In 2011/2012 Etiquette of Grief toured to SIBIU Festival, Romania; Trauma Conference, Prague; Leeds Met Gallery & Studio Theatre; The Carriageworks, Leeds; Theatre in the Mill, Bradford; ARC Stockton Arts Centre; Word of Warning, Zion Arts Centre, Manchester; Gateshead International Festival of Theatre; The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed; Camden People's Theatre, London; Arnolfini, Bristol as part of BLOP 2012; Harrogate Theatre and the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich as part of PULSE Festival 2012.
For more information on the making of Etiquette of Grief please visit the Process page.