The Suite (212) Sessions, no. 11 - Travis Alabanza

In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic and shutting down of much of the UK's cultural life, we have decided to bring you a series of interviews with contemporary artists, writers, filmmakers and other cultural figures, conducted via Skype (so apologies for the diminished audio quality), about their practices, the political issues that inspire them and the socio-economic conditions that have shaped their work. In the eleventh of these Sessions, Juliet talks to performance artist, poet, writer, columnist and theatre-maker Travis Alabanza. They discuss Travis’ performance piece ‘Burgerz, and its path from the Hackney Showroom to the Southbank Centre, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and beyond, and the differences in performing in such venues; their immersive installation ‘All The Ways We Could Grow’ at the Free Word Centre in London; Travis’ performance around the Tate’s Queer British Art exhibition; how to reach different audiences via the mainstream media and through creative practice; the challenges of working in predominantly white and middle-class environments; and the campaign to save the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. A full list of references for the programme, with links, can be found via our Patreon at www.patreon.com/suite212, and are available to $3 subscribers.