Hello!

We are a new company of dancers, choreographers and creatives from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts hoping to create a completely new work for the Edinburgh Fringe festival this year, called “A Star and a Pearl”. It’s a show with the themes of nostalgia, maturity, and the continuous, yet divisive, strive for two things: to achieve a lifelong goal and to know yourself truly. As a contemporary dance show with elements of hip hop, gymnastics and plenty more sprinkles of influences throughout, “A Star and a Pearl” aims to unite an audience of people with a deeply universal story, yet one experienced in such a multitude of unique ways.

It is a story about life and its curveballs; the continuous navigation of both with the desire for self discovery woven throughout. Here is a short word from each of the choreographers:

Martin McDonough

My name is Martin McDonough, one of the creators behind "A Star and a Pearl" and I'm from Salford, Manchester. This project actually started way back in 2023 when me and Maya decided to come up with a show idea in our first year of studying at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts together. Since then, A Star and a Pearl has sat in the back of our minds for 2 years until I reached out to Maya and proposed we bring our concept to life, and in turn, the Edinburgh Fringe. Now we are here, trying to raise the funds for us to go and perform our work! I have an extensive background in Hip hop theatre and contemporary dance, and have performed with Cunard for the naming ceremony for the Queen Anne, at the Co-op arena in Manchester for The Big Night of Musicals and had the featured role of “Skellig” in our second year dance show and will soon be portraying the roles of “Lucifer/Wrath” in our graduating show, ‘Fallen’. I also recently was the assistant director for a LIPA dance show, working with our own faculty of expert dance teachers and choreographers.

Maya Aspen

I am a dance performer, choreographer and the other artist of "A Star and a Pearl". I grew up in Mo i Rana, a small town in northern Norway, but my curiosity and love for movement have carried me far beyond its borders. This passion is what eventually led me to England and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, where I have dedicated myself to strengthening my technique, refining my physicality, and deepening my understanding of movement. Throughout my time at LIPA, I have done my best to both create and perform. In 2023, I was awarded second place in LIPA’s annual choreography competition, and I have since had the opportunity to dance in several music videos and live performances. I am also honoured to be cast as the role of “Gluttony” in our graduating show, taking place in March.

The show is based on the process of life, and thus any age can watch “A Star and a Pearl” and take something away from it. Whether it’s a moment where they discovered something about themselves or a time where they felt lost, this show will reflect on the hardships and beauties of life that we all experience.

We need your help with funding to cover costumes, accommodation, travel and venue fees. We are doing our best to fundraise independently, but we need a little extra help to cover the outstanding costs. We are so desperate to showcase our art and ignite thoughts, feelings and concepts in audiences, and any donation, small or large, will help us in our Fringe mission!