Hi,

My name is Vicky and I am crowdfunding for costs towards an exciting new immersive theatre experience.

I currently live in Lisbon, and have been working with talented actors from the UK and Portugal to create a really unique special show. We have been working virtually (which is an experience in itself!) and have also met face to face for rehearsals in Scotland, which was just an utter joy.

I am really hoping this show has legs and that we can perform it all around Europe in various places. Unfortunately, I have not been able to gain arts funding for the show - hence this campaign. I'd love to be able to claw back some money for the costs of hiring the venue and for the actors' travel costs, which I have self-funded. Their talent is stupendous. I wanted to mix the talents of the great actors I have worked with before in the UK and get them working creatively with the new amazing Portuguese actors I have been working with here in Lisbon. I have absolutely loved the energy in the room and on the screen during rehearsals.

So, a little bit about the show and the team! :

The Wish Hotel: An Immersive Theatre Experience

Imagine being offered the chance to have your deepest wish granted or your burning curiosity satisfied, but knowing you can't have both. What truth is worth sacrificing a wish for? What sin can you afford to have forgiven, and what wrong must you then permit? In 'The Wish Hotel,' you're invited to witness the moment of choice, where every decision carries a price, and the line between what you gain and what you lose blurs into a thrilling suspense.

We're crafting a performance that emphasises physical theatre, minimal text, and a powerful cross-cultural exchange. Imagine a world where the boundaries between audience and performer blur, where the location itself becomes a character, and where universal human experiences are explored through a unique artistic vocabulary.

"The Wish Hotel" is more than just a performance; it's an experience.

• Immersive and Site-Specific: The performance will be site-specific to Tribe Social in Lisbon, meaning the location is integral to the piece. The audience will be drawn into the world of the hotel, becoming part of its story.

• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: This project unites Portuguese and UK-based actors, blending diverse movement languages and theatrical traditions to create something entirely new.

• Physical Theatre Focus: We use minimal text, allowing the power of movement and physicality to convey the narrative. This approach transcends language barriers and makes the performance accessible to a wide audience.

Vicky’s past shows:

The Arrival 2012- ‘expert choreography, carefully chosen music

and a strong visual language meant that the whole audience was successfully drawn in and held’ Marion de Mello Catlin – Culture Shift

The Arrival (reworked) 2013 – ‘An impactful, thoughtful and engrossing performance’ – Hastings Online Times

Me Myself and I – ‘The interplay between each performer was never less than convincing and they perform with a great degree of faith and confidence in their work which is equally impressive’ – Donald Stewart - Fringe Review

The Journey -’A beautifully weird and wonderful performance with excellent choreography. Brilliant!’ – Rig Arts

T with Mrs C ’An innovative and exciting piece of pop-up theatre’ – V and A, Dundee

Remember? ‘mesmerising and multilayered’ – The Skinny, and ‘intriguing, if not

unforgettable’ – The List.

The Team

"The Wish Hotel" will be created by a passionate and talented team:

• Artistic Director: Vicky Heath, an experienced physical theatre director and educator with a history of creating visually stunning and emotionally resonant productions. Her previous company, Nunah Theatre Company, was known for its innovative physical theatre in the UK.

• UK and Lisbon based Performers: Laura Dunton Clarke, Josef Boon, Philip Napier, and Laura Brailsford, Sara Vujadinovic, Ria McLeod, Isabel Symington, Joana Pazo Silva, all accomplished actors with diverse backgrounds in theatre.

• Production and Stage Manager: Don Paterson, a graduate of the Guildford School of Acting has worked as director in Europe and as a stage manager in USA.

Why This Project Matters

"The Wish Hotel" is more than entertainment; it's a unique artistic endeavour that:

• Celebrates Cross-Cultural Exchange: By bringing together artists from different backgrounds, we foster dialogue and create a shared artistic language.

• Pushes Theatrical Boundaries: We're creating a new kind of theatre experience that is immersive, site-specific, and deeply physical.

• Connects with a Diverse Audience: The emphasis on movement and minimal text makes the show accessible to both local and international audiences in Lisbon.

Where Your Money Will Go

While we’ve set our minimum at £5,000, the real costs go well beyond that.

Here’s a breakdown of a few of the key costs we would love any campaign funds to go towards :

• The venue hire: £2000

• Rehearsal Space in Lisbon: £525

• Accommodation and food in Portugal for production week: £3900

• Accommodation in Lisbon: £800 for performance days.

• Transport: £75

• Flights for UK cast to Lisbon: £2400

TOTAL - £9700

These are just some of the basic costs. We are eternally grateful for any donation, no matter how small and even simply sharing can end up gaining us some amazing traction!

Every bit of support helps:)

Timeline

• Phase 1: Pre-production (April-May 2025)

• Phase 2: Rehearsals in person and online (June – September 2025)

• Phase 3: Lisbon Preview (September 2025)

The future of the show:

We have big hopes! One of the many reasons we're doing a show in Lisbon is to build connections within the industry that could take Wish Hotel further. Perhaps even growing into a touring show around Portugal, and beyond and in Scotland and the UK too.

So this is a call out to our friends families supporters and anyone who loves the arts - to donate to our crowdfunder. In return, you will be given complimentary tickets (and drinks) to the live show in Lisbon in September.

Also, you will gain exclusive access to the film of the performance if you’re unable to come and see the show.

You will also receive our huge gratitude - for helping support this brand new show which promises to be unique, original and a lot of fun!

With very best wishes,

Vicky