Krystal Lowe
Platfform Artist 2021-2023

Krystal S. Lowe is a Bermuda-born, Wales-based dancer, choreographer, writer, and director performing and creating dance theatre works for stage, public space, and film that explore themes of intersectional identity, mental health and wellbeing, and empowerment to challenge herself and audiences toward introspection and social change. Krystal is passionate about integrating access and exploring multilingual work with a specific focus on British Sign Language, Welsh, and English.

She has an extensive career performing and touring with Ballet Cymru throughout the United Kingdom, China and Bermuda; with Citrus Arts circus company, Ransack Dance, Theatr Iolo, The Successors of the Mandingue, and Laku Neg. Krystal has performed for the National Gallery for 'HOME zero' created by: Love Ssega, commissioned by Nesta and National Gallery X and Music Theatre Wales Opera for Screen ‘Somehow’; and worked as Movement Director/Choreographer for Neon Candle, Cerian Williams’ and Sherman Theatre’s Dance to the Bone, Connor Allen’s The Making of a Monster produced by the Wales Millennium Centre, and written, directed, and performed in her own multilingual dance theatre work for family audiences Whimsy.

Alongside creating and performing, Krystal also sets aside time to support the development of future generations of artists as a dance practitioner for the Arts Council Wales’ Lead Creative Schools and Cynefin programmes and writing practitioner for Literature Wales; as well as mentoring early career artists. In 2021 Krystal founded the Our Voice Network, a network which exists to empower, platform, and develop artists of the Global Majority.

Currently, Krystal is Associate Artist for Ballet Cymru and Trustee for National Dance Company Wales. Visit krystalslowe.com for more information.

Krystal’s Platfform Journey

Stage 1 – First Idea

Krystal Lowe was chosen as one of the finalists from the New Writing Call Out that first took place in 2020 during the lockdown. Krystal worked on her piece Remarkable Rhythm in the two days of workshop during 20-23 September 2021. Krystal worked with Connor Allen and deaf artist Nadia Nadarajah to develop her piece. They shared a short section of what they worked on at the end of the two days.

During Stage 1, Krystal wrote the below section about her initial idea;

REMARKABLE RHYTHM
Krystal S. Lowe

Rhythm sees and feels music in everything around them and Glas is focused only on their screen - Remarkable Rhythm is about the journey Rhythm and Glas take to learn to communicate with each other and the world around them.

“It feels incredible to know that after three years of imagining this story I will have the support from Theatr Iolo to bring it to life. I'm looking forward to learning so much more about creating work for young audiences.” Krystal S. Lowe

Stage 2 – Remarkable Rhythm R&D

At the end of Stage 1, Krystal applied for funding from the Arts Council of Wales to develop her idea further with a R&D to explore the language and communication between Rhythm and Glas, both physically and verbally. Theatr Iolo supported Krystal with this application and also agreed to match fund with £1500 in cash and £1000 worth of in-kind mentoring support.

Over the course of 3 weeks, Krystal explored how integrated audio description can be used throughout a dance theatre show to engage not only visually impaired audiences but also to become a part of the inner monologue of a character. Throughout this research and development, Krystal also dedicated time to discover how movement can be used to depict the development of the relationship between the two characters in the show in a way that is visibly clear for all audiences but especially Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences. Her desire was to explore how to create work that allows a diversity of communities to engage to the core show in their own way instead of adding access to a finished work.

The R&D exploration took place in May/June 2022 and the following content was created:
- Webpage https://krystalslowe.com/remarkable-rhythm2022
- R&D Trailer https://youtu.be/kU9ty9RwkKc

Stage 3 – Remarkable Rhythm Production

Following the R&D at stage 2 of the process, Krystal applied for an ACW CREATE fund to create and tour the work in 2023. Theatr Iolo have continue to support Krystal as the Platfform Artist and committed £1500 cash support and £3850 worth of in-kind support towards this production.

The following in-kind support will take place in 2022 and 2023:

·       Mentoring support from Artistic Director Lee Lyford
·       Remarkable Rhythm Marketing Support
·       Tour Booking and production consultation
·      Van hire

The Remarkable Rhythm production will be created and toured in May and June 2023.

Remarkable Rhythm

Rhythm is spontaneous and experiences life as movement; and all sound as music. Glas loves life smooth and stable; and prefers things to remain the same. When Rhythm and Glas meet at Bellevue park they have the five days of half-term to see if their friendship is worth keeping once they go back to their separate schools. Through music and movement and mishap these two young people experience the difficulty and joy in connecting with those unlike themselves.

One park bench, two people, and five days. Will they find a way to create something remarkable; a rhythm that is theirs alone?