Dear Friends
Peachy Coochy, a text and image entertainment, is making his way down from Glasgow after a recent appearance. These text messages to his trainer shed light upon him, his qualities, his needs, his obduracy:
1. “I cannot hear you.”
2. “Now I understand.”
3. “I am in Carlisle. Come and get me.”
A car was despatched. Peachy was found in the transport drivers’ section of The Golden Fleece Service Station at the junction of the A6 and M6 in Cumbria:
http://www.exelbyservices.co.uk/truckstop.html
An innocent in so many ways, he was sitting on the lap of Margaret, the partner of Keith, the latter a haulier. Other drivers were seated around. The atmosphere was convivial. Margaret was showing Peachy a page from the internet:
http://www.peach-tech.co.nz/peachey/familytrees/reubenpeachey1755/aqwn01.htm
Such was the open excitement of the unworldly entertainment that I had to intervene lest he grew insupportably restive.
I said “You have to realise that if you look up your name on the internet you will always find something. For example:
http://www.thelifeofdavidgale.com/
He replied “Well that’s good isn’t it you’re him aren’t you?’
I said “No I am not”
He said “Well I am this person here on Keith’s laptop I simply am”
I said “No you’re not”
He said “Yes I am”
Keith and Margaret very kindly agreed to drive the intermittently exasperating entertainment to Toynbee Studios in London. They will drop him off in time for the next Peachy Coochy Nite.
This is what you get:
David Gale’s Peachy Coochy Nites
The projector projects 20 images for precisely 20 seconds each. The Coocheur (or Presenter) speaks for precisely twenty seconds per image. Randomness is discouraged but narrative linearity is not automatically esteemed.
David Gale, having launched a nationwide performance must-have, continues to curate this series of Peachy Coochy events at ArtsAdmin’s new, stylish yet reassuring Bar. Each event features six Coocheurs, or Presenters, drawn from many walks of life. Each Coocheur will compose a verbal response to 20 images of their choice. Each presentation lasts 6 minutes and 40 seconds. There will be gaps between presentations for drinking and light conversation.
David, something of a Black Belt in these matters, will both compere and present the morsels that, while passing the palate all too quickly, come to constitute a right spread.
This was said apparently:
“Many of the things said lasted more than twenty seconds – I felt soiled.”
(Freddy 30/01/09)
Peachy Coochy Nites subscribes to the the National Belief System and is therefore committed to the provision of a wide range of contributors such as the divot, the perfectionist, the cricketer, the groundsman, the topiarist, the composter, the agrarian, the fruitloop.
The next Peachy Coochy Nite will be held, as usual, in the Bar at Toynbee Studios on Thursday February 26th at 7.30 pm. Tickets £5.00. Booking advised but walk up welcome.
more details here:
http://www.artsadmin.co.uk/projects/project.php?id=211
and a map here:
http://www.artsadmin.co.uk/contacts/
The Guardian catches some cooch:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2008/nov/17/theatre-peachy-coochy-performance-art
Some of you, pleased by the Nite, may wish to compose your own presentations. See me afterwards.
The Nites will run on the last Thursday of each month. You will be notified.
all the best
David