OUTDOOR ARTS
Starting as a way of taking the music of the carnival band onto the street, my work looks to develop exciting, high impact music-driven shows for outdoor performance, drawing on carnival and carnivalesque to comment on life and the human condition.
This work has been inspired by European companies like the Always Drinking Marching Band, Close Act, Deabru Beltzac and Compangie No.8.
The latest show is The King of Rust, which will premiere in June 2026. Development of the show has been funded by Arts Council England (Project Grants) and will be a processional piece that draws on the myth of the Fisher King.
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Ulysses, our previous show, is a daytime, medium scale piece. It tells the story of the return of Greek hero, Ulysses, from Troy, as an allegory of a soldier returning from war, fusing music with theatre, movement, performance and comedic interplay with the audience. Ulysses marked a move towards more more narrative structure, working with Twisted Reality Productions, Mandinga Arts and artist/makers, Dom Patteson and Molly Barrett. A three-hander, it is rich in storytelling, comedy and audience interaction. More details on the show can be found by clicking the link to the right.
ULYSSES STREET SHOW
Malandro, Rabo's first street show (2011/12), was developed with support from Arts Council England through Escalator Outdoor Arts and Grants for the Arts. Drawing on the Brazilian archetype of the 'malandro', the trickster who faces down the forces of oppressive institutions, surviving by manipulating people, fooling authorities and sidestepping laws, Rabo’s music is given a new edge and exposure. The band worked with Dende Collective on creating this anarchic show and building the performance skills of the group. Costumes were designed by Anna Patteson, with the show exploring alienation, tomfoolery and general misbehaviour. Malandro premiered at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival (2011) and performed around Norfolk.
Voodoo Hoodoo (2015-16) was developed for NORCA as part of Norwich City Council's 'Spooky City' for Halloween. The show mixed Day of the Dead, Voodoo and Candomblé themes to create a strongly visual and energetic, night time, processional show. A community participation element added a community bloco of 30 drummers (Bloco Foguete), dancers and other performers. Visual design, costumes and props were created by the fantastic maker, Molly Barrett, with Molly, Ali Mackenzie and Dom Patteson making the skull float.
Mobile amplification: Key to the street work has been developing mobile amplification to meet the band's needs. Working with Dominic Patteson and Jake Staff, we have a developed a flexible, mobile sound system that can go onto a number of float bases, can work in parade or where there is no electricity supply, etc. We are still exploring the possibilities of this system.