Tricia Durdey

Dancer, writer, performer: Tricia Durdey distils a lifetime of experience into her memoir 'Upside Down in a Hoop' published by cinnamonpress.com. This video is a taster of the performance she created based on her story - including footage shot before a live audience as well as a 'Behind The Scenes' of how the piece was created.
A moving story describing the emotionally difficult experience of living with her parents' dementia, and their death - this Meet the Maker video also captures some of the fun and excitement of Tricia's life as a contemporary dancer. Amazingly, it began when she travelled alone to Amsterdam to train with top choreographer Pauline de Groot, arriving unannounced at the door to ask "Can I train with you?"
Tricia is a successful writer with stories 'The Green Table' and 'The Dancer at World's End' based during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and its aftermath. The books were inspired both by the dancers she worked with who had lived through that time, and her living for a time in an apartment that overlooked the attic room where Anne Frank hid from the Gestapo a generation earlier.
And after a lifetime of dance adventures, recovering from the trauma and isolation of Lockdown launched Tricia into the challenging but exciting new adventure of learning aerial hoop - aged sixty. When it came to using word and dance to tell her story - what better way to add more difficulty and drama than by performing it Upside Down in a Hoop!
Helped by director Wendy Cook and with a script polished by Dawn Harrison, Tricia has now performed the piece a dozen times. The entire piece is over 40 minutes, so this is just a taster. I can't recommend it enough; it's funny and moving, exciting and captivating. When it goes on tour in 2025 take whatever opportunity you can to go and see it.
Keep in touch with Tricia's journey via her website movingthemind.co.uk. Contact her there regarding performance dates, and to order her books - or check in with the publisher or other bookstores online or down your High Street!
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[@SYLVIASELZER]

Superb! Breath taking and touching, brave and honest! Physical theatre at its best! Thank you.

[@aidanshingler4927]

So proud of you ... beautifully tender and moving ... splendid video!

[@Xen_videos]

Hi Aidan, I'm so pleased to hear you liked the video, and that it did justice to Tricia's wonderful story.

[@annahall550]

This is so wonderfully inspiring and moving all at the same time. You cover such a range of important topics which really need to be talked about more. Incredible, and I wish you all the best with the next set of performances.

[@Xen_videos]

Thanks Anna for your kind comments, keep an eye on Tricia's website for updates on new performances 👍