At this moment in time, Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis is constructing hundreds of metres of tapestries along the fencing around his farm in Somerset. The tapestries outline the history of radical protest. And in the middle of that farm, Lost Vagueness founder/director Roy Gurvitz and his band of riggers, technicians and other crazed workers are erecting a magnificent steadfast arena, designed to last through rain and flood, wind and mud.
Lost Vagueness is not a band. It’s hard to define, but wonderful to experience. Lost Vagueness essentially creates an alternate world of performance within a festival that’s already taken you a certain distance from everyday life.
Jake Shears of The Scissor Sisters perhaps described it best when he told the Observer in 2004: “I spent the rest of the night with my friends in the Lost Vagueness field. I’ve never seen such madness… At one point I turned to a friend and said: ‘I think this must be what heaven is like’.”
From 22 to 24 June Lost Vagueness Ltd will again be presenting a licorice allsorts variety of intense and fantastic performance at the Glastonbury Festival. Whilst the Pyramid, John Peel and Other Stages present the latest big name music acts announced today in the Guardian, Lost Vagueness keeps performance art alive and thriving with cabaret, street theatre and full productions across three big tops and more. After all, the full title is Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts.
If the name Lost Vagueness sounds familiar it’s because the Lost Vagueness field was shut down at Glastonbury Festival in 2003 due to major overcrowding where punters were nearly crushed to death. This was the first and only closure that Glastonbury has experienced in the 35 years of the Festival’s history. It was at this time that Lost Vagueness came from nowhere to become a UK phenomenon.
Lost Vagueness has grown from two small marquees in 1986, to a ten acre field with three big tops. How did they become so successful? Unlike commercial companies, Lost Vagueness concoct something new every year, making the organisation exceptionally innovative. Once the commercial world picks up on their ideas, these culture-builders use their creative wiles to stay fresh, and ahead of the game.
In the last few years burlesque has become all the rage, with corsets coming back alongside the rising fame of performers like Marilyn Manson’s ex Dita Von Teese and local cabaret queen Immodesty Blaise. Even Marks and Spencer are using burlesque to sell their clothes. But Lost Vagueness did burlesque 9 years ago. In 2005, Lost Vagueness introduced Beach Hut accommodation in the Trailer Park. Now there is a business offering these at all the major UK festivals (but not luxurious)!
In an interview with Press Dispensary, Roy Gurvitz states, “we push boundaries. We go out of our way to attract people to our events and keep them by giving them what they want. It’s inclusive – we make people feel at home and encourage them to interact with the performance by dressing up, etc. We blur the boundaries between performer and guest. And we don’t have corporate advertising plastered on everything, much to our financial detriment.”
Recognition has allowed the company’s main ethos to be brought to the forefront. In an unusual and fantastic manner, Lost Vagueness is a vehicle for up and coming performers to show and prove their worth. By sending in basic promotional material, any performer is offered the chance to perform as part of Lost Vagueness. From truly underground roots, they remain good to their cause – there are few legitimate performance companies where the cast and crew are one and the same!
Like the best mixed bag of sweets, new fresh and wild acts are carefully combined with established performers for Glastonbury 2007. Karen Cruiks is the founder and team producer of the Lost Luck Casino, the centre of the hype back in 2003. She is also a performer and costume designer. After being a regular punter at the Lost Vagueness venues for many years, Karen got involved and started off running the bar. As Roy and Karen established a working relationship, her roles increased.
This year Lost Vagueness present hand-picked featured artists for Glastonbury who will go on tour with the company to Edinburgh Festival, at Club Vague from 5 to 26 August. These acts include CousCous Torture with their vaudeville cabaret number on a bed of nails – that holds a silent movie-esque quality. Another featured artist presenting in the Lost Luck Casino is Perverted Turkey, a female physical acro & dance-based duo – and Karen’s favourite artists of all time. At Glastonbury they present a new hilariously jaw-dropping sophisticated drama of a show, based on two synchronised swimmers.
And all in the most astonishing venues with truly decadent décor. As Karen Cruiks describes it, Lost Vagueness are “orchestrating a marvelous movie.” Karen spoke to Arts Hub about this year’s event, describing each Lost Vagueness venue to give us a sneak peek at what’s on offer:
Lost Luck Casino
Roulette & black jack tables set amongst an erratic & lively performance cabaret/DJ/live music stage, with curving stainless steel bar. No beer, only bubbly and spirits. “This creates a beautifully hedonistic atmosphere where everyone is a part of the action. You see snippets of movies, with dashing young gentlemen from the war.
The difference between the Lost Luck Casino and all other venues is that here, there is a strict door policy. If you aren’t in a ball gown or tux, you are sent to the Wardrobe Department to hire an outfit to meet the dress code – choose from 6,000 outfits! Karen’s advice: bring at least 4 changes of clothes- and boots to match!
Guest DJ’s include Sophie Toes, and Andy Wetherall from Lamb, with resident David from Torture Garden. And, there’s a real wooden dance floor!
Lost Vagueness Ballroom
Giant chandeliers and ruby red velvet curtains line the Ballroom. Expect live music & spots of cabaret in the band changeovers. Guests include original ska band Madness, and Chad & Dave with their cockney piano knees up number from the early 1970’s era. Open until 3am.
Karen says, “everyone here is playing their part ‘hahaha’ (she laughs) – looking dashing, and flirting beautifully and having fun”. There are no electric beats, no dance music: from vintage to disco. This is the same throughout all Lost Vagueness arenas – except The Chapel.
The Chapel of Love & Loathing
A massive projection screen outside an enormous façade. Inside, “…the stage is a boxing ring, with nuns and vicars – a riot. You can get married or divorced until 10pm. After that, the Chapel becomes a dark twisted cabaret, with depraved nuns.”
Performers include Lucifire, who in true butoh style is hoisted to the ceiling by hooks in her back. “This is bloody, sick & gorgeous”, says Karen. Medical shows, and bands as well. Dark and dirty drum n bass precludes each evening, with Pink Rachel from London.
Other arenas include the Slipped Roller Disco, the Sideshow Medway, with full length productions and a cinema, and the new Dodgem Diner Fairground – with 24 hour food and rock & roll, dodgem cars and more.
Paradise Lost Trailer Park
Beach huts for hire (£1500 for two), and new luxury Silver Bullet trailer caravans for 4, with full alloy exterior (at time of press, a couple still available of each). Price is £6,000 (includes festival tickets, cabaret butler service, and a choice from a range of acts to perform in the privacy of your own trailer. Pink flamingo and a fountain outside your front door. Helicopter rides into the festival. Kate Moss and Pete Doherty are, once again, taking this option.
Sounds like there’s no need to go anywhere else this Glastonbury Festival – except to your favourite big name band!
A small number of returned tickets to Glastonbury Festival will go on sale online on Sunday 3 June 2007 starting at 9am – but only to valid registration number holders.
If you would like to become involved as a performer with Lost Vagueness, why not send them a demo tape? Check out their my space or post straight to: Lost Vagueness, Unit 8 Grosvenor Way Clapton, London E5 9ND.
