Stuart Waters

Tell us about about your yourself

As a mid career artist, my practice has evolved from 24 years as a performer in numerous devised works (Protein Dance, Motionhouse, Wired Aerial Theatre) to a maker, creating autobiographical work with activism at its heart. Informed by my lived experience as a queer, neurodivergent (ADHD dyslexia) cis man with mental access needs (Anxiety, depression, addiction) I created my first solo work, ROCKBOTTOM (2018) which was met with critical and popular acclaim.

work is co-created, rooted in lived experience, informed by trauma. A practice of safeguarding myself, collaborators and audiences allows me to explore subject matter that is taboo, uncomfortable and painful, with sensitivity and humour. The work that emerges is bold, beautiful, inclusive, and brings social issues into art-making to spark change. Training in different modalities of counselling and coaching enables me to safely hold/lead artistic spaces and processes. I am part of the current, inaugural Clore Leadership Inclusive Cultures cohort.

My process invites honesty and consent to underpin radical art making; creating experiences that challenge, feel unique and fresh to the viewer. I regularly deliver interventions in conservatoire settings, speak publicly and curate Head:ON Conversations; a body of work that invites collaborators to contribute to panel discussions, short films and events with significant sector-wide impact.

Tell us about your proposed research/project

I will be working with collaborators to develop and test innovative, inclusive models of engagement activity for A Queer Collision, a new duet for myself and Audio Describer Willie Elliott,  alongside Midlands-based artists and communities.

What do you think are the benefits of working with FABRIC in a Midlands context?

In these challenging times, I feel really honoured to have an invitation from FABRIC to develop elements of a project I feel strongly about, and which centres intersectionality, care and queerness. It’s going to be enormously valuable to reach out into communities within the Midlands to co-create new art work.