Bryony Kimmings: I’m a Phoenix, Bitch at HOME
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Following a critically acclaimed twice extended run at Battersea Arts Centre, Bryony Kimmings’ I’m a Phoenix, Bitch comes to HOME Manchester.
Bryony Kimmings is a London-based artist who creates multi-platform live art, which is usually inspired by the cultural taboos and social injustices she encounters. Bryony’s award-winning work has toured internationally to Antifest in Finland, Culturgest in Portugal, Texas’ Fusebox Festival and Australia for Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Notable previous works have seen Bryony reinvented as a pop star by a nine-year-old; spend seven days in a state of intoxication in a controlled environment and an investigation to retrace an STI to its original source. Fascinating and fearless, Bryony’s work always centres around outlandish social experiments and the stuff we’d rather not talk about.
Bryony’s work always centres around outlandish social experiments and the stuff we’d rather not talk about.
Fusing personal narrative with epic film, soundscapes and ethereal music, I’m a Phoenix, Bitch is a dark and joyful work about motherhood, heartbreak and finding inner strength.
Back in 2016, Bryony felt herself drowning. Post-natal breakdowns, a struggling relationship and an extremely sick child left her frantically treading water, fighting to keep her head above the waves.
A dark and joyful work about motherhood, heartbreak and finding inner strength.
Four years later, she is ready to face life again but wears the scars of that year like a dark and heavy cloak. This performance asks: how does trauma change us? How do we turn pain into power? How do we soar instead of drowning?
Part live art installation and part therapy session, this deeply personal performance demonstrates the power of human resilience, the strength we find to bounce back and the restorative qualities of art.
