Instantly familiar to Lighthouse audiences from her memorable baddies in the last two Poole pantomimes, as well as from her the hit touring show An Evening Without Kate Bush, Sarah-Louise Young premieres her latest show, The Bob Ross Effect, in The Sherling Studio on Thursday 11 June.
A celebration of the artist, animal lover, and unlikely be-permed sex symbol Bob Ross taught an entire nation to embrace their inner creativity through his low-budget TV show The Joy of Painting, it features live art – on stage and in the audience – with comedy, puppetry, original music and a rather unusual fan dance.
“As with most things I make, the audience are a really important ingredient,” says Sarah-Louise. “So, for all the rehearsal, all the preparation, now we need the audience in. It’s quite interactive – they get to do live drawing during the show!”
And Sarah-Louise, much to her thinly-veiled amazement, creates a painting…
“I had never lifted a paintbrush in my life before making this show and although I’d love to say I’d learned to paint, I have been trying. And I do paint a picture during the show. Part of the message of the show, which is what Bob Ross believed in, is that we are all creative and it’s not about being good, it’s about enjoying it. It’s the joy of painting, the joy of making art.
“So the show is really all about getting back in touch with our creative spirit, and about how art can heal us when we hit tough times – there are amazing stories of people who’ve reached a really tough point in their life and then engaging with art or watching Bob Ross has really been a turning point.”
These touching stories of resilience and recovery include Sarah-Louise own relationship with art and point to the humanity that lies at the heart of Bob’s enduring appeal. Along with clipboards, crayons and hand sanitiser, Sarah-Louise will also make tissues available to the audience “in case anyone cries,” she says.
“Laughter and tears – that’s what I always want from any show. As Bob says: ‘On this canvas, I paint because it helps me create the world as I want it to be and as happy as I want.’ He says, you want bad news, watch the TV, but here, just for a brief moment, we get to come together and make something beautiful. People want these connections, I think, and I want that as an audience member, so it’s also what I want to make – shows where people feel a sense of togetherness.”
Of course, Sarah-Louise is also looking forward to reconnecting with Lighthouse audiences in this year’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, when she makes a welcome return as the baddie, Fleshcreep.
“Oh yes, third time evil!” she laughs. “No spoilers, you’ll have to wait and see, but he’s going to be a lot more evil than he lets on.
“I am excited about coming back because I feel like there’s a relationship building with the audience of Poole and Lighthouse have been amazing. They’ve supported me making The Bob Ross Effect as part of their Sanctuary artists’ residency and I feel like to have an organisation that cares enough to invest in you, I feel part of the family now, which is really nice.”
:: The Bob Ross Effect is being developed with support from Lighthouse Poole’s Sanctuary scheme and Jackson Lane London.
:: Tickets available now at The Bob Ross Effect – Lighthouse or on 01202 280000.
(NC)