MY CHAMPION HEARTBREAK to Play Norwich Arts Centre, May 2-23

Two Norwich based artists are preparing to launch their new exhibition and show at Norwich Arts Centre before taking the show to London for a week long run.

My Champion Heartbreak is an unusual and delightful multi faceted event looking at the relationships between people and their pets and the surprising aspects of pet-ownership that go way beyond the predictable. It's inspired by conversations with hospital patients temporarily separated from their pets, interactions in parks with dog walkers and their dogs, all those lost owners and lost pets on missing posters and artists Dot Howard and Holly Bodmer's own memories of pet ownership.

Over a period of almost a year Dot and Holly talked to Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital patients in Gunthope Ward about their personal experiences of pet ownership, the benefits they reap from those experiences and the roles that household animals play in our lives. Gunthope Ward specialises in treating stroke survivors and runs a Stroke Prevention Clinic, Dot and Holly's work with the patients was part of The Hospital Arts Project.

The exhibition will see the Arts Centre Foyer transformed into a lush pet friendly world using Astroturf and other materials. It includes bizarre pet paraphernalia, images and text inspired by Dot and Holly's conversations with patients and other animal lovers as well as pet refreshment stops.

An unusual launch event for My Champion Heartbreak will be held at the St Benedicts Street venue on Friday 1 May 4pm - 6.30pm. At this people can view the exhibition, watch excerpts from the live show and meet members of the cast including Rosie the tortoise who has a star role in the upcoming show. There will also be the opportunity to meet other pets including guinea pigs and anyone attending is encouraged to bring their own pets with them 'It will definitely be very pet friendly' said Holly Bodmer.

The exhibition runs from 2-23 May at Norwich Arts Centre with the world premiere of the live show of the same name at the venue's [Live] Art Club as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival on 16 May.

Holly Bodmer said 'Pets play a significant part in people's lives and they help with and encourage social interaction.' 'My Champion Heartache celebrates our relationship with our domestic animals, including the joy and comfort but also the sorrow that pet ownership can bring' added Dot Howard.

Following it's premiere in Norwich the My Champion Heartbreak stage show will take up a week long residency at The Yard Theatre in London from Tuesday 26 - Saturday 30 May as part of the Now 15 Festival.

Odd Comic is Holly Bodmer and Dot Howard, cross-disciplinary artists with a passion for devising unconventional performance for intimate audiences in unusual spaces. They met at Dartington College of Arts in 2007 and have been collaborating since, creating performances that are observational, unpredictable, comic and odd. Their recent show Would Be Nice Though was a hit at the Edinburgh Festival. www.oddcomic.co.uk, mychampionheartache.tumblr.com

Listings info:

2-23 May 1-5pm Mon- Fri, 10am - 6pm Saturdays FREE
My Champion Heartache Exhibition
Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedicts Street Norwich NR2 1PG
Artwork inspired by Odd Comic's work with the Hospital Arts Project at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Saturday 16 May 8pm £8 (£6 concessions)
My Champion Heartache
Odd Comic interpret the familiar yet absurd relationship between a pet and its owner (and sometimes the neighbour!) in a humorous, frank and nostalgic interaction.

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