At a Safe Distance
Show blurb:
Natacha Diels, Eleanor Westbrook and James Oldham brought together new music, gesture, humour and a general revelling in the mundane with their UK & Ireland tour “At a Safe Distance”. Each gig on the tour was shared with different guest artists.
Eleanor and James returned to a piece of theirs from 2019, which was originally created for Syrup Tracing; or on the significance of rising and/or falling by Waste Paper Opera. Following two “humans” as they depart from their pedestrian lives to go to the moon. Using found sound, patchworked movement sequences, unexpected rhythms and fragmented song they build a strange and uncanny performative universe.
Natacha presented a new set called Am I Alive, for theremin-driven snare drum, dismembered metronomes, and perpetually accumulating nonsense phrases that gradually coalesce into crystalline sense. Half-remembered conversations with machine friends form the work’s text, constructing elaborate stories built of the forever narrowing gap between life and function. The piece flickers between intimacy and circuitry, drone and chaos, beauty and dissonance.
The show also includes a barista sequence by James Oldham and clown improvisation by Eleanor Westbrook.
2026 tour dates:
March 7th - Dublin, with Andrew Hamilton, at Kirkos Space
March 8th - Cork, with Andy Ingamells, Cork Theatre Collective
March 9th - Oxford, with Zack Di Lello, at at Exmo, St John’s Auditorium
March 11th - Hastings, with Anat Ben-David, at Greenhalf Studio
March 12th - London, with Laurence Crane, at Horse Hospital
March 8th - Cork, with Andy Ingamells, Cork Theatre Collective
March 9th - Oxford, with Zack Di Lello, at at Exmo, St John’s Auditorium
March 11th - Hastings, with Anat Ben-David, at Greenhalf Studio
March 12th - London, with Laurence Crane, at Horse Hospital
Below is a video of The Human Scene, beginning with a free clown improv by Eleanor Westbrook and a barista sequence by James Oldham. The video includes footage from Greenhalf Studio (Hastings), Horse Hospital (London), and St John’s Auditorium (Oxford) and features Natacha Diels in the Oxford performance.
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activity
UPCOMING EVENTS [composition] [performance] [workshop]
2026
15 July
[radio show]
The Clint Show on Resonance FM, with Howard Skempton. 8pm BST on 104.4fm or via resonancefm.com
17 July
[solo performance]
A performance of solo comedy and music material for ‘Hope So’: a fundraiser for Lebanese Red Cross at The Ivy House, London
22 July
[radio show]
The Clint Show on Resonance FM, with Neil Luck. 8pm BST on 104.4fm or via resonancefm.com
2 August
[Reading]
Readings About Laughing
Readings About… is a new literary event in which writers respond to a theme. This time, it’s LAUGHING.
🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂
🗓️ Sunday 2nd August
📍 Joyce, 294 Brockley Road
⏱️ From 6 PM
Readers: Holly Pester, Asprey Liu, Fintan Calpin, James Oldham, Husna Rizvi, Aea Varfis-van Warmelo. Hosted by Amelia Horgan.
RECENT PAST EVENTS [composition] [performance] [workshop]
2026
7 - 12 March
[UK & Ireland tour]
At a Safe Distance tour 2026 with Ellie Westbrook, Natacha Diels and guest artists in each location. Ellie and I will be performing the Human Scene from Waste Paper Opera’s 2020 production Syrup Tracing; or on the significance of rising and/or falling. We will also perform new work and sequences alongside a new set by Natacha Diels, which comprises At a Safe Distance. Dublin, Cork, Oxford, Hastings, London
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27 January
[chorus session]
I’ll be leading the first Waste Paper Opera Chorus session of the year, featuring projects and exercises from Milo Thesger-Meacham, Collette Sheddick, Dan Rhys Wakefield, and WPO directors Klara Kofen and myself. From 6:30-9pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Peckham, London
[UK & Ireland tour]
At a Safe Distance tour 2026 with Ellie Westbrook, Natacha Diels and guest artists in each location. Ellie and I will be performing the Human Scene from Waste Paper Opera’s 2020 production Syrup Tracing; or on the significance of rising and/or falling. We will also perform new work and sequences alongside a new set by Natacha Diels, which comprises At a Safe Distance. Dublin, Cork, Oxford, Hastings, London
27 January
[chorus session]
I’ll be leading the first Waste Paper Opera Chorus session of the year, featuring projects and exercises from Milo Thesger-Meacham, Collette Sheddick, Dan Rhys Wakefield, and WPO directors Klara Kofen and myself. From 6:30-9pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Peckham, London
4 February
[radio show/hosting]
The Clint Show is a brand new radio series on Resonance FM. Weekly episodes on Wednesdays at 8pm and repeated on Thursdays at 10am.
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[radio show/hosting]
The Clint Show is a brand new radio series on Resonance FM. Weekly episodes on Wednesdays at 8pm and repeated on Thursdays at 10am.
2 February
[performance]
Leo Elia – Scarecrows of SASKAN: Live Action Remake, Playbill Prologue, Golden Pudel Club, Hamburg
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[performance]
Leo Elia – Scarecrows of SASKAN: Live Action Remake, Playbill Prologue, Golden Pudel Club, Hamburg
2025
29 March
[performance]
Appearance with Anat Ben-David on the Hello Goodbye Show with deXter Bentley on Resonance FM talking about our process and performing live on air
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[performance]
Appearance with Anat Ben-David on the Hello Goodbye Show with deXter Bentley on Resonance FM talking about our process and performing live on air
10 March
[writing]
I am making an experimental 5-part radio series with Neil Luck and Milo Thesiger-Meacham, which will be launched in 2026. The ‘writers’ room’ session at upstairs at The Kings’ Arms in Borough was a drinking and writing session with invited writers to create a radio episode where the writing is a texture of the broadcast, London
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[writing]
I am making an experimental 5-part radio series with Neil Luck and Milo Thesiger-Meacham, which will be launched in 2026. The ‘writers’ room’ session at upstairs at The Kings’ Arms in Borough was a drinking and writing session with invited writers to create a radio episode where the writing is a texture of the broadcast, London
22 February
[curation/hosting]
I programmed and hosted an experimental performance event called Radio Killed the Video Star bringing together music, comedy, performance art, video and DJs. This was a fundraiser event for Resonance FM produced collaboratively with Milo Thesiger-Meacham and Spike Silverton at Spanners Club, London
21 February – 11 May
[composition/screening]
Free to Choose screening with new installation by Bahar Noorizadeh at FACT, Liverpool
2024
19 December[performance]
A set of songs written with Anat Ben-David, performed at Signature Dish, a Resonance FM fundraiser event at All is Joy, London
17 October – 14 December
[installation/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce installation by Gary Zhexi Zhang and Waste Paper Opera at Soft Ground, Sheffield
20 November
[chorus]
Waste Paper Opera chorus session R&Ding new works by Steve Potter, George Ridgway and João Ruivo. 6-9pm – all with an interest in singing are welcome. The session took place at The Old Nunshead pub, London
31 October
[performance]
Performance of Robert Ashley’s The Wolfman at Music We’d Like to Fear, London
12 October
[composition/performance]
Dead Cat Bounce performance with Waste Paper Opera at Soft Ground, Sheffield
25 July
[composition/performance]
Dead Cat Bounce performance with Waste Paper Opera at Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
4 July
[composition/performance]
New Waste Paper Opera show abstracts, with love at Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster
21 June
[composition/performance]
All the Whistlers performance with Aliaskar Abarkas at CAPC, Bordeaux
19 April
[composition/performance]
Dead Cat Bounce performance with Waste Paper Opera at Eastside Projects, Birmingham
7 April
[composition/performance]
Performance of songs and comedy at The Piper, St. Leonards
11 March
[composition/performance]
Performance of Jeremiah + Assassins scenes from Dead Cat Bounce for Resonance FM takeover at Cafe OTO, London
9 February
[composition/performance]
Free to Choose at Open Lab #03 at Matadero, Madrid
18 November 2023 – 24 March 2024
[composition/screening]
Free to Choose at Taipei Biennial, Taiwan
11 January
[composition/performance]
Live performance of Free to Choose at Iklectik
2023
3 December[composition/performance]
New devised work with Waste Paper Opera Chorus wearing Moina Moin’s sculptures at Lewisham Arthouse, London
22 November
[performance]
Performing Anytime Return by Milo Thesiger-Meacham at Iklectik, London
29 September
[original music]
Premiere of The Tourist by Gary Zhexi Zhang at Art Gallery of York University (AGyu), Toronto
15 August
[composition/performance]
Performance of new improvised set with Martin Thomlinson at Somers Gallery for the opening of Anna Suwalowska’s exhibition Psychogical Landscapes Journey Within as part of Camden Inspire, London
28 July
[composition]
Performance of 10 Songs of Limited Context by Paul Zaba at AMOK, Artefact, Birmingham
19 July
[composition/screening]
Screening of Free to Choose by Bahar Noorizadeh at Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
4 July
[performance]
Performance of Somewhere Beautiful by Natacha Diels with Plus Minus Ensemble at Cafe Oto, London
26 June
[composition]
Performance of 10 Songs of Limited Context by Paul Zaba at Depot 48, Dehli
23 June
[composition/screening]
Screening of Free to Choose by Bahar Noorizadeh at Beirut Art Center, Beirut
21 June
[composition]
Performance of 10 Songs of Limited Context by Paul Zaba at Bangalore International Centre, Dehli
5-27 May
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at The Brick Theater, New York
23 May
[composition/performance]
Performance of solo routine for Salon at Brick Aux, New York
4 May
[composition/screening]
Screening of Free to Choose by Bahar Noorizadeh at Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
14-15 April
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at Indexical, Santa Cruz
13 April
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at Stanford University, California
30 March
[performance]
Launch of Anat Ben-David’s Conversations EP, London
16-17 March
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at Cafe Oto, London
9 March
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop Create the World at Central Saint Martins, London
1 March
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 4: Bodies, budgets and things on stage in opera at London Performance Studios, London
22 February
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 3: Continuity and Discontinuity: History and Musical Timing at London Performance Studios, London
17 February
[composition/performance]
New work at AMOK at Artefact Projects, Birmingham
15 February
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 2: Immovable Dramaturgical Objects: working with physical and ephemeral structures at London Performance Studios, London
8 February
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 1: Language and Music on Stage at London Performance Studios, London
29 January
[composition/performance]
Radio performance of extracts of Dead Cat Bounce and new material on Resonance Extra, live from Resonance Extra project space, London
2022
12 December
[performance/clown]
Live performance of Good Soup with Ensmeble Molière at NCEM, York
13 October
[performance]
Video performance in Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down, peformed live at Cafe OTO, London
[performance]
Video performance in Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down, peformed live at Cafe OTO, London
6 October
[screening/composition]
Online screening of Dead Cat Bounce on As We Leave The Window Open, Basel
29 September
[screening/composotion]
Open Rehearsal with Anat Ben-David and Sean Ashton. Sharing film of our recent collaborative work Backwater. At Somerset House, London
16 September
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at cabaret night Seen Any Monsters Lately? at Anzengruberin, Berlin
11 September
[Performance]
Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down at Guadeamus Musikweek, Utrecht
16 August
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at art-comedy night SEAMONSTERS - NEW CAR SMELL EDITION, London
29 July
[performance]
Good Soup with Ensemble Moliere at Sands Films, London
14 July
[performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce with Waste Paper Opera at Somerset House, London
3 July
[perfomance]
Clint solo set, alongside Lisa and the F.I.X. and Judy Brush at Fox and Firkin, London
[screening/composition]
Online screening of Dead Cat Bounce on As We Leave The Window Open, Basel
29 September
[screening/composotion]
Open Rehearsal with Anat Ben-David and Sean Ashton. Sharing film of our recent collaborative work Backwater. At Somerset House, London
16 September
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at cabaret night Seen Any Monsters Lately? at Anzengruberin, Berlin
11 September
[Performance]
Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down at Guadeamus Musikweek, Utrecht
16 August
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at art-comedy night SEAMONSTERS - NEW CAR SMELL EDITION, London
29 July
[performance]
Good Soup with Ensemble Moliere at Sands Films, London
14 July
[performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce with Waste Paper Opera at Somerset House, London
3 July
[perfomance]
Clint solo set, alongside Lisa and the F.I.X. and Judy Brush at Fox and Firkin, London
19 June
[performance/talk/online]
Eratic Objects: a lecture-performance on musical interruptions at Music Since 1900 conference, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham
[performance/talk/online]
Eratic Objects: a lecture-performance on musical interruptions at Music Since 1900 conference, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham
17-26 June
[performance]
Performances of Look Out Shithead, Episode 3 with Object Collection at La MaMa, New York
[performance]
Performances of Look Out Shithead, Episode 3 with Object Collection at La MaMa, New York
6 May
[installation/performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce installation with 8.2 surround sound at Open Lab, Matadero, Madrid
[installation/performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce installation with 8.2 surround sound at Open Lab, Matadero, Madrid