We’re finding out more about those working alongside our PUSH ME artists – after all, part of the push for them is working with new people, pushing all parties forwards to new levels of achievement.

For Unlimited Global Alchemy, Rachel Gadsden has been working with the sensational choreographer and performer Freddie Opoku Addaie, Artistic Director of Jagged Antics, so we caught up with him to ask him a few questions…

Freddie, what inspired you to join up with the Unlimited Global Alchemy team?

Firstly the creative team – Rachel Gadsden and the Bambanani artist-activist group –  is inspiring. As a performer and creator I am very interested in human fragility and our true resilience being a creative force in performance . Our fragility should not be seen as weakness because one way or another we all experience complex human stories.

How is this performance different from your other work?

I am always excited about working with creative artists who are at the top of their craft. This is completely the case in this commission – such as the design; a practicing doctor Dr Sarah Chin; amazing co-collaborator Athina Vahla and with Rachel. The performance is also rooted in the universal human experience – rather than just drawing on the encounter with Rachel and the Bambanani artist-activist group. The integrity of the work lies in this central element and will hopefully support the push for further social action.

What is new or different about Unlimited Global Alchemy?

As a few of the contributors to the commission have also said – the amazing journey that the work has gone on has been really exciting. From the catalogues to the exhibition and then to the talks, workshops and discussions that need to be had!

Our project is called Push Me so what is the push inside for you?

The desire to find a common language that transcends cultures and beliefs because the world is getting smaller and smaller.

It was pretty hard catching up with Freddie – and Rachel. As Rachel says:

Freddie and my schedule is pretty relentless at the moment with the Torch Commission sitting side by side Unlimited Global Alchemy, but it is so amazing being part of Freddie’s choreographic leadership for “Starting Line”, he is really pushing me and I am not complaining!