50 YEARS ON…
Following the Opening Celebrations of the Cathedral, Bill was in Zambia, Africa, directing another first – a Celebration of the country’s 3rd Anniversary of Independence with a touring circus-style production of a Greek tragedy (Aeschylus’ “Oresteia”), transformed from Greece to Africa with a company of 40 drummers, dancers, actors, and narrator.
When he returned to Liverpool later that year he co-founded Great Georges Community Arts Project – the UK’s first Community Arts Project, and now better known as ‘The Black-E’ – in company with his wife Wendy Harpe and his friend Peter Moores, and located in a former inner-city church once known as ‘Liverpool’s Third Cathedral’.
His work there has included the exploration, and creation of games which are – co-operative – creative – and challenging. This work is documented and celebrated in his book “Games for the New Years : A DIY Guide to Games for the 21st Century”, available with a DVD of the games in action from The Black-E. Bill continues to work (and play) at The Black-E as Director.
He contributed as a dance critic to the ‘Guardian’ for 40+ years, and continues to write on dance for other journals. A selection of his dance writings, produced by James MacRitchie, is to be published later this year under the title ‘Dancing with Words’.
A book on Leadership by Peter Møhring, with roots in Bill’s exploration and creation of challenging, creative, and co-operative games, is shortly to be published in Danish and English (CHQ Publishing).
Bill has authored books on Theatre Games as social art, and numerous other articles and manuals on topics as diverse as Leadership and Playgroups. He has directed Festivals of Games, participatory theatre and taught internationally. Further information, along with a more complete biography, is accessible and available on the website of The Black-E at www.theblack-e.co.uk. This website includes an extensive section of Archive pages (‘A Gift of Ideas’).
In 2015, at 79 years young, he performed a solo 12 hour Dance Marathon, with guest dancers, as a fund raiser for The Black-E. Bill just keeps on Dancing…
Contacts:
WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, SEMINARS LED BY BILL HARPE
THE DRAMA OF THE MASS – THE SPIRIT OF THE SIXTIES
For further information on availability, contact Bill :-
Email: billharpe@yahoo.com
Post: 5 Huskisson Street, Liverpool L8 7LN, Merseyside, UK
Alternatively, you can contact us using the form below.
Copies of the Masses by Francesco Cavalli and Pierre Henry are available as follows:
Francesco Cavalli, Messe Concertata.
– available at www.amazon.co.uk, and other outlets
Pierre Henry, Messe de Liverpool.
– available at www.discogs.com
Esther Simpson of Metro-Boulot-Dodo recorded a two hour interview with Bill Harpe, and a two hour interview with Namron (formerly Norman Murray) about his experiences as a dancer at the Cathedral. These will be available at www.voicesofthemet.com/archives as of June 2017.
CREDITS:
Photos – Reg Cox
W: 0151 727 2177
M: 07526 958 557
regcox@mac.com
Website Consultant & Production – James MacRitchie
The Personal Energy Centre, Liverpool
07913 208 959
jamesmacritchie@gmail.com
www.personalenergycentre.com
Website Build – Liam Patton & Paul Burnhill
Mayfly Internet Marketing, Liverpool
0151 254 1727
liam.patton@may-fly.co.uk
www.mayflyinternetmarketing.co.uk
Last updated May 2017
Copyright: For other than personal use of all text & photos, please contact Bill Harpe for permission.