Some theatre companies are formed in studios, others in rehearsal rooms—but ‘Segments’ was born behind the bar at TFT.
Joe, Jazz, and Elizabeth first worked as bar staff while training at the Bristol School of Acting. In 2023, they staged WILT for one night. Among the audience was Dave, our Executive Director, who saw its potential and encouraged them to refine it. They took his words to heart.
Now, as Segments, they have re-imagined WILT — developing it through improvisation, research, and Jazz’s writing. From 24th-26th April, their refined production takes to the stage; with Jazz directing, Elizabeth stage-managing, and Joe performing alongside co-star India.
A Foundation in Movement
Back in September 2022, five students began their journey at BSA with no idea that their classroom collaborations would soon evolve into a full-fledged company. The real turning point came during a two-week summer residency in Dolgellau, Wales, where they trained intensively in two physical theatre disciplines: Viewpoints and Suzuki.
This deep-dive into movement-based theatre cemented bonds between Jazz, Scout, and India. When they returned to Bristol, Joe and Elizabeth joined forces with them, drawn to their energy and the strength of their creative connection.
The Orange That Sparked It All
Their first devised piece together was strange, symbolic, and unforgettable. At the centre of it all? An orange.
In this experimental performance, the audience was split in two. One group witnessed a ritualistic worship of the orange; the other, its chaotic destruction. When both halves were brought back together, the clash of emotional reactions sparked fascinating post-show discussions. It was their first taste of making theatre that could surprise, provoke, and linger in the mind long after the curtain call.
From Experiment to Identity
That creative momentum carried into an assessed project titled Segments—a devised piece inspired by the idea between expectations and desires – breaking society expectations with different forms of desire going too far.
The audience was divided once again, moving through alternating A–B–A–B sequences around different spaces in the Tobacco Factory Theatres, including the Spielman Theatre and the meeting room.
Rooted in their movement training, Segments was abstract, bold, and deeply collaborative. But more importantly, it marked the point where they realised they weren’t just a group of students making theatre—they were a company. And so, the name Segments stuck.
Why “Segments”?
It’s a name that’s always met with a smile. “Segments? Like the orange?” people ask. Exactly.
Each company member brings something unique to the table—like individual segments of a whole. In this version of WILT, Jazz leads as director, Elizabeth runs the show behind the scenes, and Joe and India return to the stage. Collaborators come and go, but every one of them becomes a segment of the wider story.
And this is just the beginning.
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Posted on 10 April 2025
