Back to bed..

At 7.45 this evening Simon Clarke and colleague Pete Graham had just finished the day shift in the first half of his twenty-four hour 'bed-in' in the River Allen in Wimborne. From 12 till seven Simon invited local people to write out their dreams, wishes aspirations and fears on small pieces of paper; each hour reading them out to the passers-by. As you might imagine his 'performance' has aroused the interest of local people.

People start with questions. Lots of them; from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again... 'Why are you doing this?... what happens if you fall out of bed?.. have you caught any fish yet?... will you make my dreams come true?... what happens if you wake up in Wareham?

And life continues around him. The grass is cut and the bed is sprayed with cut grass and clipped away shrubbery.. people collect children from the library...others run into Safeways and rush home to cook dinner for the kids...

The bed has not moved an inch since this afternoon but the swift flow of the Allen gives him a perpetual feeling of being carried in the flow.

But what's it all about? What has it to do with a theatre-in-the-round festival this weekend?

Simon:

"Firstly it's drawing attention to the things about the round that are outside or beyond theatre itself. It's about how we see things and make decisions, when traditional control of the 'performer' is taken away. Also, in this role as dream catcher, I put myself in service to the people who let me have their words and dreams. They quiz me about why I am here, and I am answerable to them. They all make their own judgements about me then and there."

More later... including his mobile number; which you can use to speak to him before twelve tomorrow...