About us.

Ocarina Nina Street-Theatre & Singing offers high-quality singing walkabout characters for festivals and street-theatre events.

Each act is acoustic - no amps, mikes or technical stuff required!
Repertoire of 3,000 songs! Great for all ages!
Flexible, adaptable, reliable! Equity member - insured up to £10,000,000 public liability.

On the festival circuit since 2003, Ocarina Nina Street Theatre has delighted audiences most recently at the Huddersfield Bus Station (2013), Guernsey Festival of Performing Arts (2012), Solfest 2010 & 09, Larmer Tree, Glastonbury 2009, Indie Tracks, Beautiful Days, Off the Tracks, Leamington Spa Peace Festival and the Sunrise Festival 2007, also appearing in Manchester (Unity Youth Arts & Sounds), Huddersfield (Golcar Lily Festival 2010), Leeds (Garforth Arts Festival,  Chapel Allerton Street Arts Festival), Hebden Bridge (Arts Festival), Colne (Great Brtish Rhythm & Blues Festival), Doncaster (Hothouse) and Broadstairs (Folk Week) amongst others.

Ideal for any festival occasion - indoor and out. Ocarina Nina is a trained singer and Equity member, fully insured for public appearances and an experienced community and festival arts worker, performer and workshop leader.

Booking:
To book and for further information:
Tel: 0044 (0)1484 685948
E-mail: ocarinanina1@gmail.com

'...the simple magic that can be made with a few buttons and a unique memory for songs.'Manchester Unity Youth Arts & Sounds Winter Festival

History

Ocarina Nina developed from Cast-Off Drama's exploration into the fairground and circus tradition of the 'poses plastiques' (www.castoffdrama.blogspot.com). Challenging the silence of conventional 'Living Sculpture' our street-theatre characters create high-impact, humorous and warm exchanges with the public through singing, speeches and stories. In line with our development of the theatre of the body, we work acoustically (ie. no amps or mikes!) and are skilled in a range of musical and vocal styles. Ocarina Nina Street-Theatre & Singing started in 2003, and went independent in 2006.

The first Ocarina Nina character was The Singing Secretary, launched in 2003. Fiona Folk followed in 2005, following requests from festival promoters for a second act.

The Singing Secretary

The Singing Secretary is a posh PA in a suit with travel bag, bright red phone and hairbrush mike! She sings all styles of song - jazz, blues, folk, pop, opera - and invites passers-by to 'put a button in her box to hear her sing!' from a box of buttons provided!

 

See  www.flickr.com/photos/lovekissprudence/3773273050 (Preview)

(Show link)

(Show link)

 for photo and what festival-goers at Indie Tracks said in 2009.

'The Singing Secretary really epitomised the day for family fun. She was there from the beginning and was still there late into the afternoon, with the smile on her face and a song in her heart."

Jane Oddy, StudentGuru Music Reviewer, Garforth Arts Festival

 

Please note: We are NOT the Singing Secretary that appears on Youtube! That's a different singer!

Fiona Folk

Fiona Folk is a busy wench with a large bustle and a basket of herbs to boot! This belle of the woods sings feisty ballads of love, loss and adventure! From dairymaids to Dylan, bar-room brawls to Baez, roving eyes to Rusby and Underground roots to the Unthanks, Fiona Folk brings mirth and merriment to any occasion!

 

Christmas Carol

A warble and a bauble from Bing to Bethlehem! 'Christmas Carol' is a singing lady Santa carrying a big sack of Christmas 'baubles' (ie. sweets, chocolate coins, little Christmas trinkets, bells, etc). She sings Christmas songs from a wide repertoire of carols and Christmas hits.

 

Ideal for Christmas fetes, parties, shopping arcades, long queues, department stores.

 

Shopping Molly

New for Summer 2014...

Shopping Molly. 'It ain't over 'till the fat bailiff rings...!' Living Sculpture meets Haute Couture. For a bit of Yorkshire urban cheek, watch out for Shopping Molly this Summer as she tinkles her till and gets you to flash your tat! From Boho Bazaar to Bargain Basement Bonanzas, if you've shopped till you've dropped Shopping Molly will be peeking at your purchases and swapping top trading tips!

Barbara Builder

 New for 2014... watch this space!

More soon

More soon