Forced Entertainment

General information

We are a group of six artists.
We started working together in 1984 and in the projects we’ve created we’ve tried to explore what theatre and performance might mean in contemporary life. In doing so we’ve made lists, played games, spoken gibberish, stayed silent, made a mess, dressed up, stripped down, confessed to it all, performed magic tricks, told jokes, clowned around, played dead, got drunk, told stories and performed for six, twelve and even 24 hours at a stretch.

We’re still trying to answer our questions about theatre and performance – about what those things are for us and what kinds of dialogue they can open with contemporary audiences.

The work we make is always a kind of conversation or negotiation. We’re interested in making performances that excite, frustrate, challenge, question and entertain. We’re interested in confusion as well as in laughter.

As well as performance works we’ve made gallery installations, site-specific pieces, books, photographic collaborations, videos and even a mischievous guided bus tour.

We’re based in Sheffield but we present the work we make all over the world.