Bio
For a full C.V and Biography, please download this file: Ryan Murphy CV 2018
Like many of us Ryan began life as a baby. He later grew to a child, and then improvised his way into young adulthood. A story we can all relate to.
His performance interests sprang from a childhood of mimicking silent screen clowns, particularly the much-loved works of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Laurel & Hardy.
As a juggler Ryan is fascinated by the unusual dynamics of ordinary objects; believing all physical things to be vehicles of human expression and innate wonder.
He arms himself with bowler hats, drying racks, library books, and even supermarket trolleys, to celebrate both the physical and the emotional through nature’s absurdity and heartfelt chaos.
By exploring the connections between people, objects, and movements, Ryan hopes to create narratives that resonate with the human experience. Creating situations that begin in simplicity and spiral into complexity.
In the words of Groucho Marx, “I intend to live forever, or die trying.”
Performance C.V
2007-2008 Circus Skills - Alchemy Productions
Working under the wing of Alchemy Productions, Ryan developed and tutored ground-based circus skills; ranging from unicycling, to fire juggling, to stilt walking.
2009 to 2011 - Circomedia; Contemporary Circus and Physical Performance
Specialising in Physical Theatre (tutored by Bim Mason) and Equilibristics & Manipulation (tutored by Rod Laver & Sebastien Valade), with visiting tuition & workshops from Sean Gandini (Creative Juggling), Haggis McLeod (Street Performance), and Les Bubbs (Mime & Theatre).
2012 National Centre of Circus Arts
Then known as Circus Space, continuing juggling studies with the humorous patience of Ian Marchant, Iñaki Sastre, Sam Veale, Jon Udry, and Jose Triguero.
2013 The Great Leonardo Project
A collaboration with Circus Schools Amien (France) and Carampa (Spain), beneath French Directors Marc Proulx and Nordine Allal (made possible through the European Zone of Artistic Projects).
2013 Co-founding of Tit for Tat with Louis Lamprell
An outdoor arts company that celebrated unusual juggling with wild and peculiar narratives, made possible through the support of Labtime, Circomedia, Pangottic, Cirque Bijou, and the encouraging smiles of the general public (thanks Greg).
2013 Emerge
A development week for emerging artists held by the University of Winchester, where Tit for Tat begun working with Kate Hazel (Winchester Hat Fair) and Matt Feerick (Wet Picnic). With workshops and discussions forums with Mimbre, Theatre Bristol, and Arts Council England.
2014 The Most Dangerous Cup of Tea In The World
Tit for Tat reworked and toured their show all around the UK, enjoying playful and responsive crowds at many Festivals and Events for the Outdoor Arts, including CityDiversions, Fuse, Mintfest, Streets of Devizes, Adur, and Greg’s Backyard (thanks Greg).
2015 Game - Unstable King
Louis and Ryan teamed up Chief Commander Michael Bell, as Unstable King. Together, they wrote, devised, ate their scripts, and ultimately commenced in open warfare with Mike’s indoor circus theatre vision; GAME.
2016 The Ball - Wet Picnic
Working again beneath Director Matt Feerick, joining a small ensemble of artists to create a large scale Outdoors show called The Ball - check out Wet Picnics website for more information.
2017
Touring The Lift & The Ball under Wet Picnic, and developing new individual projects! Including: Caught in The Act, Two Idiots Telling A Story, and Today I Am Become dEAF.
2018
Working under Louis Lamprell’s Outdoor Entertainment company Joy Magnet.
Exploration of an international collaboration "Mache Ado About Nothing" with artists from Argentina and Madrid, devising under the name
of Knuk Theatre.
Received ACE funding for an international theatrical juggling project, ‘Juggling Oddjective’, bringing together Lecoq-
trained artists from different nationalities and disciplines to develop circus theatre devising techniques.
Enrolled on the Philippe Gaulier Clown Intensive course in Paris.
2019
Working with Break Theatre in Italy, performing and teaching in schools and theatres
High Fashion Circus with Bearded Kitten, performing interactive theatre and evening cabarets around the UK
Collaboration with Musician and Performer Maia Ayling on corporate stage act "Sax & Hets"