May 2023

 

WonderZoo Stripped Back Sessions at Green Space

 

On 31st May, we had our first Stripped Back Session, a low-key intimate performance evening in the basement of Green Space, 30 Mutley Plain.

 

It was the first time we’d used this relatively new performance venue, which has been freshly painted and spruced up for groups to use, with some nice fairy lights to create a soft ambience.

 

To get into the venue, you go behind the building and enter through a steel gate into a beautifully tended garden with a gravel path leading you to the basement entrance. Rather than being dark and dingy, the basement is bright and airy, with doors to the garden wide open, letting the sunshine and breeze in. This venue is a little hidden gem in Plymouth, and are the owners are keen to host more events, if anyone is interested!

 

We had wonderful performances from Slain McGough Davey, Mimi Jones, Pete Rowe, Laurie Page, David Rees and Poppy-Jane Jones, with an acoustic music set by Cat Rose and Job Fazal, whose beautiful lyrical harmonies soothed our souls. 19 year old comedian Robin Marshall compered the evening, which had many funny moments. It was his first time compering a gig and he did brilliantly. We like to give young people opportunities that allow them to gain skills, experience and confidence in a fun way.  

 

This Stripped Back Session was part of Freedom Community Festival’s fringe events, funded by Plymouth Octopus Project. WonderZoo’s Slain McGough Davey is a supporter of the Festival and was the weekend site manager at the recent one, keeping festival-goers safe and happy from 8am - 8pm each day. Jonathan Spurling, founder of Freedom Community Festival, supports WonderZoo by being our sound technician for all our gigs.

 

This year WonderZoo is celebrating 10 years of events, and there will be a further 2 Stripped Back Sessions on 26th July and 30th August as a way of celebrating WonderZoo’s presence over the past decade. It’s all thanks to the WonderZoo founder, Slain McGough Davey, who has worked tirelessly to bring fun, culture, friendship, creativity and positivity to this city for 10 years.