Steal Compass, Drive North, Disappear is a solo performance created by Rachel Blackman and directed by Emma Kilbey for stillpoint. It tells the story of Martin, whose commitment to his successful career as an artist and academic is counter-pointed by the chaos of his personal life and his tendency to disappear when the going gets tough.

Told from the perspectives of Martin’s biographer, as well as through the eyes of his adoring 5 year old daughter, his savvy performance poet wife and his increasingly remote and disappointed lover, Martin is eventually placed in a situation from which there is no escape.

Using black humour, cinematic conventions and physical storytelling, this is a moving, challenging and at times hilariously funny performance road trip.

The words ‘Steal Compass, Drive North, Disappear’ come from the title of an epic piece of music by Set Fire To Flames that Rachel Blackman was listening to in the early days of creating Martin. Musician David Bryant of Set Fire To Flames kindly set us free to use this ‘river of words’ on the condition that we built our work around a theme that made our hearts swell. We hope he feels we have put them to good use.

A powerful piece of physical theatre… A theatrical masterpiece worthy of the highest accolades. Cannot be missed’
Fringe Review *****

‘Blackman has such a awesome presence that I avoided blinking so not to miss a second.’
Three Weeks *****

‘…there is something like love in the expertly observed details’
Bella Todd, Latest 7 ****

Untitled from rachel blackman on Vimeo.

4 minute trailer.
Driftwood Productions.