Creative Lab: Helen Cuinn, The Hair on My Head is Dead by Helen Cuinn

A curl springs forth from the bonny babe’s head,
The hair on my head is dead, my love, the hair on my head is dead.
What about brown or blonde instead?
Oh the hair on my head is dead.
The life fire that burns so red, so red,
Oooh the hair on my head is doornail dead, the Hair on My Head is Dead!

"Reasonably attached to my flame red locks, I set out to explore the relationship between a person and their hair.

"I know people often make judgements on my character based on my colouring.

I know that ‘gingers’ are the last bastion of slagging in ‘a world that has gone mad for political correctness’.

I know I am meant to be angry or sexy or fiery or witchy or weird.

I will use this residency opportunity to grind up ginger nuts, play with rusty nails, and doff some See You Jimmy bunnets in an attempt to put my image under the microscope.

In the finale, I will try to remove myself from my hair."

Helen Cuinn is a freelance performer and writer. She has most recently toured Scotland with the critically acclaimed one woman show ‘Hoose and Hame’. She continues to perform for others; festival appearances include CCA Creative Lab showing (2007) for Nic Green, NRLA (2008) for Sarah-Jane Grimshaw, and the Forest Fringe (2008) for David Overend. She also performs for screen and was recently featured in Shelly Nadashi’s new video work ‘Calling the Ginger to Come’.

Her new performance installation, also entitled ‘The Hair on My Head is Dead’ will be shown at Arches Live Festival in September.