Caroline Murphy’s introduction to performance art progressed from cabaret and clowning performances with James King.  The cabaret performances included vocalisation, percussion, and violin (Murphy is a trained musician), which regularly occurred at Mason’s – Derry. Clowning, (as Bitz and Bobs) took place at a variety of venues and festivals. (e.g.) Seeds – Anti- Racism Rally Guildhall Sq. Derry –  2008; Festival of Colours – St. Columb’s Park –  2008; Leafair Anti – Bonfire Festival –  2009.

These experiences informed Murphy’s later Performance Art practice, particularly the playfulness of clowning. “Play when it finds me, has its own wisdom”, is her motto. This playfulness is evident in her style of participation in the Bbeyond monthly Performance Meets and at the Derry branch BBDB weekly performances, Murphy drew upon  this in the ‘East – West – via Belfast’ event in 2009…which also connected with her employment in the area of development education and global justice.

Not all of Murphy’s performance art practice has been playful. In the years of the Echo Echo project, The Sunday Sessions, at the Ebrington Centre, circa 2007, her performances included creative translations of personal material.

Another source of inspiration in Murphy’s practice is Action Theater. (Ruth Zaporah, 1995). This system develops scores for performance which provide frames for complete spontaneity. An example of this influence is the ritualised score created by Murphy and James King during their colaborative performance at the performance art event Somatic Distortion in 2019.

Currently Murphy creates weekly performances at the ‘Monday Lab’ zoom meetings which she initiated.