whale chorus

This was one of my first experiments with theatre. I gathered together a wonderful ensemble of artists (Paul Blenheim, Matt Prest, Georgie Read, Phoebe Torzillo and mentored by the fabulous Paul Capsis) to make a work for the Vacant Room residency supported by PACT Theatre Sydney in 2007. I wanted to experiment with making a training based ensemble and devising a new work. We played with song, wild dancing, making up characters, funny scenes, things falling from the ceiling, fans, opera and made a beautiful piece of theatre that was "very human and urban" as Paul Capsis said. Our audience gave us two standing ovations. We created something magical and strange, bursting with new life and the ingenuity that can only come from being young, ignorant, full of wonderful dreams and just trying things out. We went on to develop the show into a full production at PACT the following year supported by the Australia Council for the Arts and Arts NSW. Some of us then went on to collaborate on new projects together at the Underbelly Arts Festival in 2008 & 2011.

An excerpt from Whale Chorus, as presented in the feature film 'Monkey Sandwich' directed by Wim Wandekeybus for ULTIMAVEZ, Belgium. Presented at the 2011 Venice Biennale as part of the Mostra Internationale d'Arte Cinematografica.

Photo Heidrun Lohr

---

CREATIVE TEAM

Ensemble | Janie Gibson, Matt Prest, Phoebe Torzillo, Paul Blenheim, Georgie Read, Alex Grady
Special Effects | Michaela Gleave
Mentors |Paul Capsis, Chris Ryan, Vicki Van Hout, Regina Heilmann
Lighting | Jane Grimley, Frank Mainoo