Commissioned by Articulture and the Wales Outdoor Arts Commissioning Consortium, ‘Act of Strangers’ is a new outdoor dance theatre production touring Summer 2016. Expect cheekiness, daring lifts and a dash of comedy as the duo explore the wonderful potential of the stranger standing next to you. The work is touring throughout Summer 2016 including performances at Festival Number 6, Blysh Festival and Greenwich & Docklands International Festival.
In a world where communication is so often made via screens and communities gather online rather in person, Act of Strangers is an outdoor dance theatre performance that breaks down these barriers and reminds us of the simplicity, warmth and joy of human contact.
A bench is placed in situ for the day of the performance(s). Throughout the day people are free to sit on this bench to watch the world go by, talk with friends or perhaps have kind encounters with strangers. At the desired performance time, two ‘strangers’ arrive at the bench and a beautiful duet unfolds. From those recognisably awkward beginning acknowledgements, the pair begin to ‘talk’ through body language and movement. Through comical exchanges, playfulness and daring contact work, the touching story of this friendship unfolds, tumbling out into the audience and showing the wonderful potential of the stranger standing next to you.
The subject matter is hugely important, the lost art of interpersonal communication being a major cause of depression, loneliness, anxiety and addiction. This is also what draws the company to outdoor work, a gathering of people of all backgrounds coming together to experience real life and culture and gain rich shared experiences. You will come to see the simple park bench in a whole new light.
Due to the set and nature of the piece, the performance site can be moved to different locations, indoors or out.
