Intrepid Victorians abseil, strip and dip
Two Victorian lady travellers, Freya Stark (1893 – 1993) and Isabella Bird (1831 – 1904), are marooned on the roof of a building. They meet across time and space and journey together toward the sea. Guided by Lillias Campbell Davidson’s 19th Century guidebook, Hints to Lady Travellers (the first written by a woman, for women), they negotiate the precarious abseil down the front of the building and the perilous crossing of a busy promenade to quench their shared desire to sooth their travel weary feet in the sea. To feel the waves lap around their ankles, their thighs, their waists… and dream of their next adventures…
‘The journey was impressive… and must have confused many a passing motorist who could only see a crowd of people staring intently up at the sky with smiles on their faces.’
(Hints to) Lady Travellers is a new work which was commissioned by Venue Cymru for Llawn 03 festival in 2015. It is a quirky duet, approximately 15 – 20 minutes in length, which is designed specifically on location. Ideally the dance should begin on the roof of a building, and end on the beach, or other waterside location (lake, river, stream, fountain).
‘Amazing work … so beautiful and funny. Totally mesmerizing.’
Credits
Choreograher: Kate Lawrence
Dancers: Despina Goula, Lisa Spaull
Music: Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major
Costume: Caroline Lanyon (Victorian dresses) and Ceri Rimmer (underwear)