P. Crutchlow, H. Varley Jamieson – Project: make-shift
Project: make-shift
Paula Crutchlow, Helen Varley Jamieson
Sun 27th 6.30pm- 7.30pm
Open Platform Stage
make-shift is a unique and intimate networked performance that speaks about the fragile connectivity of human and ecological relationships. The performance takes place simultaneously in two separate houses that are connected through a specially designed online interface. Paula (in a house in London, UK) and Helen (in a house in Turin, Italy) stage their part of the work with the help of local audience members. Scripted and visually poetic performance is interspersed with webcam videography, avatar puppetry and audience interaction in the format of a performative salon. Everything that happens in the houses is streamed to online audiences who can also contribute text chat visible on the interface to everyone throughout the event. So far these locations have included a gallery in London, an arts centre in rural England, houses in Exeter and London, and apartments in Munich, Turin, Istanbul and Novi Sad. In each situation the performance changes according to the available space and the daily lives of the local audience; sounds and images from the house are incorporated into the performance materials. At the same time, make-shift is an online performance and can be accessed by anyone with a standard browser and internet connection.
Most of the materials and resources used in the development of make-shift are digital (images, audio, video) and exist within the web site (http://www.make-shift.net) and the performance interface (accessed via the web site). There is an accummulation of these materials – with each performance, new sounds and images from the houses are added, and afterwards images from the performance. We are also accummulating research material, primarily in the form of links to relevant web sites. In terms of physical materials, plastic rubbish is the main material. Audiences are asked to collect their plastic rubbish for 24 hours prior to the performance and bring it with them (cleaned if necessary!); this is then used during the performance to make something. At the end, everyone is reminded that they must take all their plastic rubbish with them. Our technical equipment includes our computers, wireless webcams, radio mics and mini data projectors – all designed to be as transportable as possible (airline hand-luggage); plus we have a costume that is a kind of apron-dress, with multiple pockets to accommodate the things we need to use during the performance.
Image: Paula Crutchlow, Helen Varley Jamieson
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