ARCHES LIVE!
‘THERE ARE
NO TABOOS WITHIN ARCHES LIVE! ABOUT CROSSING OVER AND ENGAGING WITH DIFFERENT MEDIA'
Highlights among the l7-shows on the bill include Grant‘s take on TIH’ Human Vuir‘r'. Developed as part of the Black Box residency. Grant‘s version of Cocteau‘s ground-breaking monologue on the subject of madness at the end of a phone line breaks down the work into two parts. These are then read by actors who are physically separated from each other. communicating via MSN Messenger. ‘The original play was an examination of the telephone: of new technology in everyday life. so I thought it would be interesting to merge this with the themes of my work. which looks at the way new digital technology influences people on a day to day basis.‘ says Grant. ‘Plus. as Cocteau was a visual artist as well as an author. I wanted to parallel his crossover into different media with my own experience on this project.‘
Another intriguing piece is Megan Barker and Neil Doherty‘s collaboration. Cria. which uses Carlos Saura‘s film Cria (‘zm'r'ns as a jumping- off point for the pairs continuing experiments in trying to find what Barker describes as 'a iilmic language for theatre'.
‘A camera can bring you right in with a close- up. distort your view or pull riqu out and give you a wider picture.‘ says Barker. “We wanted to find ways of doing that theatrically. not using multi-media technology. that would enhance rather than diminish the experience.‘
She adds: ‘lt‘s not an adaptation ofthe film. It‘s using the film as a jumping-off point for a load of visual poetry and linguistic images. which are loosely tied together and hung on to the skeleton of the film. Neil has a great sense of rhythm so it feels a bit like I‘m writing a big messy poem and he's framing it. layering it. punctuating it and setting it in verse.’
Other highlights include Adrian Howells‘ l‘butu'aslring for the Sale (in which the performer and Arches regular investigates the connotative act of washing a person‘s feet by doing it to a volunteer) and Nic (ireen’s new work. 'li‘ilogy: Part Three. ‘Nic came from the Contemporary Performance Practice course at the RSAMD. and she‘s extraordinarily committed as a young artist.’ says Wylie. 'No one knows what she‘s going to do until she's onstage. but her work usually demolishes what
20 THE LIST 4—18 Sep '2008
Top to bottom: Footwashing for the Sole; Greg Grant’s Idolon; Equal and Opposite by Gary McNair
we think of as ideas of masculinity and femininity. and the power structures inherent in that relationship. I’m excited to see it. but a bit scared at the same time.’
Wylie laughs. realising that she‘s returning yet again to the notion of bravery in performance. ‘I think Arches Live! only works when the artists are enabled by us to be as bold as they possibly can be.‘ she says. ‘A lot of them like to sit down and talk through what they‘re doing. while others
just want to be down in the rehearsal space
getting on with it. What we have to do is support them — even if it means they make the wrong decisions -~ rather than direct them. As long as they’re pushing at their limitations and trying to find the best way to be innovative. they‘re
joining in with what Arches Live! is all about.‘
Arches Live!, the Arches, Glasgow, Thu 18—Sun 28 Sep.
ARCHES LIVE! HIGHLIGHTS
The Past Drop
The anger, frustration and resentment of a single mind is explored in this one-man show about the fractured fury of being male. As the two sides of performer Murray Wasons — rational and irrational — come into conflict. his approach to life splinters. Tue 23 & Wed 24 Sep.
The Human Voice
Arches visual artist in residence Greg Grant re— works this Jean Cocteau piece about the effects of telecommunications on human interaction, which has become increasingly relevant in our era of social networking. Grant takes up the question of whether we are becoming closer or more isolated. Thu 18 & Fri 19 Sep.
Violent Night
The Dionysian Friday night piss-up is contrasted with the anally-retentive nine-to- five in this searing exploration of dreary
-~ * t- -- everyday life. The focus is the urban landscape, full of traps and pitfalls. which becomes a heady carnival that surrounds everything in sight. Thu 18 — Sat 20 Sep.
Lost Property
The Lost Property cupboard is a place of forgotten pride and diverted journeys. It is also a potent metaphor for our need for belonging in an increasingly anonymous world. Writer Sacha Kyle leads the audience through a spiral of loss and forgetfulness before wishing us a safe passage home. Thu 18 — Sat 20 Sep.
Demises
Death is the theme of Liars' piece. as they put their off-the-wall signature on the perennial questions of life. the universe and everything. This series of improvised reveries includes weird and wonderful accounts of deaths, ranging from bites to bungee jumps. provoking laughter about this most taboo of subjects. Thu 25 Sep.
Cria The boundaries of reality blur in this portrayal of life in a tyrannised country, inspired by Carlos Saura‘s film Cria Cuervos. The death of a ' dictator does not guarantee the death of his regime, as three girls discover while trying to get a handle on their disturbed lives. Thu 18 — Sat 20 Sep.
Foot Washing for the Sole
Adrian Howells takes up the weary feet of his audience. washes, massages and kisses them before sending them happily back into their shoes. Not for the foot-phobic.
Thu 18 — Sat 20 Sep.