Our
Euphoria (2010)
Performers:
Natalie Adams & Benjamin Martin
Originally
created in a studio as a 1 hour performance piece exploring euphoric states of
being - that is, feeling euphoric|euphoria, Our Euphoria was intended to be
performed in traditional theatre spaces and arts venues.
Photo:
Peter Langdown
Taken
at The Point Theatre 20th May 2010
In
the summer of 2010 SeedSew embarked on a tour of Spaces and Places around
Hampshire. The company extracted sections of Our Euphoria in response to the
various sites:
Spinney Hollow Woods
NewArtCentre Sculpture Park and Gallery
Jane's
Field
The gallery, Winchester
Discovery Centre
St. Edburgh Roof/Terrace,
University of Winchester
The Point Theatre
The
tour formed part of SeedSew's research and development into the possibility
of taking extracts of a 'ready made' performance into different sites, what
effect this had on the work and the sites, and how audiences would
experience the work.
The
tour invited audience's to each of the sites as well as relying on members
of the public to 'stumble' across the work, all were invited to document
their personal experience and and engagement with the tour. Audience members
were given sketch books, cameras, video cameras and were also able to text
their thoughts and write on SeedSew's on-line blog.
The
outcomes of the documentation was astounding, not only did they react
critically and thoughtfully, but also engaged using poetry, sketching,
painting, creative writing and other creative methods. All documentation
was exhibited as part of the installation at The Point in the Atrium space on
20th May 2010.
SeedSew now have a 'tried and tested' format of working, by which they are
able to extract sections of performance to be placed in different sites.
In doing so they create a conversation between the site and the work, a
conversation in which both site and performance shape themselves accordingly.
Images of Our Euphoria in different
spaces and places
Our Euphoria in the woods
An
audience member took this photo on the evening of the performance at Spinney
Hollow Wood. They have captured Natalie wondering through the wood after
witnessing her struggle for the water in the bowl above her in the trees.
Our Euphoria in the water
A
creative writer took this photo whilst SeedSew were experimenting with taking
this particular iconic pose in Our Euphoria into water. With water being the
fundamental element that unites Natalie and Benjamin in a shared sense of
Euphoria, capturing this experience re-instates the role of water in Our
Euphoria.
Our Euphoria in the field
An
audience member took this photo on the evening of the performance at Jane’s
field. They have captured SeedSew’s journey in the circle of cut grass, Natalie
is seen here carrying the same bucket of water used at the Sculpture Park, only
here she is transporting the sound of a beating drum.
Our Euphoria in the gallery
Natalie
took this photo of Benjamin in the Gallery space at Winchester Discovery
Centre.
Our Euphoria in the Atrium
The
following images were taken by an audience member at the
Exhibition/Installation on the evening of the final tour date at The Point on
20th May 2010.
Excerpts of Our Euphoria (work in progress)
Filmed June 2009