Playback

In this performance piece thirteen final year students of the VCA tertiary dance program collaborate to realise a movement based performance that reflects upon playground experience. There is a reflective aspect to this, a remembering of the physical engagements in the playground. This has vivid descriptions and re-enactments of co-operative, competitive and individual game play. It involves vocalisation - from 'within' the enactment and also description that implies memories. The work changes in its energies and the behaviors and participants interact or move alone in ways that reflects explorations of other imagery - such as drowning, floating, interrupting, and caring for and supporting others. The performers embody these situations and also reflect on them verbally. Additional ways of relating are apparent and some of the imagery reflects on boundaries beyond the school fence - of being in even more precarious situations. This work was realised in the context of a growing world awareness of the refugee crisis and the failures of governments to show compassion and contribute positively to alleviating human suffering.

Sound design: Roger Alsop

Costume design: Natalie Boyle

Undercurrent

He feels OK but....

Chipping at the bricks of the footings for his new home, Lewis feels pains in his wrist. He remembers hurting it years ago extracting a stillborn calf. It is hot in the sun, even on an autumn day - walking the herd up to the yards doesn't get any easier. He runs out of puff ... that's not really alarming .... its the pressure of having many things to do ..... he's keenly aware he wants to tidy the piles of rusted wire, old fence posts, and hardwood cladding ... to see the old EH Holden off the farm, its duco so corrugated and fragile it could blow away ...and Gwen wants to get away to Sydney more often.

The stories of people living on a particular south coast estury give insights into the way a part of our country's natural resources are managed and the experience of living closer to nature. These have been shared through friendships and the 'tellings' have extended to representations in movement, sound and constructed forms. There is a co-operative aspect to this gathering and forming of words and representations in sound, images and live action. The participants are searching for places to share these with others.

The chain saw whirls and wood chips fly. The brown kelpie rushes in barking. '"Out of there!" but she returns to a mixture of threats and half anxious calls. The wood feller revs and chain bites deeper. Soon silver top ash and gum and some precious grey box lie still ... victims of our need to make a house here.