One of the country’s leading physical theatre companies has teamed up with performing artists from Korea for the Australian premiere of the aerial theatre show, Frameshift. The free contemporary art performance will take over Customs House Square on 16-18 February, as part of the City’s year-round celebration of art in unusual places, Art & About Sydney.
Performers blend breakdancing and aerial manoeuvres across a 15m high scaffolding structure and circular track which have been transformed into a dance playground for the contemporary production. The show is a collaboration between Australian physical theatre company Stalker Theatre, Korean vertical performance group Creative Dandi, and Seoul b-boy group Drifterz Crew, and explores ideas of community and infrastructure.
“This work is truly unique – it’s unusual for Koreans and Australians to collaborate on a production of this nature,” said Stalker Theatre director David Clarkson. “We’re really excited to showcase this performance which reflects on Korean history but resonates on a global sense.
“The work is a generational reflection of where we’re going as Australia continues to form closer ties with Asia – our closest neighbour and biggest trading partner – and aims to help cross-cultural understanding.”
Frameshift combines vertical performance, contemporary dance and b-boy dancing, using technology to read body movements and translate these images onscreen. Set on three aerial rigs which act as screen projectors, stage, dance floor, climbing gym and circular tracking for the aerialists as they hang like bats from the top, Frameshift is a multi-layered visual spectacle.
“This incredible show uses digital technology, an urban structure, physical theatre and aerial performers to tell a story in a unique and captivating way,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. “This is unlike any other performance we’ve showcased for Art & About Sydney and I can’t wait to see the historic Customs House Square transformed for the gravity-defying world premiere of Frameshift.”
“With Lunar New Year celebrations commencing all around the city on 16 February, this wonderful collaboration between Korean and Australian artists who might never have had the opportunity to work together before is truly worth celebrating.”
Frameshift will take place at Customs House Forecourt at Circular Quay on 16, 17 and 18 February 2018 from 8.30pm. For more information, visit: www.artandabout.com.au for details.
Image: Frameshift – courtesy of Stalker Theatre