Two butchers sons, the bull and the puer aeternus (eternal boy). Once angry and confused in severed relationships with their fathers, now resolute. Existing in frameworks built from memories within and without the body and from the spaces between thoughts and feelings.
Butcher Boys is a new collaborative work created by director/performer Tony Yap and performers Brendan O’Connor and Jessi Lewis – who have worked from memory to create a work of sincerity and openness that speaks of the connection between father and son.
Through Butoh, Suzuki and improvisation – they explore the psychological anatomy hoping to lay bare the triggers of past hurt, moving through and becoming. The performance space becomes a body installation, where audiences are allowed the freedom to move, immersing them – in turn influencing the dance.
Butcher Boys is to be the last event to be held within the historic Patterson’s Building on Smith St, Fitzroy – before it is converted into residential apartments – not only providing audiences with a thought provoking and innovative dance work, but a glimpse in one of Melbourne’s last grand buildings.
Tony Yap is an accomplished dancer, director, choreographer and visual artist. Tony was one of the principle performers with IRAA Theatre (1989-1996) and has worked extensively in Australia and overseas. Tony has received numerous nominations and awards including his solo work The Decay of the Angel which won him a Green Room Award for Best Male Dancer. Tony is the Creative Director of Melaka Arts and Performance Festival and Square of Light Festival, Federation Square.
Brendan OConnor has performed as a soloist and as member of the Tony Yap Company in various works from 2009-2014 and at Melaka Arts and Performance (MAP) Festival, Malaysia; The Arts Island Festival; the ‘Eulogy for the Living’, Mining Exchange, Ballarat and Light in Winter Festival, Federation Square, Melbourne.
Jessi Lewis has performed some 13 solo shows, 2 solo exhibitions and either produced or performed in countless projects over the past 9 years. His most recent, IDAHO in collaboration with Kevin McGreal. In 2014, he will be performing in Indonesia with the Arts Island Festival and returning to Malaysia for Melaka Art and Performance Festival along with frequent performances in Melbourne.
Butcher Boys
Patterson’s Building – Level One, 181 Smith St, Fitzroy
Season: 24 – 26 April 2014 – 8.00pm
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/EMGZ or at the door (if available)
Image: Butcher Boys