OBSERVER: No Season
Experimental work is, by its very nature, risky. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t, sometimes the experiment can be a mix of both success and failure.
A new piece exploring gender and transitioning, No Seasons by Oliver Ayres, falls in the last camp as moments of beautiful stillness contrast with frustrating moments of obscure imagery.
Upon entering the theatre, audience members select one of three different headphones, depending on whether you are a parent or equivalent, or you currently are not parenting but may be someday, or whether you are not and never will be.
In an otherwise bare stage, centre stage is a shallow pool full of water. A performer enters.
Created by Ayres himself, the work consists of three different elements. First there is the recording heard through the headphones. This differs depending on one’s individual circumstance via-a-vis parenting.
The second element is the performance of Ayres himself done with no voice or text but simply movement through the space and pool. The third is a series of projected images, mostly abstract in nature.
As the sole live performer who is transgender themself, Ayres is very graceful, focussed and disciplined in his performance.
The stillness he achieves is reminiscent of the Japanese Noh and Butoh performance styles. This creates a space for meditation and contemplation for the audience with regards to themes raised by the three elements.
No credit is given as regards to direction or use of an outside eye to help shape the show. Likewise the voices heard through the headphones are not credited, although they appear to be interviews and reflections from Ayres themself and various family members.
A welcome if challenging piece of performance art then, No Seasons at its best engenders feelings of warmth and connection in relation to the experiences of transgender people and their families.
However it can, at times, seem ponderous and obscure and too deeply personal to connect with.
Venue: Meat Market Stables, 2 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne
Dates and times: Until October 18 at 7.30pm
Duration: 1 hour
Tickets: $10-50
Bookings: https://www.melbourne
fringe.com.au/whats-on/events/no-seasons#sessions-book-now
Review by Peter Murphy

