OBSERVER: Flesh Mirror
In a wonderful example of abled and disabled artists and performers creating and performing together, Arts House and Melbourne Fringe presented the premiere of Weave Movement Theatre’s latest production Flesh Mirror.
Multi-disciplinary in nature, six performers were in a large space dominated by a projection screen. Also in the space were several mobile video cameras which captured the performers live. Video recordings were also played, conversations and competitions were held, monologues were delivered, dances were performed.
In development since 2022, Flesh Mirror was a multi-dimensional text involving dance, sound and movement, the spoken word, live camera action, pre-recorded short films and soundscapes. A veritable melange of how humans communicate and interact with each other, this could have been shambolic. Instead though, a visceral sense of what it is to be disabled was conveyed, with themes of identity and transformation explored through personal stories.
Credited as performers were Janice Florence, Anthony Riddell, David Baker, Emma Norton, Trevor Dunn and Sonia Marcon. All of them performed in a bold and admirable style. In an entertaining and, at times, challenging evening, highlights were an “I can scream better than you” competition involving all six performers and the hauntingly beautiful “bird song” dance performed by Florence and Dunn (who we see happily sharing a house in Preston in a short video clip).
The creative team behind Flesh Mirror was Creative Producer Anna Nalpantidis, Choreographer and Lead Artist Rebecca Jensen, Sound Artist Marco Cher, Film-maker Zoe Scoglio and Production and Technical Manager Shiv Geaney.
This fabulous five created a dynamic work full of humour and pathos. While not always successful, as at times the spoken word was hard to understand or obvious attempts at humour fell flat or the narrative thread was confusing, nevertheless the overall impact of the show was powerful and made a moving “here we are, take us as we are” statement.
Venue: Arts House, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
Review by Peter Murphy