On the 4th March I was the opening item at the Hundred Years Gallery’s Illuminations and Evocations show, reading extracts from in the countries of the mind, the first book in the scattering texts series. The vivid, large, humorous and energetic paintings by Ana Pallares framed other performances, including a lively song, wry readings by poets, and a concluding improvisation by KMAT, which ended with mysterious small objects rolling quietly towards the audience.
Last week we went to an amazing place (the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill) and saw the highly evocative Quay brothers’ film Street of Crocodiles, and Comet, directed by Teresa and Andrzej Welminski: a magical piece of theatre using sound, music, dance, mime, light, old props of various kinds, mobile scenery, and IMAGINATION.
It was performed by a company, some of whom were in Cricot-2, the Tadeusz Kantor theatre group. Years ago I missed Kantor's Dead Class at the Riverside Theatre, so now it was a wonderful opportunity to see his kind of work, in a venue which is very strange, and ideal for it. I was so pleased to catch up on this amazing type of performance – as soon as we saw the buildings move, I knew it was going to be a phantasmagorical evening.
The Coronet’s bar is set around a baby grand piano, in a space which in itself looks like a surreal theatre set. Many of the floors in the place lean, as does this space, so you have to watch out in case your drink slides off the low table on which you have carefully placed it. The low lighting is provided by dozens of tea-lights illuminating various alcoves with peculiar arrangements of found objects – for example a strange toy, an ancient book lying open, a small sheep skin. A wall is covered in an array of old handbags, possibly left by accident, and another wall is covered in various small antique mirrors. We sat by a large old bed, covered in a patterned rug with a solitary cushion on it.
Altogether, with the film and the performance, an unforgettable evening.
Last week we went to an amazing place (the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill) and saw the highly evocative Quay brothers’ film Street of Crocodiles, and Comet, directed by Teresa and Andrzej Welminski: a magical piece of theatre using sound, music, dance, mime, light, old props of various kinds, mobile scenery, and IMAGINATION.
It was performed by a company, some of whom were in Cricot-2, the Tadeusz Kantor theatre group. Years ago I missed Kantor's Dead Class at the Riverside Theatre, so now it was a wonderful opportunity to see his kind of work, in a venue which is very strange, and ideal for it. I was so pleased to catch up on this amazing type of performance – as soon as we saw the buildings move, I knew it was going to be a phantasmagorical evening.
The Coronet’s bar is set around a baby grand piano, in a space which in itself looks like a surreal theatre set. Many of the floors in the place lean, as does this space, so you have to watch out in case your drink slides off the low table on which you have carefully placed it. The low lighting is provided by dozens of tea-lights illuminating various alcoves with peculiar arrangements of found objects – for example a strange toy, an ancient book lying open, a small sheep skin. A wall is covered in an array of old handbags, possibly left by accident, and another wall is covered in various small antique mirrors. We sat by a large old bed, covered in a patterned rug with a solitary cushion on it.
Altogether, with the film and the performance, an unforgettable evening.
