TRANS-ACTS
An accident at the crossroads between video and live presence. A smash up at the intersection of performance and the script. A Director and Actress splayed across the dissecting table, waiting for the Understudy to walk on and corpse. A last supper for an audience of twelve intimates.
Julia Bardsley continues her exploration of visual and theatrical modes across a trilogy of pieces, with a composed score created by long-term collaborator, Andrew Poppy. An exhibition prologue of pinhole photographs and projected suicides moves towards a zone between the object and the final act of performance.
Funny and disturbing in turns, TRANS-ACTS is just that; a way out. A way through Transgression, towards Transformation and finally a Transcendence. A way through the roles to a new sense of self.
Julia has worked as a theatre director and visual artist. As co-director of dereck, dereck Productions, works include: Cupboard Man, Gaudete and The Vinegar Works, (Almeida). She has directed new works in opera, dance and theatre; Uranium Miners, (ROH), Difficult Walking, (ICA), Hamlet Dances, (Purcell), Bed & Baby Doll, (NT), Fallen Angel, (Bush). From 1991-4, she was joint Artistic Director of the Leicester Haymarket and Young Vic Theatres. Installations include Punishment & Ice-cream, The Error Display, Field and 12/stages. Julias first film, Snow, was selected for the Edinburgh, Greenwich and Madrid Film Festivals. In 2002, she collaborated with composer Andrew Poppy on, Avalanche Thoughts, co-commissioned by GAle GAtes, New York and new territories, Glasgow. In 2003, she created video, set & costumes for Almeida/Aldeburgh Opera. Trans-Acts is her most recent project where photography, video, object and performance intersect.
Original project supported by a NESTA Fellowship
NB: - For an audience of 12 per show, with advance booking at the Arches box office.