make-shift by Helen Varley Jamieson (from Umetnost Radi Akcije Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia) and Paula Crutchlow (from London) :: October 15, 2011; 8:30 pm (find your local time here) :: Go to www.make-shift.net and follow the LIVE LINK in the top right hand corner.



make-shift is a unique and intimate networked performance that speaks about the fragile connectivity of human and ecological relationships. Devised by Paula Crutchlow (Devon based performer and director) and Helen Varley Jamieson (NZ writer and cyberformer) the performance takes place simultaneously in two separate houses that are connected through a specially designed online interface. Paula and Helen (one in each house) stage their part of the work with the help of a group of around 15 local audience members. Scripted and visually poetic performance is interspersed with webcam videography, avatar puppetry and audience interaction in the format of a performative salon. Everything that happens in the houses is streamed to online audiences who can also contribute text chat visible on the interface to everyone throughout the event.

make-shift is an ecologically aware house party with a difference. As well as experiencing the intimacy, viscerality and shared experience of a live performance event; local and online audiences participate in a call-and-response between people, landscape and culture to discuss the theme of ‘disposability’ in its broadest sense.

Please get there a few minutes early to make sure that everything loads ok.

“Helen and Paula arranged the magical elements of telematic performance for the make-shift event at HTTP Gallery in a montage of stuff, poetry, sound, images, dialogue, polemic and actions. It was utterly engrossing and left us all with a thrilling sense of the unexplored potential of theatre and performance in the networked age.” Ruth Catlow, HTTP Gallery.