FRAGMENTS, at The Outlore Base this Thursday to Saturday, is a look into the process of creativity and the journey of an artist. “The work relates very strongly to our own creative process and journey,” says Kimberley Buckle, set designer and director for this in-house production.
Each set piece explores a unique snippet and moment in the life of an artist, she explains. “Even though the story is specific to The Outlore, we have endeavoured to tell our story in as abstract a way as possible, allowing the audience to connect to themes that are relevant to their own lives.”
We saw the show last week, at a venue I have come to see as a blank canvas, a clean slate, for creative performers to use and adapt as they see fit. It’s a loft space, double volume, with an outside area between even taller buildings, overlooking the rooftops of the city. Fragments is a combination of photography exhibition and dance. The room is darkened (you’re given little torches when you arrive to better view the photographs by Zander Opperman hung above you), there is seating – couches and chairs – arranged between pillars and screens, and four dancers who begin together before moving into various different environments.
As an immersive experience, you, the audience are invited to move with them, to follow what intrigues you as they stretch their limbs and imaginations with paper, mirrors, light and water – all cleverly used to create visual effects as well as featuring in the performance as props. The performance is done twice so you have the opportunity to re-watch differently if you want, whether it’s the dancers or allowing the layout of the room to guide you. Go with the flow.
“We were extremely privileged to work with such a powerhouse team. Each dancer is in a very exciting place in their own unique careers and the ability to work with such a beautiful canvas was a dream come true,” says Kim. “Choreographer, Liam Gillespie, worked with each dancer in isolation allowing the dramatics and story to be explored fully before putting all the pieces together.”
The dancers are Morgan Marshall (mirrors), Naledi Shomang (light), Romy Jo Swales (water), and Weronika Kamińska (paper). Fragments is eerie and mysterious and in the nature of art, open to subjective interpretation and thought provocation. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to see on the fringe of festivals, which is where you’re often challenged the most.
Tickets are R180 via Quicket. Fragments runs June 27-29, doors open at 7pm, show begins at 8pm. The Outlore Base is at 80 Hout Street, Cape Town – one of those places that is not garishly marked in neon lights or large signage so look out for the street number and the gate. There are stairs.
