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A 45 minute experience for two people, yourself and a stranger. There is noone watching you and other people around you won’t be aware of it. You’ll both sit on a public bench and wear headphones which tell you both what to say and do. By simply listening and responding accordingly, the dialogue and small movements will all fall into place. How do you end up on a bench with a stranger? You introduce two people who don’t know each other but should. You and a friend (e.g. Bob) want to do The Bench, but instead of experiencing it together you think of someone Bob has never met, but should. You then arrange for Bob and your friend to meet and do The Bench together. Bob does the same for you: he thinks of someone he’d like for you to meet. The Bench adopts an expanded notion of performance based on the idea that circumstantially bringing two people together may become a creative act.
Hello for Dummies is an extension of the project
The Bench dates:
Norfolk and Norwich Festival Norwich, UK > May 15-16, 2010
Buda Kortrijk, Belgium > July 10-11, 2010 (Dutch language premiere)
Forest Fringe Edinburgh, UK > August 9-21, 2010
Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, Netherlands > August 19-29, 2010 (in Dutch)
Derby Feste Derby, UK > September 24-26, 2010
Publics and Counterpublics Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo Seville, Spain > October 28, 2010- March 6, 2011 (Spanish language premiere)
Vooruit The Game Is Up Festival, Ghent, Belgium > February 14 to March 26, 2011 (in Dutch)
Fusebox Festival Austin, Texas, USA > April 20 to May 1, 2011
Inna Space The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, Taunton, UK > May 1 to July 30, 2011
The Bench was co-commissioned by:
Norfolk & Norwich Festival (UK)
Fusebox Festival (US)
Derby Feste (UK)
For more information see here
