Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Gordon Osràm's Funeral - celebrating a disappeared artist in an abandoned city centre building #ImagineBelfast

"Why doesn't he stop me?" asks Clare, one of the Polar Pussies who have 'intervened' at Gordon Osràm's artistic funeral.

The 45 year old legend, adopted from working class parents grew up in a succession of foster homes before joining an invigorating collective in Berlin.

A masked collaboration with partner Clare Black broke down when the split irrevocably. After years of solo work, Gordon vanished from public life until the announcement of Gordon Osràm's Funeral.

The audience become participants in an autobiographical investigation of Gordon Osram's life, relationships and works.

Hidden speakers, cameras, video, a compère - as well as artists Clare and Jessica dressed up as polar bears - drive the narrative forward.

At times the action splits across different areas of the old wooden warehouse before recombining in the upstairs arena. A live video feed tends to keep those who lag upstairs informed about the activity elsewhere in the multi-level installation.

Clare's previously relationship with Gordon is interrogated while Jessica discovers hidden secrets about her friend.

Are we Gordonites or Gordontards?

Are we who we say we are? Do we tell the truth or conceal? Who are we? What is our legacy?

Wrap up warm, arrive early to have time to explore the artworks before the performance begins, and become immersed in the work of a living legend and the quality of this abandoned building.

As part of the Imagine Festival of Politics and Ideas, Accidental Theatre deliver this spell binding performance in Riddel’s Warehouse, Ann Street (next door to the vehicle entrance to Musgrave Street Police Station) at 7.30pm each evening until Saturday 19 March.

Tickets from £13. Bar opens at 7pm. (£7 ticket available for a live stream of the Friday and Saturday night performances.)

Details of the performance's April tour available on Accidental Theatre's website: Dublin (13-16 in The Complex), Armagh (20-21 in Shanbles Market) and Derry (23 in The Playhouse). Update - Belfast run extended with 7pm shows added on Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 March.

Update - Great review from John Higgins on Culture Northern Ireland.

No comments: