AWARD WINNING PERCUSSIONISTS TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY
Never tilt your chair back
Louise Devenish, Leah Scholes & Vanessa Tomlinson
10 – 11 April, 7:30pm
PICA Performance Space
Bringing together three of Australia’s leading female percussionists, Never tilt your chair back on two legs is a sonic double bill exploring the evolving role of women throughout history, featuring the world premiere of a composition by celebrated Australian composer Kate Neal and the Australian premiere of Dressur by Mauricio Kagel (ARG/GER).
This theatre-music event highlights the practices of four award-winning female musicians: Louise Devenish (WA), state winner of the Art Music Awards 2016 for Performance of the Year; Leah Scholes (VIC), whose diverse work spans Australia and Internationally; Vanessa Tomlinson, two time Green Room Award winner and 2011 APRA/AMC Award for Excellence; and Kate Neal (VIC) whose new composition will be performed by Devenish, Scholes and Tomlinson.
The first half of the double bill features the Australian premiere of the 1970s unique percussion-theatre work, Dressur, by Mauricio Kagel. Originally designed for the male voice and body, the work will be transformed for three female performers, becoming a significant contribution to the performance history of the work. Kagel is renowned for his self-taught and unique composition approach and his pioneering investigations in blending musical and theatrical performance practices are recognised as a significant contribution to the development of twentieth century western art music and beyond.
Neal, recent recipient of the prestigious Beleura Award and winner of the 2016 Art Music Award (Performance of the Year and Instrumental Work of the Year) for her acclaimed work Semaphore, is known for her exploration in incorporating theatrical elements in her work, such as physical gesture, design and choreography. This new work focuses on the percussive sound world of everyday objects.
Set at a formal dinner table, the percussionists re-enact etiquette, using utensils as instruments and chronicling two centuries of customs. New instruments have been made specifically for this work including a mechanical chandelier made of antique silver cutlery.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to celebrate some of Australia’s finest musicians in this dynamic multidisciplinary approach to percussion and theatre.
For all media enquiries including hi-res image & interview requests please contact PICA Acting Communications Manager Rachel Audino on communications@pica.org.au or 08 9228 6307
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Never tilt your chair back on two legs
Louise Devenish, Leah Scholes & Vanessa Tomlinson
PICA Performance Space
Dates & Times | 10 – 11 April, 7:30pm
Post Show Panel | 11 April, approx 8:45pm. All ticket holders are welcome.
Tickets
Early bird: $20
Standard: $32
Member: $26
Concession & Groups (6+): $22
*Early bird offer available for pre-sales until 16 March.
BOOKINGS | pica.org.au / 9228 6300 or in person at PICA reception
BIOS
Vanessa Tomlinson is a performer of national and international significance as evidenced through 2014 Australia Council Fellowship in Music, APRA/AMC Awards, Green Room Awards, International Residencies, and record releases on labels Innova, Mode, Tzadik. With her duo Clocked Out she has elementally changed the musical landscape in Australia since forming in Melbourne, 1999, colliding areas of improvisation, composition and experimentation with contemporary music performance.
Leah Scholes‘ diverse work as a musician and performer spans the Australian and international performing arts scene. She is passionate about imagination, delight and pathos, and pursues the integration of visual and physical theatre in her work. Leah is the Artistic Associate of Barking Spider Visual Theatre and co-founder of The Sound Collectors.
Louise Devenish is a percussionist whose practice incorporates performance, research and education. Key projects include APRA/AMC award-winning solo series Music for One Percussionist, co-directing The Sound Collectors duo, percussing for Australia’s leading percussion group Speak Percussion (Vic) and electroacoustic sextet Decibel (WA). Louise is Head of Percussion at the University of Western Australia School of Music.
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Never Tilt Your Chair Back Media Release
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts is both a producing and presenting institution that runs a year round program of curated exhibitions, seasons in contemporary dance, theatre and performance and a range of interdisciplinary projects. It boasts one of the largest and most breath-taking exhibition spaces in Australia and has become known for the leading role it plays in the presentation of significant new work.
Tura New Music Ltd is a not for profit music organisation based in Perth, Western Australia. Tura is a producer as well as resource centre and advocate for New Music. Founded in 1987 Tura has a proud history of achievement in initiating cultural development in Western Australia from inner city Perth to remote communities of Western Australia.