We’ve just arrived back at the apartment after another long day of performances, sightseeing, eating and drinking. Plans are in place for a little rehearsal tomorrow morning in our very small flat, which will take some considerable imagination and inventiveness as the stage we’ll be performing on is around 20 times the size of this place! But I’m sure we’ll manage. For now it’s time to take a quick look back at day 2 of STOFF. So, Nicki, tell us a little bit about today – I’m sure you’re dying to tell everyone about my marriage…
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CHRIS GOT MARRIED TODAY! It was beautiful. As soon as we sat down on the wooden bench up on the roof of the Kulturhuset for “Perhaps, perhaps, quizas” by Gabriela Munoz from Mexico, I just had this overwhelming feeling that he was going to get ‘picked on’ and low and behold, she started looking for her husband. It was a beautifully performed clown piece that claims to be ‘playing with the idea of loneliness, waiting and hoping for the right man’. Well, she got lucky tonight, and so did Chris. Prompting him with only her magnetically expressive face, they tied the knot in front of an audience from all around the world. Unfortunately, it ended in divorce and toilet roll.
We’ve seen a lot of work today. We knew this was going to happen so made sure we took the time to have a substantial meal after the mistake we made last night, which I do not want to speak about ever again. I went Swedish and had some bloody meatballs didn’t I, they came with mash and lingenberries. Delicious. Yes, I did just find a way to talk about food.
Chris, without making you describe everything we’ve seen today.. What has stood out for you? Did you notice any reoccurring themes?
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Well, I’ve enjoyed what we’ve seen today – even the forced marriage, which was actually great fun! As you’ve mentioned we’ve enjoyed some delicious Swedish food too, all of which was excellent.
I think what has stood out for me today has been the number of references, influences and nods to horror movies. It might be just my obsession with the genre, and was perhaps largely unintentional, but so many moments in today’s shows echoed fragments of various horror films…
Las Hojas Rojas by Alazart had a haunting live soundtrack, mixed with desolate landscapes and dream-like movement sequences. On top of this, there’s something about the Spanish language that always takes me back to horror – perhaps that’s just from watching one too many Guillermo del Toro movies!? The section in which the Spanish performer spoke and danced, with an isolated sun-soaked landscape projected against the back of the stage, very much reminded me of a film called King of the Hill. Not understanding the language really heightened the isolation and ‘otherness’.
The narrative within Geranium Theatre’s Princess reminded me very much of The Others and also of The Orphanage. And the use of animal masks in Nada es Vacio by Amira Ramirez Salgado had echoes of The Wicker Man, with projected fields of corn reminiscent of M. Knight Shyamalan’s Signs.
Even the final piece, At Home, with it’s flickering lamp, reversed narrative structure and dark undertones had a touch of the horror genre about it.
A lot of the shows today used projected text and rolling credits, as well as filmic soundtracks, suspense and tension. As a horror fan this really gave me something to get my teeth into. All in all, a great day of performance.
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Well, he’s getting his Fright Fest fix from Stockholm so thats good. He’s just shoved the laptop in my face without leaving me a question to answer so I’m going to conclude. We’ve had a great day of mental stimulation and even more walking around a beautiful city, what a pleasure. Plenty more to see tomorrow and one sleep closer to our show. Thank you for reading our blog!
Big hug to you,
DC x
