FRINGE '04: Shadow Music

A mesmerizing instillation performance of lights, music and shadow play.

Original compositions for live solo cello and electronics, performed behind a lit screen to create a dramatic sillouette that can be changed and manipulated by lights operated live on stage by Steven Bain.

Mysterious silhouette shapes and movements that are performed behind another screen represent this beautiful moody music.

Shadow Music takes the cello away from its original context as a classical instrument, and brings it into the theatre as a mysterious creator of moods and images.

The idea of shadow play was inspired by the traditional Indonesian shadow puppetry performed with Gamelan orchestra.

Chair Water Air

Chair Water Air is a collaborative duo between Francesca Mountfort and UJ Lee.
They produced their first show Chair Water Air in the 2003 Fringe Festival at Bats Theatre.

Chair Water Air was an experimental instillation of dance, music and silent film.

As this was very successful, Francesca and You Jay produced their next show Nervous Doll Dancing as part of the Dance Your Socks off festival in September 2003.

Both these performances were made from original compositions for solo cello and electronics performed live by Francesca Mountfort, with silent film, dance and movement by UJ Lee.

Shadow play - Dance movement by You Jay Lee, puppetry by John white.

You Jay studied traditional Korean and Buto dance in Korea, and contemporary modern dance in New Zealand. He has been working collaboratively with Francesca in their last two festival performances at Bats theatre as a dancer and filmmaker. You Jay has a very expressive, personal and unique style, and can create some amazing effects that often experiment with light, color and shape.

John White is an extremely talented musician and animator, who spent the past eight months touring Europe with Wellington band Cloudboy.

Lighting – Operated live on stage by Stephen Bain.

Stephen is a professional lighting technician, actor for theatre and TV, and film producer.

Stephen has been acting as a main character in NZ TV show The Strip, and filmed and produced the music video for Leila Adu’s single Calling.

Stephen operated the lights from stage in Francesca and You Jay’s last fringe show Chair Water Air. As a performing artist, Stephen’s unique skills are essential to Shadow Music.

Music – Francesca Mountfort

Francesca is involved in many different music and arts events around Wellington, often writing and arranging music collaboratively with other artists.

Carousel is an ensemble Francesca has been working with steadily over the past three years.

Carousel is an original acoustic ensemble of cello, violin, guitar and mandolin. Francesca collaborates in writing and arranging the music for this group who recently toured Melbourne, Nelson and played in the Wellington Folk Festival.

Carousel recorded a debut album in 2002 and provided live original music for The Princess and the Pebble; a 2003 fringe festival play performed at Bats theatre.

Carousel performs regularly on the Marae at Te Papa, and are planning to establish themselves in Melbourne from September 2004.

Fancesca has been working with Leila Adu since 2001, playing cello for the band which recorded a debut album in 2002. They produced a music video in 2003 and performed in the 2001 and 2002 Jazz festivals.

Mr. Sterile is an orchestrated, cabaret punk performance group who performed recently in the Meat Waters festival at happy, and in the 2003 punk festival.

ENDS

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