on Robin's Nest
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Robin's Nest Theatre is a company of one, Acty Tang, who does the directing/choreography, performing, technical work, administration, publicity and liason.
There is a story to the name, but it's not interesting, so it won't be mentioned. Acty specialises in solo physical theatre, with an emphasis on dance idiom, as well as avant-garde theatre-making so that the work is more than just movement. This reflects his training at the Drama Department of Rhodes University, South Africa, and his experience with the First Physical Theatre Company. Finding new ways to make theatre is a main objective in creative work, but Robin's Nest has two particular fascinations and will continue to develop work in these areas: experimenting with audience and site-specific work. Questions to ask regarding audiences include: the role of an audience in theatre; the relationship between performer, audience and space/architecture; audience participation theory and techniques; audience empowerment and theatre for uses other than entertainment; audience development and ways to network with audiences outside the theatre. Site-specific performance is one way of changing spatial relations between performer and audience. But it also extends the creative task by taking its starting point from the site chosen. Modern movement theory inherited from Rudolph Laban the kinesthetic sensitivity of body-in-space, so physical theatre in a chosen site benefits by receiving stimuli and inspiration it would not receive in a rehearsal room. Rules are rethought and broken, resulting in innovative work. Taking performance outside its traditional site, the theatre, with its elitist connotations, also widens audience support. Currently Robin's Nest is not funded except by the artist. It operates by the artist and family's financial support. Voluntary help comes from the community of artists at Rhodes University and Grahamstown, for technical equipment and labour, material and resources, collaboration, advice and support. Robin's Nest extends the deepest thanks to every one of them, as well as the individuals, organisations and journalists who responded so warmly to the latest project and the empty space of his shadow. |