|
Circus Entertainment and Workshops
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Blood Makes Noise | Hoopla Queen |
Blood Makes Noise
Blood Makes Noise, a love story told with circus and sign language, has recently returned from a performance tour to Sydney and then Deaf Way II, an international Deaf Arts Festival in Washington DC.
A 40 minute physical theatre show incorporating acrobatics, dance and sign language, Blood Makes Noise is produced and directed by Asphyxia, herself a Deaf acrobat and street performer. Blood Makes Noise is a unique collaboration of physical theatre, acrobatics and Auslan, the language of the deaf.
There is a strong narrative in Blood Makes Noise which is presented in a manner that is accessible to both hearing and deaf audiences without the need for interpretation.
Blood Makes Noise is a humorous, moving story about a couple called Phoebe and Sam. When they meet and fall in love it seems all their dreams have come true as they fall into a wonderful world of fantasy, love, dance and acrobatics. But Phoebe is Deaf, and Sam has to learn Auslan, a sign language that is as beautiful as it is expressive.
The question is, can their relationship withstand the challenge of communication?
They build their lives together, drawing their home and symbols of love onto the paper backdrop, but cracks begin to show as they realise that communication is failing them. Their arguments escalate into an explosive, destructive fight where they ruin all that they have created together. The paper is shredded and they fight over the remains of the cat. Devastated and longing for the security of one another, they search for the possibility of a future together.
Amanda Owen and Asphyxia began working together in 1996, in a skill share to exchange their knowledge of acrobatics, adagio and Auslan. Amanda shared her skills in movement - acrobatics and adagio, while Asphyxia brought in Auslan and her skills in dance. During this creative process Blood Makes Noise was devised, with the assistance of director Kim Baston, and a highly successful work-in-progress showing was performed.
Following a three-year pause in the project, Asphyxia applied for and received funding from Next Wave Festival's KickstArt programme to re-create the show, performing with George Filev. After a showing at the Victorian Arts Centre in 2001, the show was invited to attend Deaf Way II, a huge international Deaf arts festival held in Washington D.C. at Gallaudet, the world's only Deaf university, in July 2002. With combined funding from Arts Victoria, The Myer Foundation, and the Downing Foundation, the show was able to tour to Sydney for a sell-out season on the way to Washington, after a home season in Melbourne. Performances in both Melbourne and Washington were also fully sold out.
The following marketing materials are available to presenters for promotion of Blood Makes Noise:
Blood Makes Noise is suited to general viewing for both children and adults. The show has proven to be of particular interest to:
Hearing Audiences
Hearing audiences have much to gain from seeing Blood Makes Noise. Some of the benefits they will receive from the show include:
Deaf Audiences
There are many reasons why it is important for the Deaf community to access Blood Makes Noise. Some of the benefits for Deaf audiences include:
Blood Makes Noise has a simple set comprising collapsible steel frames on which blank paper is stretched, forming the backdrop and sides of the stage. The set is spray painted onto the paper, and eventually, at the climax of the show, the paper is torn from its frames. In addition to the paper and frames, a sturdy table on which acrobatics are performed is used, and a freestanding door. The show tours with the set.
A rectangular stage size of five metres depth and ten metres wide is utilised, though this may be able to be adapted to suit indivitual venues. The audience is best seated directly in front of the stage - the show is not suited to a seating arrangement which extends around the sides of the stage.
No stage crew are required during the show as all moving of set and props are done by the performers. However, the lighting and sound cues are quite detailed and for this reason the show requires sufficient time for a tech run in each venue. An Auslan interpreter will also tour with the show to provide full communication for publicity, media interviews, technical rehearsals and show set up.
Click here to view Technical Specifications
Plans are underway for Blood Makes Noise to tour within Australia, and make a return tour to the USA during 2004.
7 June to 14 July 2002; Melbourne, Sydney, Washington.
What is language? It can be text on a page, the spoken word, or even signed like the deaf language Auslan. It can also be the most basic and subtle of all languages: body language. All these communication modes are in play in Blood Makes Noise. We're accustomed to thinking of deaf people as being at a disadvantage. Everything is relative, however. In this story, Sam (George Filev) is often the one floundering in the wake of his deaf girlfriend Phoebe (Asphyxia), a woman who moves through both worlds with ease.
Following an initial chance meeting, the two grow closer, negotiating their relationship around the obstacles presented by misunderstandings and differing abilities. It's a classic boy-meets-girl tale, presented with great energy and likeability by the two performers. The ups and downs of their life together are very credible, and the two characters clearly defined from the start. The audience takes an instant shine to them and an interest in their lives.
Punctuating the more conventional story-telling are sets of acrobatics, representing passages of their relationship. It's an excellent shorthand for the vicissitudes of love, expressing closeness and anger equally well. And it's a third form of language beyond English and Auslan, reminding us of the fundamental equality of the two characters as human beings, regardless of individual abilities. Blood Makes Noise is a delightful piece of theatre, forcing new perspectives on old stereotypes while presenting a charming love story.
Reviewed by Tim Richards on www.stageleft.com.au 10/6/02.
Email from Chris Janson, 8/6/02
I have to say Blood Makes Noise was amazing - I really enjoyed every minute of the performance, every aspect of show, from the acrobatics through to the great story line, the comedy, the music, everything. I was also very impressed to see all 200 seats filled - a full house! I managed to follow all of the sign language apart from the part where Phoebe gets really angry and starts signing fast, but we all got the general idea. What a great use of a set, spray painting in all the props, a wonderfully fresh idea - I loved it. The show was a complete success and I'm looking forward to seeing the season extended.
Email from Margaret Young 15/6/02
I saw Blood Makes Noise last night and was absolutely blown away. The love scene adagio was spectacular physically and soooo sensual I got all hot and had to peel off a few layers of clothes!!! And that beautiful piece after the fight was absolutely breath taking. I loved the hotel story and understood every bit of the signing even though I canŐt sign myself. I was laughing or gasping through the whole show. I thought George was marvellous too. So congratulations again on a fabulous show.
Email from Jun Lim 17/6/02
I recently took a beginner's Auslan Class through IBM. Chris Janson, who also took the class recommended the play "Blood Makes Noise" to me. I went and saw the play last Thursday 13th June. I was a little apprehensive because my Auslan is nowhere near the standard of Chris' and I thought I may get a little lost, but I needn't have worried because I understood and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I loved the fact that you were able to convey so much feeling and emotion through your expressions and gestures and that the male actor had some good comic ability. The acrobatics were also a joy to watch and I especially loved the story Phoebe told about the deaf married couple. Thank you so much for the laughs and please do let Chris know if you are holding any other performances so that he can let us know, as there are a few of us who would be interested.
Email from Hilda Sutcliffe 16/6/02
My name is Hilda Sutcliffe, and I am deaf. Well...how do I start? Blood Makes Noise was AMAZING...the best piece of theatre I've seen in my life! If given the chance, I would go and see it again and again! One of my housemates went to see it twice! I give the performance ten out of ten! It was well worth going to see! EVERYONE in the world should see 'Blood Makes Noise'!!!
Email from Kris Chapman 17/6/02
I thought the show was fantastic!! Well done to cast and crew!! I brought a group of people from the leadership program I am involved with and they were blown away and thought the whole show was brilliant. They were keen to see more!! You also managed to have a pretty big impact on a group of hearing people who had never had any contact / thoughts about deaf people.
Email from Deb Wain 17/6/02
I feel that the play successfully portrayed the struggle between the Deaf and hearing communities through the story of a relationship between a Deaf woman and a hearing man. The conflict of communication and cultural differences was beautifully explored by the two acrobatic actors in the play. The story-line itself was accessible to both the hearing and Deaf members of the audience. The use of body language and facial expression enabled even those without sign language proficiency to understand the message of the performance. In this way it enabled the Deaf and hearing members of the audience to come together in their appreciation of the story and I hope in gaining a better understanding of each other. I feel that the performance not only depicted and explained the differences between two cultures that are sometimes in conflict but it worked to build a bridge between them. Thank you, I enjoyed it very much.