WURF
WURF is a performance project about a marionette that cuts its strings.
The ‘marionette’, WURF, is a human performer suspended by a harness and rigged to an apparatus enabling others to, initially, control ‘its’ movements.
WURF can be presented as a ‘Sonic Theatre2 Spectacle’ and/or as a Street Theatre performance:
as a ‘Sonic Theatre Spectacle’ WURF is ‘staged’ in an appropriate performance space (very high ceilings, large stage area, very good sound system) and is choreographed with highly skilled performers;
as a Street Performance an easily transported apparatus is set up in a public space and the marionette, WURF, is controlled by a local audience
WURF as Sonic Theatre Spectacle
WURF – a human/marionette – is suspended by a climbing rope (preferably over around 200 dm) clipped to a customized harness. Just the balls of WURF’s feet touch the ground enabling traction, but WURF’s full weight is carried by the harness (this combination of suspension, traction, and a very long rope enables a very dramatic spectrum of possible movement and momentum).
Four to eight (or more) ‘controller’ performers are suspended roughly 130 dm in the air. They actively ‘control’ WURF’s limbs through a pulleys.
‘TURB’ (another performer) descends down the main rope by which WURF is suspended. On reaching WURF, TURB turns on a headlamp that WURF is wearing.
The headlamp – a spotlight – (located at the ‘third eye’, signifying ‘consciousness’) illuminates a pair of scissors just out of WURF’s reach. The headlamp also illuminates WURF’s controllers.
WURF ‘awakes’, and, eventually, grasps the scissors.WURF cuts the strings, and falls.
The fall of WURF to the ground opens up a huge spectrum of theatrical possibilities best realised by circus/theatre performers.
WURF as Street Theatre
WURF – a human/marionette – is suspended by a climbing rope clipped to a customized harness. Just the balls of WURF’s feet touch the ground enabling some traction, but WURF’s full weight is carried by the harness (this combination of suspension, traction, and a rope enables a very dramatic spectrum of movement and momentum).
The apparatus by which WURF is suspended and controlled can be transported in a van and will be quickly assembled in a public space. The apparatus is assembled, and WURF is suspended. A pair of scissors are just out of WURF’s reach.
WURF’s pulley system is made available to the audience who can actively control WURF through a pulley/marionette system. By collaborating using the controllers the audience can enable WURF to reach the scissors. If/when WURF reaches the scissors… WURF awakes, becomes active/able, and cuts the strings.WURF cuts free, and falls. What follows is an interactive theatre focused on WURF’s struggle to learn to move in gravity and, possibly, a desire to climb back out of gravity.
