Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
South Hill Park, Bracknell
27 January
Reviewed by: Ruth Beale
Fresh festival’s one day take-over of South Hill Park Arts Centre was a true occupation of the building, as every nook and cranny was utilised for performance. It was a well organised but naturally chaotic mixture of performers that saw the curiously varied spaces of the venue used to maximum effect, from the carpeted and rococo-ceilinged mini-cinema, to the 1980s theatre, to the dingy cellar, to Eitan Buchalter’s performance in the lift.
Each utilised the space, but Tom Neill also incorporated sound recordings of the building into his work. His installation was spread over two rooms – in the first, amongst school-style desks and classroom paraphernalia, Neill sat with headphones on, silently keying an electric piano and laptop. Next door, a piano, an armchair and four surround-sound speakers invited the viewer to take a seat and become absorbed in the spooky but enchanting soundscape and displaced improvised piano – apparently part of a veritable eight-hour improv marathon.
In a room just down the corridor, Brian Catling drew an audience so big the staff adopted a ‘one-in-one-out’ policy and the queue stretched right down the stairs.
Catling’s already formidable stature was made more authoritative by the wood-panelled ‘seminar room’. Only his bare feet and ever so slightly trembling hands gave way to a vulnerability that suited his mix of humour, unpredictability and intimidation. The piece culminated in his switching off the (already dim) lights and exiting in a startling headpiece made from camera flashes.
Later on the in the day, a discussion that centred on the theme of “What did you get into this for?” served to contextualise the festival, and brought audience and performers together in a round-table fashion (a very big circle of chairs). There was much enthusiasm for the “potential of the live moment”, and in the unspeakable thrill of ‘being there’ when it works.
This patience for experimentation and willingness to take risks makes it difficult to criticise any arguably weaker performances. The sense of discovery in exploring the building was a testament to curator Richard Kingdon’s vision for the festival, and his commendable history of ambitious events throughout the South East over the last two years. As a relatively new venture, the energy is palpable. Quite possibly just as much fun as my last visit to Bracknell circa 1990 to visit the Coral Reef Adventure Waterworld.
Writer detail:
Ruth Beale
Venue detail:
South Hill Park Arts Centre
South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA
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