Laceship

Created by BalletLab Artistic Director Phillip Adams and choreographer Walter Dundervill (New York) with artist William McBride. The project grew out of a larger experimental work The Prelude  that fragmented into 4-part multi-disciplinary performances and films.  

The subtext of Laceship’s  investigation was inspired by horror cult classic film The Exorcist  (1973). The three performers inhabit characters from the film through a queer lens exploring themes of religious unorthodoxy, embodied exorcisms, Catholic ceremony and demonic ritual. References consider the film’s iconic bedroom scenes in which a Regan (Linda Blair), receives exorcism by two Catholic priests while her mother Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) screams in horror.   

As if on a film set the audiences take position amongst the interior of a large-scale floor to ceiling scenography of lace curtains surrounding the entirety of the performance environment. The costuming and constructing of installation design are a visual subversion of the film's 1970s décor and interiors. a faux Georgian-style house, a medical facility and the bedroom in which the infamous scenes of exorcism take place.   

Laceship shifts the performance site to visual transformation of film, design and art. The production invites the audience to become part of this experiment that bridges the gap between movement cinema and stage. Laceship channels the taboos of forgotten dance rituals. 

Performance details: 
Wednesday 28 April, 7:00pm and 8:15pm
Thursday 29 April, 7:00pm and 8:15pm
Friday 30 April, 7:00pm and 8:15pm
Saturday 1 May, 7:00pm and 8:15pm
Sunday 2 May, 2:00pm and 3:15pm

Duration approximately 45 mins
 
Venue:
Temperance Hall, Main Hall
199 Napier Street, South Melbourne

Cast: Phillip Adams, Walter Dundervill (New York) and William McBride
Set design and construction: Thomas Roach and Phillip Adams
Technical production: Marty Shlansky 

Price:
Full $25
Concession $20

This is a COVIDSafe event that has been registered with the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions (DJPR). To view the safety checklist for Laceship please click on the button below:

Photography: (L-R) Phillip Adams and William McBride, photo by Gregory Lorenzutti

Laceship is presented by Temperance Hall and genrously supported by the City of Port Phillip Local Festivals Fund as part of Midsumma Festival 2021.

Temperance Hall acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land in which we dance and create, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, and pay our respect to Elders both past and present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.