Les Mecs Dangereux

The Sonic Gestures Sextet [ an essay for six human and non-human performers]

Mr Fox [Sound & Vision Essayist]

Duration: 10 minutes

Performers: this piece requires three human and three non-human performers. The latter, in this version of the essay, should be musical instruments.

Purpose: to explore the possibilities of interaction and collaboration between all six performers.

Instructions for Non – Human Performers

1. Please make yourself available to all the possibilities of collaboration with the other participants. [You will be working in conjunction with the other five participants but particularly with a human partner.]
2. Be aware of the significance of sonic and non-sonic possibilities and do not be bound by conventional notions of your purpose, function and agency.
3. Enjoy the performance and be willing to learn from it
4. The instructions below cover the times when the human performers will be helping you – with movement, for example.

Instructions for Human Performers

1. Please make yourself available to all the possibilities of collaboration with the other participants. [You will be working in conjunction with the other five participants but particularly with a non-human partner.]
2. Remember that you and the other two human performers have abilities and possibilities that your non-human collaborators do not possess but also remember the same is true for your non-human colleagues in this performance.
3. Pick up the non-human entity you have chosen to work with and take them to the stage area. [please be aware of health and safety issues -the stage is a raised area with no handrails. Use the steps provided to enter and exit the stage area.]
4. Familiarise yourself with the scene and size of the stage area. The animator will explain to all six of you when you are within camera shot. Please stay within this area.
5. There will be no audience for the performance. [No performers are directly addressing an audience, although the performance will be videoed and all performers may choose to address the camera if they wish – or not, or a combination of the two. Please attempt to maintain a performative flow to your work for the full time allocated (10 minutes). It is possible that an ambient audience will pass by.]
6. Please negotiate where the six of you will be placed for the performance. [The camera will be switched on when all six of you are in the stage area and while you negotiate. When you have agreed this, the 10-minute time slot will start – as indicated by the animator.]
7. Think in silence for an appropriate amount of time. [performers should not be worried about periods of apparent silence. Gestures can still be made in periods of silence and ambient sound – which should be welcomed – will occur (and be recorded).]
8. Choose whether to start by (a) making a gesture alone without touching your partner (b) or make a gesture and place some part of your body on your partner (lips, hands, feet, head) to make a sound. [Gestures may be made by any part of your body. You may wish to make a sound yourself (sing, hum etc) in a companionable way. You may also wish to make gestures with your partner]
9. Continue to make gestures and sounds until the time period is over. [ This will be indicated by hand signals from the animator. During the performance, pause to listen to other sounds if you wish. Make gestures and sounds that give you pleasure. Try things out but also try to keep your performance flowing. Repeat gestures if you wish: remember that this is an essay and not a finished performance.]
10. When the allotted time period (10 minutes) is over, address your partner once more in a final performative gesture (or sound – for example, expressing thanks or pleasure).
11. Stand or sit quietly when the performance is over. [Do not leave the stage area until asked to do so by the animator. Do not talk to others immediately but reflect on your experience for two to three minutes.]

Other options Repeat as above to try out other thoughts that may occur during the final reflectionRepeat as above but lengthen or shorten the duration if you see a purpose in doing so. Carry out a further essay with other combinations of partners. Negotiate everything with the other performers.

Mr Fox

11^th November 2022

In which two blokes sit on chairs and talk.