Australia Council for the Arts and Brisbane Powerhouse present APAM (Australian Performing Arts Market) 2016 – a series of immersive performances designed to get you entirely involved in all the madness, to become a part of the art.
APAM may not be open to the general public, but for those in the industry it’s a one-of-a-kind event.
The programme for this year boasts three particularly interesting performances at the Judith Wright Centre on 26 February: ‘The Inaugural Annual Dance Affair’, ‘Fly by Night’, and ‘Five Short Blasts’. ‘The Inaugural Annual Dance Affair’ is all about the audience participation, but it’s also a cracking dance show, sort of a time warp prom. The audience can channel their inner-Travolta and join in with signature dances from every era.
© Pia Johnson‘Fly by Night’ brings things back to the 21st Century with a show built around an app on the audience’s phones. So no, it’s not a Rush tribute gig – but it is a virtual theatre experience where the audience takes in video files, cinematography, dance, a proper score, and interactive elements all from the mobile app. It’s audience participation on a whole new level.
© Kate Bliss‘Five Short Blasts’ takes its audience away from the conventional theatre completely and out onto the water. The title comes from a signal used by vessels that means ‘I don’t understand your intent’ – so it’s up to the talented musical performers to show their intent to the passengers. The artists use radios to take them on an auditory journey of the waterways – definitely unlike any cruise they’ve ever been on before.
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In the past APAM has been held in Canberra, in Adelaide as part of the Fringe Festival and the Adelaide Festival, but this year it’s back in Queensland with the majority of the performing arts shows being held at the Brisbane Powerhouse (with a select few happening at QPAC and QUT as well)
APAM 2016 runs from 22-26 February at Brisbane Powerhouse, the Judith Wright Centre and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
