An incredibly intriguing perspective on the effects memories can have, HIM was a completely raw performance which was amazingly emotive.
Part of Anywhere Theatre Festival, HIM was an extremely primal piece of live-art ― Coleman Grehan presented himself to the audience through the art of Butoh, a Japanese dance theatre which emphasises slow movements and expresses feelings through another lens.
Grehan also composed the music for the performance himself, using new works as well as revised pieces he had created in 2012. Incorporating this style, Coleman utilised different coloured paints on his own body to demonstrate the range of emotions that are experienced in relation to Him, and the lasting effects He had on the life displayed.
The audience was in direct contact with the art, being requested to paint their own marks on the man, in a well performed move that kept the story entirely intact while inviting the audience into the very production they came to see.
HIM left an almost satisfying perversion in your mouth, having experienced a rare opportunity to see someone bare themselves both physically, and emotionally undressing for the audience.
HIM was part of Anywhere Theatre Festival and was held at Turf Studios in Woolloongabba May 9-11.
