Arcade 2001

The title of Arcade reflected both the subject matter for the work – a reflection on the consumption of the body in a shop-a-holic world – and its venue, a series of empty shops and spaces in a retail complex in Melbourne’s CBD. Chunky Move commissioned five directors/choreographers to create their own performances/installations for five different shops and spaces in the arcade. The artists commissioned were extremely diverse, both in terms of their primary area of artistic expertise and in their professional experience: David Pledger, artistic director of theatre company Not Yet It’s Difficult, Chunky Move artistic director Gideon Obarzanek, performance/cabaret artist Moira Finucane, and choreographer Lucy Guerin. Chunky Move was particularly keen to ensure that at least one of the ‘shops’ being developed was created by a younger artist, hence the inclusion of Stephanie Lake, winner of the Best Emerging Dancer at the 2000 Green Room Awards.

Each director/choreographer was given free rein to conceptually develop his or her own shop and was offered the capacity to work with a variety of dancers and performers. The works created were The Dark Room, The Dress Shop, 100% Off, Massive Reduction and Our Golden Cages. A sixth room featured an all-Australian icon in the performing arts – The Johnny Young Talent Team. Arcade audience members were encouraged to wander and browse through the different shops at their own leisure, an unusual act for a dance performance, which are generally experienced in a traditional theatre setting. Audience members could also refresh themselves with martinis, vodkas and beers from a kabana lounge bar set up by hip Melbourne bar The Gin Palace, where live DJs added to the festive atmosphere.

100% Off
Choreography/Direction Gideon Obarzanek
Original Performers 100 volunteers

The Dark Room
Choreography/Direction David Pledger
Original Performer Fiona Cameron

Massive Reduction
Choreography/Direction Lucy Guerin
Original Performers David Tyndall, Ros Warby, Jacob Lehrer, Cathryn Krake

The Dress Shop
Choreography/Direction Moira Finucane in collaboration with Jackie Smith
Original Performers Moira Finucane, Nicole Johnston, Trisha Dunn

Our Golden Cages
Choreography/Direction Stephanie Lake
Original Performers Luke George, Brooke Stamp, Sarah-Jayne Howard

Special Guests
Johnny Young Talent Team
DJs DJ Delay, Boogs, Angela Maison, Action Direkt, One LC, John Ideni
Singer Norm Bell

Artistic Director Gideon Obarzanek
Executive Producer Jennifer Barry
Set/Costume Design Jodie Fried
Costume Design David Anderson (The Dress Shop)
Costume Maker David Anderson
Lighting Design Bluebottle
Dramaturg Tom Wright
Sound Consultants Franc Tetaz & Byron Scullin
Production & Operations Manager Donna Aston
Stage Manager Briony Leivers
Sound Technician Hugh Covill
Lighting Technician David Murray

World Premiere
9 May 2001 (Melbourne)

“Obarzanek is masterminding the supreme retail experience – a virtual mall with muzak, dazzling colours and a dash of physical reality” Herald Sun.

Trisha Dunn Image: Unknown