Arts House Presents Downtown, 8/16-20

Evolving over five consecutive nights, Arts House presents Downtown, a cumulative performance and reflection on experiences of community, connectedness and belonging by artist Rosie Dennis.

From August 16 to 20 at North Melbourne Town Hall, Dennis recounts the stories and anecdotes collected from the streets of our very own city, building each night by 5 minutes towards the final full?length performance of a tailor?made, Melbourne edition of Downtown.

A study on connection and isolation, distance and intimacy Rosie turns her attention to the local ? the neighbourhood, where real bodies share real spaces in the same time zone and in a world where virtual and remote spaces have increasing currency.

Using a digital road works sign, popular science and an imaginary dog called Jerry, Downtown attempts to understand how we effect and affect each other in public space. Over a period of two weeks, Dennis gathers stories and observations from the city she inhabits to create a reflection on the city in which we live.

Rosie Dennis makes work that is technically simple, emotionally evocative, intellectually engaging and with a profound connection to the everyday. When told with Dennis's trademark wry humour, Downtown builds to an insightful and joyous, made?to?measure performance event for Melbourne.

Downtown has been presented at ANTI Festival (Finland), Trouble Festival as part of A Space for Live Art (Brussels), The World Theatre Festival (Brisbane), Mardi Gras/Performance Space (Sydney).

The structure of Downtown was commissioned by Campbelltown Arts Centre as part of its 2009 Contemporary Dance Program. Downtown was first presented in Sydney at Performance Space and has since toured to Finland, Belgium and Brisbane.

Venue: Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Dates: Tuesday 16 - Saturday 20 August
Times: 7pm
Tickets: Open Studios all tickets $10, Final performance Full $30 / Conc $25
Duration: Open Studios (Tue 16 - Fri 19) 20?35 mins, Final performance (Sat 20) 40 mins
Bookings: 03 9322 3713 or www.artshouse.com.au

 

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