"…a first in Australian publishing history and a
priceless resource." (HEAT)
This anthology of Australian performance texts – the first to be
assembled – sheds light on a range of practices in the groundbreaking area of
performance. The texts, together with statements from the creating artists, illustrate by
practical example and theoretical explanation, seventeen different relationships of
writing and text to other performative media.
The book powerfully exhibits how performance can be a platform for new
ways of writing and an area of literary invention and achievement. This unique anthology
of largely undocumented work brings together texts by The Sydney Front, Jenny Kemp,
Kooemba Jdarra, Tasdance/That Was Fast, Richard Murphet, Open City, Lyndal Jones, Margaret
Cameron, Sidetrack Performance Group, Josephine Wilson and Erin Hefferon, Doppio Teatro,
Kinetic Energy Theatre Company, Entr’Acte, Legs on the Wall, The Party Line,
Ex-Stasis Theatre Collective and All Out Ensemble.
Spanning the period from the early 1980s to the late 1990s, this
collection provides a rich resource for practitioners, teachers, students and audiences
alike.
"This anthology is the talisman of years of discomfort in Australian live arts,
the liminal phase in the 80s and 90s when everyone else was obsessing about product and
audience. These texts remind us of two decades of brittle Australian genius. But there is
no attempt to name the Australian effect, there is no attempt to elevate it. There is no
competition of banal qualifiers. The texts themselves produce the effect." Edward
Scheer HEAT
"Performing the Unnameable is a significant first – the first anthology
of performance texts created by Australian performers, performance companies and
writers…Besides, it’ll be a great read." Keith
Gallasch RealTime
"With its many photos and seriously hip design and layout, this A4 format text
goes some real way towards recreating the mood of the performances."
Australian Higher Education Supplement
"… an invaluable publication, both as a collection of some of
the fragments of performance that have altered the course of Australian theatre history
over the past 20 years and as an indication of the ways in which the act of writing is
being put to the service of new theatre forms."
Geoffrey Milne Eureka Street
"It is a fascinating study of a snippet of performance activity that
occurred in Australia between 1981 and 1999…in all Performing the Unnameable
provides a good model for analysis of performance and writing."
Naomi Black Brolga
"…unique and rich…I recommend this anthology highly. It not only
provides a rich resource for practictioners, teachers and students, but contains
challenging and exciting material that will enhance your next visit to the theatre."
Donna Jacobs The Australian Jewish News
"…Performing the Unnameable is a book to dip into and enjoy over a long
period of time. I’d recommend finding a quiet couple of hours to immerse yourself in
the unique theatrical worlds created by artists and companies such as Entr’Acte,
Jenny Kemp, Margaret Cameron, The Sydney Front and Sidetrack Performance Group."Tony Mack Lowdown
"This is a remarkable achievement showing how performance can be a platform
for new ways of writing and an area of literary invention and achievement. Challenging,
rewarding, confronting but essential reading. Make sure you buy and read Performing the
Unnameable." Bill Simon Metaphor
Also: lectures, readings, workshops, and text, dance
and performance commissions and productions are available from the editors Richard James
Allen and Karen Pearlman – long term practitioners in the field – whose text and
dance-driven performances and film/video works have been presented over the last twenty
years across Australia, the United States, the UK and Europe. For more information contact
them at PhysicalTV@bigpond.com
Last updated 8th December 2006
This site published by
Artmedia PublishingThe content of this site is
copyright, and no part may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, without
the prior permission in writing from the publishers.
Artmedia is building a community of
interest in contemporary Australian and New Zealand literary and Performing Arts - Click
on this link to find other similar sites.
Performing the Unnameable
