Gravity & Other Myths presents BACKBONE

In Feb/March this year I had the privilege of going and documenting my mates Gravity & Other Myths (GOM) creating and premiering their latest work BACKBONE  at the Adelaide Festival 2017. They collaborated with renowned Performer and Director Darcy Grant (Flying Fruit Fly Circus Graduate and founding member of C!RCA) to co-create and direct the piece with them.

The project had got funding through the Australian Government’s Major Festival’s Initiative in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc and support from the Adelaide Festival and it was so great to see a company flourish with some support and backing (come on Australia – Back your Arts more – especially small to medium companies, when you do they make awesome work, see!).

It allowed them to engage and collaborate with other creatives at the top of their game such as designer extraordinaire Geoff Cobham – long time supporter of GOM and father of founding member Tilda Cobham – Hervey (who is currently storming the acting world, check out her impressive collection of work here. Nice one Tilly!). The lighting design in the show is amazing and as you can probably tell by my photo’s I have an enormous crush on Geoff’s work (and he’s a not a bad fella either 😉 ).

As well as being able to back up-and-coming director Darcy (who incidentally I have known since we both had brightly dyed hair as teenagers in the late 90’s) to head major work, premiering at a major arts festival. Having moved slightly away from performing in the last few years to spend more time with his young family, Darcy is already getting a tidy slate of shows and collaborations as a Director under his belt. I learnt a lot watching him work and he takes a wicked photo too – you’ll see his work pop up in this magazine before too long!

Hanging out with GOM is always a pleasure, the majority of these guys have been friends and training together since they were kids in Adelaide’s Youth Circus – CIRKIDZ . I’m always blown away by their dedication to training and the skill level that they are achieving through the tight bond and trust they have with each other. The physical language that they have developed over the years (especially in walk throughs) is great to witness.

Due to having a budget (for once) ,as well as bigger design themes, this show also has a lot more bodies on stage than their previous acclaimed work – A Simple Space and the skills are big (4 High baby!) and they have been able to take ideas and see them through due to having the time and the space to develop them .

The beautiful soundtrack is fuller as well, written and performed by long time GOM member Elliot Zoerner joined by the multi- talented freak of nature that is Shenton Gregory (who I have travelled the world with as part of Ben Walsh’s Orkestra of The Underground). Having written the tracks in the same room as the acrobats were working on their routines the guys soundtrack seamlessly guides us through the show.

The performers and co-creators of BACKBONE are: Jascha Boyce, Lachlan Binns, Jacob Randell, Martin Schrieber, Lachlan Harper, Joanne Curry, Lewis Rankin, Lewie West, Mieke Lizotte, Jack Mason, Simon McClure, Elliot Zoerner, Shenton Gregory (aka Shenzo Gregorio) supported and advised by GOM Co- Founder Triton Tunis-Mitchell.

GOM’s General manager and producer is me old buddy Craig Harrison – if you want to have them at your Festival he’ll be the guy that makes it happen!

Hope you enjoyed all my pics and the little promo video below, there will be a short ‘Behind the Scenes’ doco coming out soon so keep your eyes peeled (it’ll be on here! So just keep checking back 😉 ).

Thanks GOM crew for getting me to document you and your excellent work and dealing with a camera in your face. Thanks also to Darcy for allowing me into your process!

If this show pops up near you do what you can to grab a ticket – keep an eye on GOM at their Website to see where they are touring.

Hope you enjoyed this post,

Cheers

Hamish

(All pics and video in this article where made by me)

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Here’s a little taste of  BACKBONE – Video by Carnival Cinema