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Voyage into the Unknown 1
A spectacular event featuring a unique hybrid of audio-visual and analogue-digital performance, which invited its' audience to participate in an atmospheric netherworld of mystery and surprise. Inspired by classic screen river journeys like 'Fitzcarraldo' and 'Apocalypse Now', a strong sense of the cinematic was achieved through a merger of digital technology, physical performance, improvised pyrotechnics, and the interplay of light and water.
At it's core was a mystery boat excursion, commencing Bristol city centre, towards Bath. It's early evening and the voyage begins with little out of the ordinary, just a trip through the industrial inner city and into nearby countryside. The enchantment meter jumps several notches as the boats are drawn to picturesque greenery at dusk, by a trail of floating candles. Flaming torches line the banks and a guitar-playing owl and glamourous pussy-cat are rowed through mist. The audience disembark wide-eyed and explore the site - a walled garden with many trees including a majestic willow, lit by glowing lanterns and a mirror-ball hanging inside the canopy of a large oak.
Inspired live performances quickly follow from Kid Carpet and I Am The Mighty Jungulator. Both performances showcase integrated audio-visual interplay that is both improvised and cohesively thematic. Ninety minutes later IATMJ's set ends with white smoke spiraling into the night sky, as the audience board the boats to commence a return journey along a river now solely lit by candles. The boats slow up at key points, and exciting drama unfolds along the bank and overhead from footbridges, featuring 'hit and run' pyrotechnics that are both nuanced and spectacular. For a finale, pirate-technicians board the lead boat for a dramatic return to central Bristol.
Heres some movies of the event...
journey out and performances...
return journey...
