It’s not common to see the word ‘improvisation’ in a major festival program. Improvised, site-specific works are more likely to be found in fringe festivals.
It’s a surprise, then, to read that Blood and Bone, Antony Hamilton’s new work for the Melbourne Festival, is described in the program notes as an ‘eccentric, improvised movement piece’. The work’s inclusion on the Festival program was something of a surprise to Hamilton too. “I was invited to create the full length work only a few weeks ago,” he explains. “One needs to be very quick on one’s feet with this type of thing and work very economically with time. It’s probably the most stripped back work I’ve made.”
That sense of immediacy caused by time-pressure inspires Hamilton. “There are some improvisational structures and theatrical worlds I’ve been exploring that lend themselves to having little preparation,” he says. “That’s actually part of the excitement about the work for me – that it feels very risky for the performers, including me. It’s based very much on our ability to ‘wing it’. The ‘one night only’ situation makes it possible to do something a bit more daring.”
It sounds like the improvised nature of Blood and Bone isn’t the only ‘daring’ element. “The work is mostly improvised around some very absurd, even tasteless scenarios,” says Hamilton.
The program blurb mentions collaborators too but Hamilton is coy about their identity and roles. “I can’t tell you about them,” he smiles. “It’s a surprise!”
Blood and Bone plays one night only, Saturday 13 October 2012.
Antony Hamilton
