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Held on the Breath of the Wind

Performance Date 2 October 1994
Venue Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Victoria

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre overhead view of large white paper and cane dragon Brunswick St Melbourne

Held on the Breath of the Wind: Melbourne Fringe Festival Parade
Photograph © Ken Evans, 1994


HELD ON THE BREATH OF THE WIND was an extended processional piece developed for the Melbourne Fringe Parade, 1994.

The work was the culmination of an 8-week workshop held at Handspan’s Gertrude St Studio in which participants worked with company members to construct processional imagery and develop their manipulation techniques.

A substantial array of imagery evolved, including a giant world globe and a 20 metre flying dragon. Lightweight, durable materials were supported on backpack structures to carry the objects overhead, the whole collection making an impressive multiple-image spectacle.

For Handspan artists who had been working individually as leaders of community workshop projects, this pre-Fringe Parade workshop series was an opportunity for exchange of ideas and techniques within the company as well as an ensemble led in-depth workshop experience for emerging artists and performing arts students.

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre 3 people in a small city park holding simple abstract paper and cloth images aloft on bamboo frameworks

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre 5 people in discussion in a small city park with large white paper and cane dragon head lying on the grass beside them

Rehearsals in the park

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre 1 person in small city park with large dragon head mounted on body harness, several others with paper and cane dragon wings and tail

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre montage of 2 photos showing crowds on city street watching puppeteers pass holding aloft red banners, white dragon and ragged white paper sphere

Proceeding along Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre montage of 2 photos showing dragon full-length moving past watching crowds

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre montage of 3 photos showing puppeteers in black suits waiting with red banners on city street

From left, Annie Wylie, Lizz Talbot and Paul Judd
Photographs and montages © Ken Evans, 1994

Held on the Breath of the Wind Handspan Theatre group portrait of performers sitting in a cobbled laneway

Held on the Breath of the Wind participants resting triumphant in a Fitzroy laneway post-parade
Click photos to enlarge


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Creative team
Co Ordinator Ken Evans
Designer Katy Bowman
Manipulation directors Lizz Talbot, Andrew Hansen, Winston Appleyard & Heather Monk
Performers
Lizz Talbot
Andrew Hansen
Winston Appleyard
Heather Monk
Annie Wylie
Paul Judd
Workshop participants Laura Bellamy, Craig Hedger, Nicole Jones, Amber Caitlin-Perry, Katrina Gaskell, Natalie Rothman, Sandra Brooks, Matt Herbert, Rachel Lowe, John McDonald, Karen Rhodes, Andrew Trnacek, Rosie Grayson, Andrea James, Lisa McClelland, Alan McGregor, Rosie Rush, Melynda Woodward
Production team
Puppet makers Cliff Dolliver & Rod Primrose
Photographer Ken Evans

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