The Dep Arts team attended the premier of Invisible Flocks, Bring the Happy, last night; here is Rachael’s response to the evening:
Just as ‘rules are meant to be broken’, it would seem so too are genres with an ever increasing array of companies and work that push and defy distinction, challenging the audience to question the genres of ‘traditional theatre’ and whether these still exist.
It could be suggested that the rise in cross genre and inter-disciplinary work comes as a response to the swift technological advances of the 21st century, which has challenged artists to respond in new and inventive ways, pushing them to create work in order to engage with a society, which is constantly ‘online’ and ‘plugged’ in.
This has led me to wonder whether we are in danger of losing the powerful emotional resonance that is so evident within ‘traditional theatre’, which relies solely on compelling prose. The answer is a resounding no, proven during last night’s performance of Invisible Flocks, Bring The Happy a project that started life as an installation piece, literally mapping the happiness of Leeds.
Although the piece utilised every technological trick in the book, weaving together live music, projection, and copious amounts of ticker tape, the company still managed to tap into the oldest form of communication…story telling, which allowed the audience to connect emotionally with the piece in order to fall in love with the history and vibrancy of Leeds all over again.
Proving that although technology may excite the synapses, a good story will always capture the heart.
For more information about Invisible flock click HERE
To view their page click HERE