Skywhispers of Terrestrial Dreams
Skywhispers of Terrestrial Dreams is a wandering journey through a continuous and endlessly shifting dreamscape of contemporary circus arts that explores the liminal and ephemeral nature of our earthly dreams. In this performance installation, skywhispers from the astral realm reach out to issue warning, impart wisdom, carry healing, and offer insight into our past, present and future behaviour. If we are seeking, all the treasures that escape our conscious perception are buried here. If you unearth your own skywhispers, are you willing to listen?
The diverse group of artists presenting this work-in-progress are members of Breaking Circus Collective, the only Black-led professional contemporary circus troupe east of Montreal. Audio description/ whispers are an integral part of this performance installation.
Skywhispers of Terrestrial Dreams is a wandering journey through a continuous and endlessly shifting dreamscape of contemporary circus arts that explores the liminal and ephemeral nature of our earthly dreams. Somewhere between waking and slumber exists a place where we may pursue our quest for liberation, reach the heights of our potential, indulge our appetite for the absurd and question our own sensibilities. In this performance installation, skywhispers from the astral realm reach out to issue warning, impart wisdom, carry healing, and offer insight into our past, present and future. If one actively listens, they may find meaning that is intended only for them. Can we embrace this transitional reality where provocation invites curiosity and the mundane is nuanced? Off the beaten path, time has no purchase and recovered details swiftly lose their edges. The dream of today is not the dream of tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. All is mutable.
Skywhispers of Terrestrial Dreams was conceived out of our collective need to dream during this global pandemic, as many of our dreams have been shelved for the foreseeable future. The piece aims to immerse audiences within the dream realm, providing escape from the external and a safe space for creative introspection. Audiences will be suspended between realities as changes in set pieces, performances, props, lights, colours, textures and sound offer divergent perspectives and interpretations. No two viewings will be exactly the same. Audio description/audible (sky)whispers form an integral part of this performance installation. This work-in-progress will be a living dream that encourages audience members of different viewings to exchange about their experience of the piece and the skywhispers that may have spoken to them.
Skywhispers of Terrestrial Dreams will be presented from October 13th-16th, 2021 inclusive. This will be an in-person installation-style performance (covid-19 protocols permitting). Live public viewings/performances will be as follows:
Oct 13th - 6pm and 8pm (each viewing is 30min)
Oct 14th - 6pm and 8pm (each viewing is 30min)
Oct 15th - 6pm and 8pm (each viewing is 30min)
Oct 16th - 2pm and 4pm (each viewing is 30min)
Doors will open 30min prior to each viewing/performance to allow for the house manager to explain how the viewing works, to address current provincial COVID-19 protocols and to guide audience members to their assigned viewing zones. Viewing will be on a first come, first serve basis. Although this piece is designed for a small and ambulant audience, seating will be made available for individuals with limited mobility. Kindly contact [email protected] to let us know in advance if seating (or other accommodation is required). The venue space (Breaking Circus studio – 2164 Barrington Street) is currently undergoing renovations for wheelchair accessibility, which we hope will be completed in time for Nocturne 2021. However, we cannot guarantee that the washroom area will be fully accessible (all other areas of the installation viewing area are accessible). There is limited free parking on site and street parking is available on the surrounding streets.
