Like a time travelling migratory bird, Experimentica is moving to sunnier climbs and foregoing the winter in favour of the slightly less chilly Welsh spring. However, to tide over the experimental art fans among us, Chapter have teamed up with Theatr Iolo to present a week long programme of live and performance art ahead of the full festival, which is due to be held from Wed 29 Mar – Sun 2 Apr.
Kicking off the festival is Comeback Special by Texan writer, performer and live artist Greg Wohead, renowned for his theatre performances, one-to-one pieces and audio work. With the goal of finding out what happens when a comeback comes back, Wohead re-enacts Elvis Presley 1968 Comeback Special in a typically experimental way, toying with time drag, while wearing another time as drag and dragging another time to the present.
After two days, this is then followed by Christopher Brett Bailey’s Kissing the Shotgun Goodnight on the Wednesday and Thursday, an avant-garde piece of theatre that really cannot be put into words. Frantic and dystopian imagery is juxtaposed with a warped and bizarre soundscape. GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN then takes place on the Friday. In their last show, the duo self-destructed destroyed the double-act at the centre of their work. In the first new GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN show since 2013, they showcase their progress since then, describing it as a monstrosity that’s been bolted together.
This, along with Workshy which takes place on the Saturday, is a pay what you decide affair, with all the money going towards supporting artists to develop future work for Experimentica. Katy Baird’s Workshy is ultimately about work, and having bent over backwards for two decades in the customer service industry, she’s done everything she can to make the British public happy, but still gives the last scraps of herself to the audience in this live performance.
Experimentica Mini Festival, Chapter, Cardiff. Mon 31 Oct – Sat 5 Nov. Tickets: prices vary per event. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org
words LUKE OWAIN BOULT