Absence and Presence
From the gesture of grief to a dance with Max Bygraves, both cinematic and dramatic. Using sculpture, video and a score composed by Joby Talbot. Absence and Presence explores through non-vocal dialogue, gesture, and movement an essential and telling story that is true to us all.
Absence and Presence is a deeply intimate and touching production in which dancer and mime artist, Andrew Dawson, explores – not without wry humour – the death of his father. His father died in 1985 and, tragically, his body lay undiscovered for 10 days. The trauma inspired Dawson to create this unusual autobiographical work, which deals in non-vocal dialogue with his sense of loss and guilt, his affection and conflict, and the unique emotions of a son to his father.
The New York Times Review can be read here.
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Absence and Presence is a deeply intimate and touching production in which dancer and mime artist, Andrew Dawson, explores – not without wry humour – the death of his father. His father died in 1985 and, tragically, his body lay undiscovered for 10 days. The trauma inspired Dawson to create this unusual autobiographical work, which deals in non-vocal dialogue with his sense of loss and guilt, his affection and conflict, and the unique emotions of a son to his father.
The New York Times Review can be read here.
Credits
Performance: Andrew Dawson
Direction: Andrew Dawson in collaboration with Jos Houben & Graham Johnston
Music: Joby Talbot
Video: Andrew Dawson, Graham Johnston
Lighting: Andrew Dawson, Steven Smith
Producer: Sara Sheppard
A co-production with the Fabrik, Potsdam 2005
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Awards
Total Theatre Award (2005)
Herald Angel Award (2005)
The Carol Tambor Award (2005)
Performance: Andrew Dawson
Direction: Andrew Dawson in collaboration with Jos Houben & Graham Johnston
Music: Joby Talbot
Video: Andrew Dawson, Graham Johnston
Lighting: Andrew Dawson, Steven Smith
Producer: Sara Sheppard
A co-production with the Fabrik, Potsdam 2005
Awards
Total Theatre Award (2005)
Herald Angel Award (2005)
The Carol Tambor Award (2005)
