Output details

Environments for Encounter 2012

This film explores the phenomenon of relational performance within contemporary music festivals as an emergent genre of creative communication.

What are the implications for making relational or interactive performance for a festival environment where site, audience and context are inherently unstable and unpredictable? In what way do changes in the festival environment impact upon the manner in which work is performed and how are the interactions that ensue negotiated differently according to changes in context? In what ways do festival-goers respond to performative encounters within the festival site and how does this differ across a range of environments?

The film followed academic researchers, working in partnership with Urban Angels Circus over a two-year period as they developed a commissioned piece of interactive performance that then toured to three different contemporary music festivals. Each festival was chosen to provide a different 'environment for encounter' so that a comparative analysis could be made and the research questions addressed. The film was shot at two UK festivals that have distinctly different cultural contexts and a third European festival.

Environments for Encounter was screened at the Beyond Text Finale, Thursday 29th March 2012 at Kings Place, London and also at a research seminar at the University of Leeds on Monday 3rd December 2012 where Laura presented the work and discussed the process of shooting such a film. She is currently developing a blog for the film and also looking for further screenings and potential TV transmission.