Most of us fight with them in supermarkets, or they are the “catch-alls” for a transient community of homeless, or lie abandoned on street corners.
We are talking about the ubiquitous shopping trolley – hardly the inspiration for a high-octane, immersive dance work by one of Australia’s most innovative young choreographers.
Created by Shaun Parker & Company, Trolleys will premiere to Sydney audiences this month as part of the City of Sydney’s festival Art & About Sydney.
Described as ‘Part dance. Part spectacle. Part ballet. Five shopping trolleys appear in a public space. Two fall in love. One grapples to find a friend. And three ignite in a dance of anarchy.’
Parker told ArtsHub, ‘It is relentless. In some ways it is the most physical production we’ve done. They just spin and glide and twist – it’s non-stop for 20 minutes.’
Trolleys returns Parker to this Sydney festival after last year’s success with Spill, again a fast and furious performance, based on the playground.
While there is a synergy between the two, Trolleys speaks more to the urban fabric of the city, and indeed this year’s Art & About Sydney’s theme, Endangered.
‘You are always seeing these lost trolleys. They are on the edge of extinction – stuck out there,’ he mused.
‘I liked the fact that it is an everyday object and it is very banal. I also like that it can create energy, and circles and waves. I also like that there is a narrative in it – quite often you see a trolley left miles away and bit lonely. They become poetic. They take on almost human qualities,’ said Parker.
While people are drawn into this narrative, it is the athleticism in the way the dances use their everyday prop that is spellbinding, not unlike other forms of street performance such as breakdancing to urban skaters.
Asked why he thought this kind of embedded street performance was important, Parker said: ‘It takes theatre and dance to where people are, and draws new audiences in. You may not have grown up with theatres, but seeing a show like this on the street can shift your day and seed the idea that you want to see more.
‘The vision of the whole team at City of Sydney is making it fun to live and co-habit with art. It is taking art to people.’
Parker has worked with composer Nick Wales to produce a surprisingly beautiful violin score for an urban work. The two have worked on around six productions together, the most recent being Spill. Wales has also worked with Sarah Blasko and is a co-composer with the critically acclaimed CODA.
Trolleys was first presented in London, where it won the 2012 Argus Angel Award for Brighton Festival and Fringe. It has now been performed in Scotland, France, Holland, Germany, and only last month in Malaysia.
‘Some people really hunt it down in the program, and others just stumble upon it after work or while shopping or visiting a friend. I love that,’ said Parker.
‘What is strange about this piece is that it really is quiet beautiful and you get goosebumps when the trolleys soar,’ Parker concluded.
‘We have all been in car parks and just want to ride the trolley,’ said Parker, adding that there are ‘no dodgy wheels here! We buy them new.’
Trolleys is created by Shaun Parker & Company; score by Nick Wales
Sydney cast: Toby Derrick, Lewis Rankin, Sophia Ndaba, Jordan Hanna and Sean Marcs.
Where and when:
- Martin Place: Friday, 19 September, 5.30pm and 7pm
- Customs House Square: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, 12pm and 1.30pm
- Pitt Street Mall: Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 September, 12pm and 1.30pm
- Hyde Park North – Archibald Fountain: Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 October, 12pm and 1.30pm
- Customs House Square: Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 October, 12pm and 1.30pm
Catch Art & About Sydney across the City of Sydney from 19 September – 12 October.
This is a free event.
TROLLEYS from SHAUN PARKER & COMPANY on Vimeo.
