Searching Shadows
by Emily Orleyspoken-word-and-live-literature, live-art
A story about the early days of x-ray, the precariousness of memory and the life of one man
about the production
In a series of fragments and with the assistance of a tape player, a 35mm slide projector and a desk lamp, Orley weaves a story about the early days of the x-ray, the precariousness of memory and the life of one man: a radiologist, an immigrant, her grandfather. It is a tale of travelling, of bones become visible, of lighting and searching shadows.
about the artist
Emily Orley is a solo theatre artist who makes spoken word devised pieces of theatre, combining poetry, image, sound and carefully choreographed gestures. She has been making and showing work in the UK and abroad for fifteen years. She trained at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris and has a PhD from Roehampton University. (See www.emilyorley.com)
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stage dimensions
width: 3 metres
height: 3 metres
depth: 2 metres
Five electrical points, a table and two chairs.
I hope the show would appeal to a wide audience. Because it relies heavily on spoken word, I would suggest it would work better for 15+.
Emily Orley’s Searching Shadows carries a sense of wonder in an analog world and brings out another way of telling an old story. Brilliant to be reminded of the pleasures and perils of new technologies from the early days of the X-ray: Seeing through to the bones, imagine that! A reminder to wonder about what we are blind to in this present moment.
I loved Searching Shadows; it was like watching some sepia-tinted footage about ghostly and ghastly goings-on, about emissions and omissions and all kinds of inventions. An unforgettable show about the precariousness of memory.
The tech set-up was so effective, so simple and totally intermedial. The sound alone was so well conceived and atmospheric, plus the setting-up of images in photographs that would later re-emerge in the live action was great. Thanks again for staging something so marvellous.
The show involves a combination of spoken word, sound and projected images so would work well with audio description and signing.
I am happy to run workshops before or after the production exploring how to bring old letters and memoirs to life. £60/hour.
£160 to cover accommodation and petrol. This is negotiable.
