Arts Agenda

The Bench

The Bench is Autoteatro for two strangers on a bench

text / dialogue by Glen Neath

concept / direction / edit by Ant Hampton (Rotozaza)

 

The audience, both of them, sit on the bench and speak. Not having met before, the conversation is naturally a little awkward...

 

…So, a bench like any other bench

I suppose so

Take a look around. What do you see?

Grass. Trees. Sky. Buildings. A dog

A dog? Are you sure?

People

There’s almost certainly people

You can’t go anywhere these days without there being people

Anybody we know?

We?

Anybody you know?

Do I know you?

We share an acquaintance.

Now let me look at you

Feel free…

 

Alone and unnoticed on a favourite bench - it could be in a park, on a golf course, outside an old station – two strangers, sharing an Mp3 player and wearing headphones, repeat what they hear and find themselves falling easily into a remarkable dialogue.

 

Co-commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival (UK), Derby Feste (UK), Fusebox Festival (USA). With studio support from Somethin' Else (Paul Bennun)