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Photos - Jamie Williams

If you’re like me, you’ve probably never noticed the beauty of a piece of scrap paper with its edges formed randomly through tearing. Such scraps cover the stage of 2 Dimensional Life of Her as the audience takes their seats.

“Drawing has become the basis from where and through which I explore other things”, writes director/creator Fleur Elise Noble in the program notes. Noble has honours in visual arts, graduating from Adelaide Central school of art in 2006. She has also studied drawing in New York. This is her first performance piece, it was first performed in 2008 during Brisbane’s Under The Radar festival where it was awarded best in show. Since then it has been reworked and performed throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand. “I learnt a language through drawing that I speak in everything I do” she continues.

In 2 Dimensional Life of Her, Noble has created a piece of darkly surreal visual theatre which is totally unique. Perhaps “theatre” is too confining a term, as this could easily be branded “performance art installation” or even “cinema” if you accept the projected images will not be confined to a single flat square screen.

Puppetry and drawings are projected onto screens and other objects which are strewn about the stage. These are the creations of The Artist who is depicted in animated form. These creations of hers, soon take on lives of their own, scurrying back and forth between these surfaces.

The question of who is puppet and who is master runs through the show. In some of the most eye-popping moments, characters burst forth from the paper they are drawn on. At these moments, the projection becomes almost 3D and no silly looking glasses are required. The puppets seat themselves in a cinema suggesting that we the audience are the real show.

Video projections is becoming increasing popular in theatre. The Animals and Children Took to the Streets performed at the Opera House in Sydney 2010, combined projection and live action as animated rain drops fell upon life actors. This performance goes a step further by doing away with on stage actors apart from a brief appearance by The Artist, calling her rebellious creations to order.

This show, is promoted as a family affair and indeed there is much to bedazzle youngsters, but it is the adult who will benefit most from this forty minutes of eye catching strangeness.


Sydney Festival 2011 presents
2 Dimensional Life of Her
by Fleur Elise Noble

Venue: Downstairs Theatre | Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Dates/Times: January 9-13 at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm
Duration: 40mins
Tickets: $30/Child $15
Bookings: Sydney Festival 1300 668 812