SHIFT
Director/Performer: Oscar-Jackson
Oscar-Jackson is a multidisciplinary artist who explores the cycles of the natural world and how we affect and are affected by them. Working to reengage himself and others with the instinctual mind and body we have lost over the millenia.
He has trained Butoh in Japan with Dairakudakan and Oshito Ohno as well training under the guidance of Francis Barbe and undergoing an intensive internship with Zen Zen Zo.
With a focus on direction and devising, Oscar-Jackson has honed his claws creating the four part Ungeizifer Series, including the sell out 'Metamorphosis' at La Mama Theatre as part of the Midsumma Premier program. He has co-devised 8Wings 'AMoéR, Zen Zen Zo's 'Last Drinks', Earthcore Festival's Opening Ceremonies and produced dance pieces 'Rythms and Lycanthropy' and 'Barnacle Porn Amateur Hour' as part of the QUBED^3 project.
WHO WE ARE
Producer/Performer: Alana Hoggart
Alana is currently completing her PHD in Butoh performance at Monash University. Alana graduated from an elite selection internship with Brisbane based theatre company Zen Zen Zo physical theatre, where she honed her performance, dramaturging and producing skills.
She has since produced Lightning in a Kettle for the Anywhere Theatre Festival, Ko Re and Amoer for EightWing Theatre Co and Yarn as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. She has Stage Managed 2012:Apocalyspe for Dairakudakan and Zen Zen Zo as part of the Brisbane Festival.
She has performed in various Butoh inspired productions for EightWing Theatre Co and WruffnTumble, was cast as Lucy Joy in Zen Zen Zo’s Bliss, has performed in Japan as golden Butoh dancer for Dairakudakan in The Promise of Summer and has performed at Earthcore as part of a dance physicalisation of the Tibetan Creation Myth.
Designer: Christine Urquhart
Originally from the UK, Stage Designer Christine Urquhart first touched down in Brisbane. She worked with Queensland Theatre Company as a Props and Scenic artist and designed A Streetcar Named Desire with Nash Theatre, before unwittingly getting onto Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre's radar. Since designing the recently reimagined Greek Tragedy Medea she's found a new creative hub in Melbourne. Previous Scenic and Props works in famed large scale Opera and Events include Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and The London 2012 Olympics. In design she has gone from quirky Opera (including a small show with The English National Opera in London) to independent and experimental physical theatre, stemming from a thesis in Asian and African ritualistic practices.
As I am of half Asian and half Western bloodlines, I find the culmination of different cultural performance styles, combined with a contemporary edge, fascinating. My aim is to create art as a designer, to explore ancient ritualistic methods of performance, to provoke a sense of a spiritual connection with the figurative form and to visually envelope the performers and audience in almost grotesque, sculptural landscapes.
Technical Designer: Alexander Edwards
Alexander Edwards is an artist working in photography, film, video, performance and installation. He's been exhibited for over a decade around the world including New York, Toronto, Berlin, Hong Kong, Lisbon and around Australia.
He's also curated and participated in selection committees for a range of festivals, as well as producing his own independant events.
An artist and arts manager with a passion for culture of all kinds.
Performer: Damian Meredith
Starting at age 3, Damian took up dance and movement classes, doing mostly contemporary and hiphop styles. He gradually became interested in tumbling and acrobatics during his full-time dance training at the Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School (VCASS) and at age 13, Damian decided to tryout a few circus classes. It was then when he discovered the art of fire, manipulation and poi specifically. Damian had completed 4 years of training at VCASS before he was accepted to train at the National Institute Of Circus Arts (NICA), where he trained for 2 years. When Damian hit the psy-trance festival scene at Maitreya, he had no second thoughts about where he would work as a performer. Since then he’s displayed his stuff at many parties and festivals, some highlights being the 2014 Falls Festival Marion Bay Staff Party and the opening ceremony for the Earthcore 20th Anniversary. It’s the appreciation he gets from the crowd that keeps Damian centred around this scene of music, art, culture and energy.