Sarah GOEBEL
Above, the Tenders worship The Creator with smiling “Gifts.” Below, the Giftless cry out through uncrowded mouths. In this parallel world, faith, loyalty and perfectionism are tested in a commune where “The Word” rules. Sermons are delivered, doubts are punished, and differences divide as the question lingers: what is worthy of our love?
Credits
Co-Directos – Lachlan Ives, Peyton Ada
Writers – Ben Canute, Marshall Brown
Movement Director – Asha Vincent
Devisers – Lachlan Ives, Peyton Ada, Ben Canute, Marshall Brown, Asha Vincent, Sarah Goebel, Joseph Stevens, Matthew J. Young
Sound Design – Lachlan Ives
Set & Costume Design – Peyton Ada
Creative Mentors – Jeffrey Jay Fowler, Dr Kathryn Kelly
Cast
Extracted/Giftless – Peyton Ada
Leader – Joseph Stevens
Instrument//Giftless – Ben Canute
Guardian/Giftless – Marshall Brown
Tender/Giftless – Lachlan Ives
Devout/Giftless – Matthew J. Young
Lover/Giftless – Sarah Goebel
Salvaged/Giftless – Asha Vincent
CONTENT WARNING: Coercive control, violence
Process
As an artist, the process of TEETH acted as a reminder that not every problem needs solving right away. The phrase 'let's put that idea under the pillow' was said A LOT and I'm so thankful for it. Knowing when to come back to ideas helped us decide something and STICK TO IT – I find the more decisive you can be, the more room you have to play. As I was a Deviser/Performer for this work and not a Director/Writer, it prompted me to consider when I can take a backseat, not because of a lack of commitment, but as a desire to learn and listen to my peers.
The devising process consisted of many improvisations, a method that was highly effective in generation but when it came to sorting through ideas, Anne Bogart's reminder to "kill our babies" led to many genre switches, laughs, cries and eventually the cult of 'The Creator' was born. With the encompassing theme of religous fundimentalism now driving our project, TEETH became the beautifully uncomfortable, body horror theatre piece it is today.