The BLOKES Project

“exquisite performance and incredibly moving approach to the subject” – audience member, SouthBank season.

“A beautiful exercise in how we relate with ourselves and with others.” – review by Barry Stone.

 

show review by Barry Stone here

show review by Ruth Ridgway here

 

ABC Radio National interview

FBi Agenda discussions around the hopes of The BLOKES Project

 

The BLOKES Project includes a new dance work (performed on a shipping container, researched with family & community elders in their truck yards, sheds & vehicles). Exorcizing the toxic from the healthy in Australian masculinity and its embodied myths, truths and stereotypes. Exposing where our inherited cultural narrative serves us and where it hurts us, as individuals and as a community.

 

co-creators Joshua Thomson and Matt Cornell

 

In an age of toxic masculinity, we turn the critical lens on ourselves to build a new narrative of how to be a BLOKE. We rehearse and develop the show in a public space in the week leading up to performance, in costume, on and in a side opening 20ft shipping container. And we engage those interested in discussion around the culture and what they would suggest for dealing with it through the show.

 

Southbank performance season full show documentation video here

Frankston Arts Centre residency trailer video here

 

The creative team:

• Co-creators – Joshua Thomson and Matt Cornell
• Sound designer and composer – Tristen Parr
• Projectionist – Claire Robertson
• Performers – Joshua Thomson and Matt Cornell
• Producer – Tammy Ryan
• with some comedy audio snippets courtesy of Damien Power

 

The BLOKES Project has presented at Flowstate, received support from The Australia Council for the Arts, Darwin Festival 2013 and 2014, Performing Lines NSW, Frankston Arts Centre and Critical Path.

 

making-of trailer:

 

making-of images:

 

 

we also had an online showing in 2016 while in the research room at Critical Path – link

and made a video installation called 4×4 Duet

and bonus video below talking about the project at the BOLD festival 2017:

 

Blokes – What’s it About

 

 

social media:

 

instagram,

bayside news – link

ABC Radio National The Hub – link

peninsular radio – link

4rph post show interview – link

FBi Radio – Agenda interview:

ABC RN radio interview:

 

ABC NT radio interview:

View this post on Instagram

Just finished this super valuable residency @the_fac Thanks to all who interrupted rehearsals as they walked by to ask "what the hell are you blokes doing?" and then came along to the showing late at night in the cold! And to @tammyryan and her team for supporting us and the vision! And to narellelewis at @performinglines for lining it up! #blokesproject

A post shared by Matt Cornell (@themattmosphere) on Dec 9, 2016 at 2:54pm PST

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNLOdS5A8Ef/?taken-by=themattmosphere

Frankston Arts Centre Residency

 

Full show documentation