Fiona Gordon: They say a picture is worth a thousand words – in the case of ‘Pictures of You’, perhaps ten thousand…

Presented by a company who encourages their audience to ‘listen with your eyes’, and firmly rooted in the precision of communication that is necessary to do so effectively with the use of sign language, FTH:K expands theatrical boundaries with its ‘Pictures of You’.

FTH:K is a deaf and hearing company that aims to create a platform for experimentation and expansion of the notions of theatre and performance. Conspiracy of clowns is their workshop, and ‘Pictures of You’- its first work, first performed in 2008 on the Fringe at the National Arts Festival – is a remarkably tight production that looks set to continue to wow audiences for some time to come.

The scene is set on entering the theatre – showing what is obviously the living room of a house – table and chairs, front door, some pictures on the walls… The first action we see is a foreshadowing snapshot of drama, but after that, the story, on the surface, seems fairly conventional. A house-proud wife who collects the post every day and makes her husband tea while he reads said post – after he has checked the locks on the door. Repetition suggests routine, but also something more, as we see her obsession with control and cleanliness grow, and how she is transformed with memories of happier times.

But the really phenomenal thing is that this story is told without our conventional communication crutches – the use of the spoken word, and facial expression; making use rather of the powerful language of the body. Their faces are completely hidden throughout by full masks, but masks so expressive sometimes I can’t believe that they are not able to move… But to watch this ‘husband and wife’ move is akin to watching dance. In the rhythm of their movement, repetitively, and in the detail of how they do so, lies much of the power of this story.

Dextrous fingers command attention with even ever-so-slight movements. And the breath… sometimes I even find myself breathing with them.

But the words are not important here. It’s the pictures that are. And it’s well worth making a point of seeing them.

Presented by a conspiracy of clowns, in association with from the hip: khulumakahle (FTH:K), the production is devised and directed by Rob Murray, performed by Liezl de Kock and Dorian Burstein with visual design by winner of the 2010 Standard Bank Young Artist award for theatre and director of Out The Box Festival, Janni Younge and sound design by James Webb, winner of the 2008 ABSA L’atelier prize.

It plays in the Baxter Theatre’s Golden Arrow Studio until 13 February 2010. Tickets can be booked through Computicket.

Fiona Gordon
fiona@artslink.co.za
www.artslink.co.za