Arthropoda - Manipulate Festival 2023

Paper Doll Militia by Sarah Holmes
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About

For over 200 years, humans have used lobster pots as a device to trap the creature after it crawls in to reach bait. The entrance to the pot never closes; it remains open, but once inside, the lobster just can't find its way out again. Does it even recognise that it’s in a trap at all? Arthropoda is a show about how we identify our traps, and if we manage to do so, how we can find ways to escape them.

A world premiere from leading Scotland-based aerial theatre company Paper Doll Militia, this gripping and visually arresting piece of circus theatre tells of the unravelling of a relationship, entangled in the psychological pitfalls of societal and systematic sexism.

The piece explores the way in which toxic and abusive dynamics can remain hidden to those experiencing them, when experienced amidst the complex mass of other relationship dynamics. Through an array of stunning visual theatre and circus techniques including cyr wheel, aerial theatre and hair hanging, Arthropoda navigates challenging questions about whether we can or should support a partner with dark and violent emotions, and how to identify when those emotions spill over into something altogether more toxic.

Part of MANIPULATE Festival 2023, view the full programme on their website.

Arthropoda is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.

Image: Kate George

Supported by Citymoves Aberdeen, Dance Base Edinburgh, Assembly Roxy, Community Circus Paisley and Creative Scotland.

The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, and has received additional support from the Scottish Government's Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund and Creative Scotland’s Recovery Fund for Cultural Organisations.


If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.


Credits

  • Writer, Director and Co-Production DesignerSarah Holmes
  • DramaturgClive Andrews
  • Co-ProducersMelanie Purdie and Nikki Kalkman
  • Musical DirectorBado Reti
  • Lighting DesignerGeorge Tarbuck
  • Co-Production DesignerIngrid Scholes
  • Production Stage ManagerGrace Turner
  • Graphic DesignerKate George
  • MusicianJoseph Weisberg
  • PerformerConstanza Ruff
  • PerformerLee Partridge

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