Landscape (1989) | Emergency Chorus

LANDSCAPE (1989)

performance for theatres, 60 mins, 2018

available for touring

A razed forest and two people journeying towards the horizon. One foot in front of the other.

Inspired by Anna Tsing's anthropological study, The Mushroom at the End of the World, Landscape (1989) weaves together the history of matsutake hunters in Malheur National Park, Oregon, the early life of John Cage, Francis Fukuyama's essay The End of History and imagery from apocalypse fiction to create a compelling and haunting portrait of life in the wilderness.

On a bare stage, two people perform choreography inspired by the movements of foragers, conjure a forest fire, and cook in silence. At the end, and alone at last, two mushrooms sing to the audience.

Set against a score of bright trumpets and droning strings, Landscape (1989) is a meditation on endings and beginnings, asking how we might find hope amongst ecological ruins. It’s an intimate and reflective performance which provides a whispered call to attention; a space to listen more closely, more carefully, to what surrounds and outlasts us.

'Did I know all the time what was going on or what was the intention? No. Did I mind? Double no.' - Lyn Gardner

'Work that gets stuck in your teeth... Rewarding and fascinating and eerily beautiful.' - Darker Neon

You can watch full-length documentation of Landscape (1989) HERE

Landscape (1989) was developed with support from the Institute of Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL)

Created and performed by Clara Potter-Sweet and Ben Kulvichit

Sound design and dramaturgy Nat Norland

Lighting design and technical management Ciara Shrager (subsequent technical managers: Danny Vavrecka, Jamie King-Cox)

Producer Emily Davis

Photos Matt Wendzina

Show filming Aydan Tair, Ben Kulvichit

Previous dates:

2 September 2021 / Sensational Ecologies, University of Sussex [online presentation]