Pip' response

I have been following the ideas shared by the story group and although we are meeting tomorrow, I wanted to use this opportunity to respond now, to prepare for the Scenography session.

What interests me is the different use of the three spaces, and what jumped out visually from the ideas mooted. I'll just say what works for me for potential visual interest and variety, and what I feel picks up on some of the ideas expressed in the Imaging workshop.

• The top room. Reality meets Myth. Lack of water.

It is obviously a impressive space and it would be good to use the height to hang things or to encourage looking up. I also like the 'scientific' nature of the space, the need to explore, the trap door, the balcony and steps. It feels like a starting place -the beginning of a journey in a real-ish world. So far, so familiar, before we enter the rest of the Pumphouse.

So - I like - The visiting the relics of the past/the museum exhibit idea/ relics of the past use of water when it was plentiful and fun. (This reminds me of the object story session). Objects such as water wings, toy boats, umbrellas, paddling pools, maps and diagrams. Intimate objects in a big space. A sense of people bringing in small amounts of water to preserve. Drought. I am reminded of people having to leave behind plastic bottles of water at the air port - not sure why, except that you except it as for your own good, and the idea of the audience having a bit of water was suggested.

I like the idea of a Mythological thing/Water Spirit emerging from somewhere such as the wide balconied area, which has something to hide it or project onto it/ like a wishing fountain. A watery problem to solve.

I like the idea of a child being sent on a mission /hunt down the trap door and being flooded out (on film). Anxiety.

• Middle Room/ Poisoned water.

It feels like the inside of a ship or a submarine. We could hang fish/ dead poisoned creatures. It feels like a place forgotten or abandoned or broken down, Spluttering out of life. Mechanical malfunction. Candles and stray light in resourceful jars. Dripping sounds, watery sad sounds. Maybe no oxygen. Oil leaks. Messages in bottles. Clanging. Problem shared/ solution sought.

• End Room/Flood.

I like the idea of using the top of the tank as suggested- I was reading about people in Brisbane and other flooded places moving everything onto their roofs or trees to get away from the emerging water, and I had a vision of a family /people who had spent their whole lives up on a roof and adapted well. In the Imaging workshop we had a moment of watery flood and a woman sitting in a deckchair, almost oblivious.. Some sort of solution, resolution

• Outside/Car Park/tented/beach huts

Fun in water. Sensitive life-giving use of water. Playful, participatory, dance, song, ritual. Refers a bit back to the relics in room 1.

These are just visual images mainly not wanting to drive the story, but it does help to have themes and feelings for each space that can be heightened and worked together with the other theatre elements.