Gavin Robertson and Andy Taylor, Fantastical Voyage

Review in Issue 9-1 | Spring 1997

Gavin Robertson and Andy Taylor, with the directorial skills of Robert Thirtle, presented an excursion into the subconscious minds of the audience. They imbued their cliched characters and animals with dry humoured animation reminiscent of Thunderbirds F.A.B. The original concept behind the piece is from Ray Harryhausen, whose film work is known to generations of cinema audiences, especially those young at heart. Jason and the Argonauts and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad are two of Harryhausen's films in which he combined live action with models. The effect of humans interacting with these animated creations is acclaimed as amongst the best special effects sequences.

The imagery conjured up by both actors in this piece adhered to these innovations by both mocking and celebrating the content of the above style of film. This was done with a rich use of mime and sound production. The spectator was thus transported on a voyage to fantasy worlds which evoked memories and recollections like in a fairytale. With intuitive knowledge and insight, Robert Thirtle utilised the traditional mime elements to great affect with speech and sound to punctuate a well-paced show.

Artforms
Presenting Artists
Presenting Venue
Date Seen
  1. Jan 1997

This article in the magazine

Issue 9-1
p. 23