Our short Showing season at ArtPlay went well. In the days prior to audiences, we bumped in and then spent time experimenting with and testing lighting, sound and AV. This included realising the final version of the animation, which I (Penelope) edited into two sections: the first the slow build of regeneration of Endling’s world, and the second the arrival of Endling at night time (Endling is nocturnal). Justin adapted the second section of the animation using photoshop, so that Endling slowly rose up, appearing from behind a pond as night was falling. Jason figured out lighting systems, and Laura worked intensively on the development of the audience-facing content, making sure that each section was a perfect dramaturgical fit for Endling’s themes and intention.
Some words from Laura Aldous - Endling’s Play Expert
Endling Stage 3 was such a beautiful experience. It was so exciting to share the magic of this work that we had made with children over the last few months, with children as the audience. In each show I was met with excitement, a little apprehension and an overall willingness from each group to creatively come up with a world where Endling would thrive. I was quite amazed to see how most groups of children worked together with such beautiful teamwork to create a thoughtful and playful world for Endling.
My favourite reviews of the work were;
“That was better than playing on my iPad!”
“That was the best day ever ever ever I never want to leaveeee” (from a 4 year old).
Working once more with Artplay has been such a joy, [Laura worked on Wood Wide Web, our earlier Artplay work] and creating work in their New Ideas Lab has provided an opportunity me to reflect along each step of the way. I’ve loved that there has been so much space in the creation of this work, space and time to engage with the world, space and time to create and explore and space and time to discover and reflection along each step of the process. Creating in this way has had a big impact on the final product and I very much hope this work has a future because after that small season I can feel we have created a beautiful and meaningful work for children.
REVIEW - Stage Whispers, Michael Brindley, April 2024
“Endling is an ‘interactive installation/performance’ piece which seeks to ‘tackle climate anxiety’ and replace it with hope; to show that all is not lost. It does this, not by telling, but by having the kids doing – and at the end of forty-five minutes they’re all smiling and so are the parents.”
Michael Brindley
Please CLICK HERE to read the review.
Children’s feedback:
‘This was the best show I’ve ever seen’
‘This is the best day ever’
Parent anecdote / feedback about their Endling experience:
“At one point Laura mentioned hope and he (child) whispered to me ‘I am feeling that too!’”