Arts & Culture
An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury

Following its success at Edinburgh Fringe the award-winning theatre company, Ockham’s Razor, are bringing their latest show to Salisbury!

Belly of the Whale from Ockham’s Razor, winners of the Total Theatre and Jacksons Lane Award for Circus at the Edinburgh Fringe 2016, is an incredible meeting of circus and sculpture. This new outdoor show offers an innovative combination of cross-disciplinary curiosity and intuition. 

The production will be launched in Salisbury as part of its ‘Lift Off!’ weekend from August 24 to August 27 - The timings for Belly of the Whale are shortly to be announced.

The performers, like surfers on a wild sea, ride a giant semi-circular see-saw made of wood and steel which creaks and groans as it transforms from a catapult to a gently rocking cradle, to a tunnel, to a slide - creating an ever-changing land and soundscape. The concept of the belly of the whale is found in mythology around the world - what happens when we confront our fears and come face to face with the power and momentum of things we seemingly can’t change?

[caption id=“attachment_40196” align=“aligncenter” width=“710”] Belly Of The Whale, Ockhams Razor - Mark Dawson Photography[/caption]

The Belly of the Whale structure comes alive during the show, a sculpture in its own right and very much a fourth character. This unique and powerful see-saw, weighing 600kg, is able to reflect the narrative and aid the invention of the piece. By designing new equipment, Ockham’s Razor are constantly pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus. They offer up the unexpected resulting in a compelling relationship of trust and reliance between the performers. 

Musician Gabriele Pierros will fuse acoustic and digital compositions, playing live while also using real-time recordings of his sounds to create a unique accompanying soundscape. 

[caption id=“attachment_40186” align=“aligncenter” width=“710”] Belly Of The Whale, Ockhams Razor - Mark Dawson Photography[/caption]

Director Tina Koch explained: “In this current climate it can often feel like you are fighting with giants, running against walls, being thrown, faced with challenges and changes seemingly beyond your control.

“Our work is a reflection of the world how we experience it. This show is about three people coming face to face with their biggest challenge and the different ways they deal with it. It is about daring to jump into the unknown, perseverance and ultimately discovering that you can go it alone but you can go further when you join forces.

[caption id=“attachment_40192” align=“aligncenter” width=“710”] Belly Of The Whale, Ockhams Razor - Mark Dawson Photography[/caption]

Ockham’s Razor are Produced by Turtle Key Arts and supported by Arts Council England. Belly of the Whale is commissioned by Without Walls, Stockton International Riverside Festival, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, Out There International Festival of Circus & Street Arts, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Lift Off! The opening weekend of Wiltshire Creative - Salisbury, Circulate, Stratford Circus Arts Centre and Basingstoke Festival. 

There’s something magical about British aerial theatre group Ockham’s Razor. It’s hard to say how they conjure it, with little in the way of props and “performance” — they are the epitome of unshowy — but it’s a world where simple actions accumulate into something transporting (Evening Standard). 

  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury
  • An enchanting production merging circus and sculpture is coming to Salisbury