Well I fell in the sacred waters,
I started to forget about the upper world
I emerged from a solar eclipse, in the arms of a warm night
A night like a whisper
A night like a secret
(Sitting Bull, Creation)
The matralab team has built a performance space surrounding the concept of our first home; the womb. An immersive, multi-sensory theatre piece, our goal in this black box space was to create a place where our audience members could have a simulated experience of the home that lives beneath the skin. The one we all originate from. Inspired by sacred indigenous concepts of home we revisited the words of Sitting Bull as he recalls his time inside his mother’s belly. We dwelt on the subject of beginnings, before time, before identity, on the connection between the universe and the womb, the stars and Mother Earth. We hum “When I fell into the sacred waters, I started to forget about the upper world”. We wake up and breathe through you, with you.
We gratefully acknowledge Kelly Daniels for his song Morning Looks Beautiful, as well as Christian Laveau for the Moon Song we perform live. Thank you to Mary-Lou Lolly and Rita Madam for the pre-recorded interview and for keeping the Carrier language alive.
CREDITS
Performers: Camille Banville, Emma Lee Iversen, Sara Jarvie-Clark, Jade Legault, Arianna M., Aidan Thorne
Director/Creator: Emilie Monnet
Design: Mariko Miyaimartin
Sound: Camille Bergon, Elizabeth Millar
Tech Assistants: Joe Browne, Jen Reimer (Matralab)
A note on the Womb documentation:
This piece focused mainly on auditory elements and was performed in near darkness, with live and recorded sounds. A speaker system was installed under the audience seating to enhance vibratory reception. This is why we are presenting an audio recording rather than a video on this website. Also note that all photos have been taken during rehearsals using additional lighting.
