Zeetijding, Performance
'Live samples/living monsters' is a multimedia program of theater, dance, visual art and film. The program ran for a one-week period as a fringe event to the Rotterdamse Schouwburg program, in various rooms of the building, while the main theater showed its regular program. 'Sea Tidings', a sound performance, was performed as part of the 'Live samples/living monsters' concept. In 'Sea Tidings' the movement of ships during an average night in the port of Rotterdam is reconstructed through the use of voices. The shipping reports are made audible throughout the entire building via an intercom, based on the spatial character of the 'Live samples/living monsters' program, and likewise on the informational character of the shipping reports. The material used in 'Sea Tidings' is a printout of the port authority's data for one evening, between the hours of 19.00 and 23.00. The data provides a minute by minute account of ships that enter or leave the port, as well as ships that move from one port to another. Also included were particulars such as name, nationality, name of port of departure/mooring, destination, cargo, dimensions etc. In the hall of the theatre, three small tables were placed with a lamp, a small clock, a small bell and a microphone. A person sits at each table who reads out the data from the file into the microphone. One person reads the data for the incoming ships, the other for the departing ships, and the third for the ships changing their mooring. The microphones are connected to the theatre's public address system. Starting at 19.00, the reports are read out at the exact time the data was logged in the original register. This means that there are intervals during which nothing is said for a space of 10 minutes, while at other times there may be three reports simultaneously. For each report, the reader switches on the lamp, rings the bell and then reads out the data. The total number of reports for the reconstructed night was 50.
year | 1999 |
location | Rotterdam City Theatre, Rotterdam NL |
brief description | data about in- and outgoing ships in the port of Rotterdam read aloud in De Rotterdamse Schouwburg |
performed by | Alma Brevé, Guus Vreeburg, Toine horvers |
curator | Angelika Oei and R.A. Verouden |
photography | Arthur Kleinjan |
video | thanks to Hans Verra for offering the data of the Port of Rotterdam |
project or event | 'Live Samples/levende monsters' |
technical | Rotterdam City Theatre |