Sex change, botox, pickle and jam: Plastic is 30 Bird's first site specific work in collaboration with the architectural practice public works, Virgule Performing Arts from Iran and the film maker Meika Dresenkamp from Germany.

 

Plastic is inspired by the fact that Iran is the world capital for sex change operation, officially sanctioned by the Islamic government. Plastic brought together performance, contemporary dance, film, architecture and installation art in different sites and locations around the country.

 

The piece was nominated for a Total Theatre Award in Edinburgh 2008 in Experimentation and Innovation and was selected amongst the top four shows in Edinburgh by The Guardian.

 

Plastic toured extensively, morphing in response to the place inhabited and changing shape again and again.

 

The production was originally supported by Escalator East to Edinburgh and created in association with The Pleasance and the Iran Heritage Foundation and in collaboration with Virgule Performing Arts, Tehran.

 

More videos here

 

Written and Directed by Mehrdad Seyf

 

 

PLASTIC TOUR:

 

The Undergrand, Edinburgh 2008

Costume Design: Leslie Travers

Spatial Design: Torange Khonsari (Public Works)

Lighting Design: Guy Kornetzki (Elektra Lighting Ltd)

Video Artist: Meika Dresenkamp

Film: Stuart Condy

Composition: Squint/Opera/Music

Cast: Ali Amadi, Yasmin Bodalbhai, Gemma Donohue, Sara Reyhani

Funded by: Arts Council England, Escalator East to Edinburgh and Iran Heritage Foundation.
Supported by: The Pleasance, Edinburgh.

 

Village green, Southend 2009

Plastic alighted in the Village Green's film tent as a film installation for one hour on the 26 September 2009. Hundreds of people literally invaded the installation, interacting with the scaffolding structure, talking to the lone performer or just sitting down and watching the film of the Edinburgh version on the main screen. Meika Dresenkamp's video was projected onto the structure, with the projector placed on two jars of pickled onions. This was Plastic's first transformation from its initial performance in Edinburgh.

Live performer: Yasmin Bodelbhai

Funded by Arts Council England. Supported by METAL Southend

 

Victoria Bath, Manchester 2009

Plastic was performed at Victoria Baths from 22 until 24 October.

Performers: Katryn Jackson, Donald Slack, Pepa Ubera, Elif Yesil.

Voices of: Betsabeh Emran, Marzieh Mashkoori, Ali Amadi, Gemma Donohue, Yasmin Bodalbhai.

Funded by Arts Council England and Iran Heritage Foundation. Supported by Contact Theatre and Victoria Baths

 

The Whitechapel gift shop 2010

Performers: Katryn Jackson, Donald Slack, Pepa Ubera, Elif Yesil

Voices of: Betsabeh Emran, Marzieh Mashkoori, Ali Amadi, Gemma Donohue, Yasmin Bodalbhai

Funded by Arts Council England and Iran Heritage Foundation

 

Plastic