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.
PLASTIC TOUR:
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
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
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.
Performers: Katryn Jackson, Donald Slack, Pepa Ubera, Elif Yesil
Voices of: Betsabeh Emran, Marzieh Mashkoori, Ali Amadi, Gemma Donohue, Yasmin Bodalbhai