As part of Big Bang Seed Commission Scratch Night, artist Maya Williams will present Funeral Act II, a piece that takes a deep dive into the taboo topic of grief.
“Funeral Act II is a dance solo performance that walks the audience through the ‘gate of grief’, a ceremonial telling of the experience of sudden bereavement,” says Maya.
“It is the development of Funeral, a solo that I performed at Martin O’Brien’s and Future Ritual’s ‘DISCHARGE’ performance symposium in March this year”, they continue.
“The solo is partly an installation, made up of a stripper pole with a coffin at its base. It was commissioned after my participation in several workshops surrounding queer grief, death and art making, facilitated by Martin O’Brien and Future Ritual, called the Last Breath Society (L.B.S). After receiving a Seed Commission from Camden People’s Theatre, I began developing ‘Funeral Act II’, expanding upon the coffin and pole arrangement and re-focusing the solo from a narrative into a ritual. Where ‘Funeral’ was a performance art obituary to my Uncle, who passed away in January this year, ‘Funeral Act II’ references the passing of my Father in 2019 and considers the last five years since his death as a catalyst for profound grief, growth and engagement with life. The work is still currently in progress, and the sharing will be of an excerpt that I hope to continue to develop.”
Get your tickets to see Funeral Act II here. Header image by V MASON.