Waiting. It might not be when we feel our most comfortable, and it might not be the usual inspiration for performance art.
But waiting is exactly what the Capitol Commission 2024, The Waiting Room, delivered to an enthralled and slightly anxious audience at The Capitol.
The Waiting Room coincided with The Capitol's 100th birthday celebration and was part Ted Talk and part evangelical zealotry, featuring expanded theatrical experiences recreating archetypal cinematic motifs, drenched in epic surround sound.
The work was designed by RMIT Senior Lecturer, School of Art, Martine Corompt, alongside RMIT alum and The Guardian Australia audio journalist, Camilla Hannan, as a means to explore their research in across modes.
Corompt said the project was a unique opportunity to explore and execute her research practice and expand on years of collaborative projects with Hannan.
"This was an amazing chance to work on an impressive scale - with the support of an expert team and a spectacular venue, we have been able to dream up something big," Corompt said.
"We wanted to ask: what if the cinema is just a big waiting room - an elaborate distraction to occupy us until the 'real thing' happens. And if that's the case, what is it that we are really waiting for?"
The work was performed by Todd Levi, with a score performed liveby the Overtone Ensemble. RMIT students from multiple disciplines developed and filmed choreographed sequences, which were woven through the show.
Cinematography was coordinated by RMIT's Bronek Kozka, lighting was specially designed for The Capitol's bespoke roof lighting system by RMIT's Rob Curulli, and a house band and musical accompaniment was led by RMIT's Tim Catlin.
The Waiting Room was developed through the ACMI + RMIT 'Audience Lab' and supported by the City of Melbourne. It has been commissioned for full development as part of RMIT's Capitol Innovation Fund.
"It's exciting to see the evolution of Corompt and Hannan's collaboration for The Waiting Room," RMIT Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships, Belinda Anson said.
"The concept was first tested on audiences in 2021, as part of the ACMI + RMIT 'Audience Lab' program.
"Through 'Audience Lab', these artists were able to explore both reactions to and engagement with new participatory roles that audiences and new technologies might play, within a theatrical setting.
"RMIT's partnership with ACMI, as Major Research Partner, is about supporting the critical requirement for creative practitioners to gain access to platforms, spaces, and feedback to be able to experiment, test, develop and play. We all benefit from the opportunity."
The Capitol Innovation Fund enables an applied, practice-based approach through creative initiatives at The Capitol. The fund offers an annual opportunity for the development of a creative initiative with the aim of supporting innovative art, design, research, and learning.
The fund, and the restoration of The Capitol, have been made possible through the support of individual donors who have been instrumental in realising the potential of this beautiful venue, now under RMIT's custodianship.
RMIT thanks the generous donors, whose support makes this work possible.
To see a gallery of photos from the performance, please click HERE.
