Sometimes I feel like a machine. I forget I was made to touch skin, to feel heat, breath, to have someone’s smile pressed into my neck. I wasn’t made to click. .But with you I click. We. Click. Like a clique, a trio, a Ménage à Trois.
In a private chamber, a lonely woman begins to craft the perfect man out of the only thing she knows - her crutches. Read more …
A hauntingly beautiful study of love, obsession, loneliness and manipulation, Ménage à Trois is a visually stunning piece of dance theatre from award-winning performer Claire Cunningham and choreographer/video artist Gail Sneddon. Set within an extraordinary, animated environment, it envelops the performers in a surreal, imaginary world.
This darkly humorous and deeply personal portrait explores Claire's twenty-year relationship with her crutches and asks if it's possible to find love when there are already three of you in the relationship.
Ménage à Trois is created in partnership with National Theatre of Scotland and has been commissioned by the Unlimited programme, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Unlimited encourages collaborations and partnerships between disability arts organisations, disabled and deaf artists, producers and mainstream organisations to celebrate the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to create original and exciting works. Twenty-nine Unlimited Commissions have been awarded.
Beautifully depicted and visually arresting, Cunningham voices the feelings of many people with obvious disabilities – a sense of isolation, a need to be desired and to connect.
It is a greatly moving and poetic work played with touching vulnerability that reminds us that we all need someone to lean on.
There's humour – Cunningham has a flair for comedy noir – but what lingers is the optimism that transcends the fanciful wish lists. Crutches and all, she's ready to click.
Menage a Trois is coming to Eden Court Theatre this September
Multi-disciplinary Menage A Trois comes to Glasgow end of August 2012
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Tuesday September 11, 2012. More info: www.eden-court.co.uk
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from Wednesday September 19, 2012. More info: www.traverse.co.uk
Tramway, Glasgow from Friday August 24, 2012, until Saturday August 25, 2012. More info: www.tramway.org