• theatre
  • features
  • faqs
  • contact
  • theatre
  • features
  • faqs
  • contact
  Art Murmurs - Wellington Reviews

Reviews

Only Bones v1.10

10/3/2023

Comments

 

Alia Marshall

Picture
Storytelling in the theatre is a constantly evolving beast. With so much new technology at our fingertips and the constant reminder that ‘everything’s been done’, artists are forced to figure out new ways of conveying their stories. This is how we get Only Bones v1.10. In this version, Daniel Nodder spends an hour relegated to a small circle, making us question whether or not they even have bones in a ‘galaxy spanning piece of physical theatre’.

​Only Bones
is a “minimalist physical theatre and sparse-video performance project” thought up by Thom Monckton and has had several subsequent ‘versions’ since, which is how we arrive at Only Bones v1.10. The rules are as follows: "only one light, no narrative, no set, no props, no text, and all within a limited amount of space" (Only Bones Project). Nodder has several collaborators helping to create v1.10, and it fulfils a massive goal of theirs to be able to collaborate with Monckton according to their marketing. 


Now, onto the bones themselves. Nodder is a seasoned theatre practitioner in Poneke, with a few shows already under their belt, but Only Bones v1.10 feels so much more special. We enter Te Auaha’s Tapere Iti space which is dimly lit with a single light hanging in the middle. The preshow music feels like a marriage between Christmas carols and ‘relaxing beats to chill and study to’, setting up an intimate atmosphere. When the show begins, the light switches on and Nodder begins by holding it, giving us glimpses of the light between their fingers as the music swells. Already we’re hooked. The simplicity of this one light is one of the best parts of the show, and Nodder’s creativity knows no bounds with it - hell, have you ever seen a lightbulb monster? 

Worlds and stories are created and quickly destroyed. The lack of narrative/dialogue means Nodder has to work extra hard to win us over, and they do. The rules for this piece could make for some pretty dry theatre, but you can see how much thought has gone into every movement, every sound, and every change in the light. We don’t need a narrative for this to be enjoyable, it just is. 

I want to give Ben Kelly a huge shoutout for the sound design. Between the moments of silence we get with Nodder, we’re treated to otherworldly electronic soundscapes that help usher us into this ‘microscopic universe’. 

The intimacy of Only Bones v1.10 adds so much to it. We’re treated to some of the funniest physical gags I’ve seen in a long time, and slivers of vulnerability when we see Nodder trying to overcome an obstacle or when he begins getting tired. I only wish there were a few more moments of intentional vulnerability. Nodder tells wonderful wordless stories, many of them leaving us in stitches, but I found myself craving a breakaway from that, a moment for the charm to slip into something else. The audience’s trust is already earned, we don’t mind a break from the sillies. 

I left this performance with a big goofy smile on my face. There’s so much joy in seeing someone fully commit to a concept, being bold enough to own the stage and the art they’ve made. Nodder’s bold physicality and the sheer amount of fun they're having up there is so lovely to watch, it reminds me that this is what making art is all about. This is physical theatre for the physical theatre hater, I promise it’ll change your mind. 

Only Bones v1.10 is on at Te Auaha in Tapere Iti until Saturday 11th March. 

A quick disclaimer: because of the insular nature of the arts community, we find ourselves reviewing shows involving our friends and artistic collaborators quite often, so there’s no one who can approach this show without some level of bias. Daniel Nodder and Ben Kelly are two very good friends of mine, alongside others who worked on the show, but I’ve done my best to provide a fair and accurate review.
Feel free to get in touch with the team via artmurmurswgtn@gmail.com if you have any feedback. 


​
Comments

    Local Honest Reviews

    At Art Murmurs, our aim is to provide honest and constructive art reviews to the Wellington community.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All
    All Age Appropriate
    Art
    BATS
    Beauty Standards
    Black Comedy
    Body Positive
    Circa
    Circus
    Comedy
    Comedy Festival 2018
    Comedy Festival 2019
    Comedy Gala 2022
    Community Theatre
    Dance
    Devised
    Documentary
    Drag
    Drama
    Emerging Artist
    Exhibition
    Experimental
    Female Artists
    Feminism
    Feminist
    Festival
    For Kids
    Fringe
    Fun
    Gallery
    Gryphon Theatre
    Hannah Playhouse
    Heart + Music
    History
    Improv
    Interactive
    International
    Interview
    Ivy
    Lighting
    Local
    Mental Health
    Monologue
    Music
    Musical
    New Writing
    New Zealand
    NZ Comedy
    NZ Fringe
    NZIF
    On Tour
    Performance Poetry
    Photography
    Photospace Gallery
    Physical Theatre
    Political
    Politics
    Premiere
    Pyramid Club
    Queer
    Race
    Roxy LIVE
    Science
    Scruffy Bunny Improv Theatre
    Sexual Violence
    Shakespeare
    Site Specific
    Site-specific
    Sketch
    Solo Show
    Song
    Spoken Word
    Stagecraft
    Storytelling
    Tahi Festival
    Te Auaha
    Theatre
    Thought Provoking
    Thought-provoking
    Thriller
    Toi Poneke Gallery
    Verbatim
    Victoria University
    Violence
    Virtual Theatre
    Weekly
    Wellington
    Wellington Footlights
    Wellington Repertory