Access – NZSL Interpreted performance

Winner of the prestigious New Zealand Fringe Touring Award, performance artist Hamish Annan will be presenting Access at the NZ Fringe Festival for four unique performances: Wednesday 22 –Saturday 25 February, 7pm at Te Auaha Gallery.

Access by Hamish Annan is an interactive performance exploring human connection, emotional vulnerability and communal empathy.

“Watched by an audience, Access is an open invitation to connect one-on-one with me,” says Hamish.

“Individual participants choose the emotional dynamic they want to experience before taking a seat opposite and embarking on a wordless emotional conversation.”

“It was powerful to surrender to the emotions that are so natural in us – a reminder of what it means to be human in its purest form.”- Andrew Tui, Depot Artspace

Hamish uses his own body to explore and perform the complexities of aggression, lust, grief, happiness, fear, and disgust.

“It’s a provocative performance. Each connection feels visceral, sometimes confronting, very alive, even playful too, no two experiences are the same for me or the audience” explains Hamish.

“The audience… is pulled in and made part of the experience… each state becomes more than witnessing, it is a communal construction, an experiment in triggering the empathetic responses of a group… such a moving and curious piece” – Irene Corbett, Theatrescenes.

As a gay artist, Hamish initially developed this work in response to the traditional concept of masculinity and more broadly, the notion of a stoic, emotionally restrained ‘Kiwi’ psyche. Developed over the course of the pandemic, the performance has also become a counterpoint to the physical isolation felt by so many during this time.

“Our relationship to emotion is so central to our own sense of self. Access embraces expression, feeling, and challenges the rigid concepts we hold about what it means to ‘perform’ your identity.”

Using acting techniques that draw on the body’s physical response to emotion, Hamish’s emotional expression is genuine, but unlike “Method” acting techniques he does not draw on memory or personal history to access an emotional response. This technique has been critical for Hamish’s own emotional well-being and his overall energy levels.

“When an audience member sits down opposite me our interaction suddenly feels very intimate, but then this surprising relationship occurs with the audience watching as emotions ripple around the room. Suddenly everyone becomes part of the work.

This show seems to tap into some deeper human need for us to let ourselves be moved by our feelings. To be seen and connected with on a human level is such a valuable experience.”

The performance on Thursday 23 February will be NZ Sign Language interpreted and will include a Q&A session with the artist directly following the performance.

Tickets are priced from $18 – $22, with discounted prices for groups.

Tickets on sale from 15 December via www.fringe.co.nz