Wide shot of Birmingham Town Hall, the musicians seated in a large circle around the room, creating a centre stage for the aerial artists. One girl suspended upside down in a red hoop, another man perches with his legs high, sat in another red hoop. A second girl is flowing down a rope, also suspended from the ceiling

Extraordinary Bodies and Paraorchestra mesmerise audiences in Birmingham

On 27th February Extraordinary Bodies once again joined forces with The British Paraorchestra, to collaborate on a completely unique and mesmerising performance of Terry Riley’s In C, at Birmingham’s Town Hall. 

Claire Hodgson, Co-Artistic Director of Extraordinary Bodies shared her thoughts on the evening:

“It was a magical night in Birmingham town hall . It was fully immersive as the audience was inches from the orchestra and circus performers and could wander around freely choosing how to experience this hypnotic beautiful music .
Extraordinary Bodies artists flew above their heads and mingled amongst them. It was a sensory feast and many audience members held balloons to experience the vibrations of the piece and listened to a live audio description through headsets .
Both Paraorchestra and Extraordinary Bodies are living the idea that orchestras and circus can be democratic forms and reimagining what these art forms can be.”

“The sounds & space were mesmerising with performers & audience completely immersed and connected.”

@jojump_jo

“Absolutely stunning performance @THSHBirmingham last night! All sounds , all movements shared equally and it was BEAUTIFUL #inclusive#birmingham#InC#art#minimalism“

@StephSenseArt

“What an absolute privilege to Stage Manager and witness the wonders of @Paraorchestra and @Ex_Bodies with their show ‘Terry Riley in C’ last night at @THSHBirmingham“

@Ellen_Booth?
©Ellen Booth

Scroll below to see a series of photographs of the performance, and a Twitter moment, capturing rehearsals, live shots and feedback from the evening.

  • The British Paraorchestra musicians, playing at Birmingham Town Hall. The lighting is dark and moody. A soft spotlight illuminates musicians playing violins and a clarinet.
  • Dave Young moves across the stage in his walker, a girl crouches on the floor in front of him. Another girl sits at the bottom of the silks to their left. The corner of the stage is illuminated with pink light.
  • A man playing the clarinet walks across the central stage space, silks illuminated in bright blue light behind him. Another man moves around him to the rhythm with arms outstretched.
  • Artists create a spectacle in the centre of the large town hall, as the silks billow into large sails, illuminated by bright blue light. Musicians of the Paraorchestra surround them in a large circle.
  • An aerialist is suspended from a trapeze from her legs, the large ceiling of Birmingham Town Hall towers up above. She holds a man by the strength of his arms, dangling above the musicians.
  • Two female aerialists suspended from silks in the centre of the floor stage. Their arms outreached and hands touch.
  • An audience member is seated, cross legged, holding a small inflated balloon. They wear headphones and curl up over the balloon to feel the reverberations from the live music. A beautiful way to experience a live performance.
  • Three artists are intertwined with arms and hands, illuminated by a soft red light. They appear to be bouncing or moving gently to a pulse or beat of the music.
  • Wide shot of Birmingham Town Hall, the musicians seated in a large circle around the room, creating a centre stage for the aerial artists. One girl suspended upside down in a red hoop, another man perches with his legs high, sat in another red hoop. A second girl is flowing down a rope, also suspended from the ceiling
Images ©Kate Green Photography