Theatre Group Gumbo

Lighting Designs

 

In 2007 during the Adelaide Fringe I met Theatre Group Gumbo from Japan. They were performing a piece called Sakura Sayer at Holden Street Theatres. It was an amazing experience. Since then I have become their Lighting Designer & Operator of choice. Although their shows follow a script there is a lot of improvisation and the mood alters depending on the audience reaction. It is impossible to completely plot one of their shows and just sit and press 'go'. You have to busk the lighting and, in effect, the lighting becomes another actor, a vital part of their work. It's a real thrill, always a challenge and I have had a lot fun working with them in this way to date.

Below are some pictures taken during different performances which show my LD. At some venues I have had to rely on my icolour4's and few fresnels on stands. At others there has been a standard rig in place. It's always different, and I constantly have to be 'on my toes'. Exciting!

Sakura Sayer, Holden Street Theatres, Adelaide Fringe Festival 2007

This was the first time I met them and I had no idea what they would be like. I had to light from a Festival rig. All I managed to get for them extra was 1 special and a red wash.

Nono as Medicine Girl

Kayo as Ura the Robot.

Charlie and Kayo

The only special I could get.

 

Mind Eater, Higher Ground Arts Base, Adelaide Fringe, February 2008

This was an interesting experience. The performance space was a cellar with an 8 foot ceiling. I had 8 Par Cans, 1 Profile and a small 4 lamp batten for back light. I managed a 4 colour wash and put in a couple of disco lights for special effects. The disco lights don't show up in any of the pictures.

I actually think I do my best work for them when I have the least facilities.

Eichan

Kayo as the first woman.

Contrasting Back and Front Light colours.

Nono as second woman.

JP, Holden Street Theatres, Adelaide Fringe Festival 2009

We performed JP in Melbourne at "The Glasshouse" in October 2008 as well but I don't have any pictures.

2009 we were back at Holden Street although I was not the resident Tech.

Yuko as the Queen of the Forest with her attendant spirits.

Kayo and Eichan as "Man and Woman."

Charlie Nishi and Papa as Spirits 1, 2 and 7.

JP, Natimuk Frinj, October 2009

In October 2009 Gumbo went to Natimuk Frinj to present a film "Intersection of Two Worlds" that they had made as a salute to a close friend artist Anthony Pelchen. While there they couldn't resist performing. Jo and I drove across from Adelaide to join them and took some lights with us. I basically lit the show with two profiles, 2 icolor 4's and 2 fresnels.

We all had a great weekend and one of the highlights was breakfast on the Sunday morning. We caused quite a stir with the guys in Japanese dress.

Breakfast in Natimuk, 2009

Nishi, Tony, Kayo & Jo

 

 

JP in Natimuk

2009

Nono & Yuko

Spirit & Queen of the Forest of Love

 

 

 

JP in Natimuk

2009

Charlie, Nishi & Nono

as The Spirits

 

 

 

I am hoping to get some pictures from the two trips I made to Singapore with them in 2010, January and September. They performed JP again in January and a stage version of "Intersection of Two Worlds" in September.

Unfortunately I could not be with them in November when they performed their Macbeth 2010 at the Kyoto Shakespeare Festival but I was overjoyed to hear that they won the audience's favourite award.

I look forward to my next opportunity to work with Gumbo.