Double Bill: HOVER / I, Honeypot

Join us for a special double-bill performance of two work in progress performances, presented in partnership with SURGE.

HOVER

HOVER is a duet between human performance artist Althea Young and remote operated
drone DJI Mini Pro 3. Intersecting choreography, physical theatre and film, HOVER uses
technology as ‘puppet’ in an attempt to explore the dynamics of camera surveillance, Silicon Valley capitalism and the modern applications of flying technologies. On stage the human and drone continuously watch each other, performing a series of experiments and choreographies.

Born in 1998 in San Francisco CA., the city home to the tech boom which spread
world-wide throughout the 90’s and 2000’s, artist Althea Young brings an immediate
lived history of the capitalist and cultural explosions which have led to our current,
global relationship to technologies such as drones. HOVER has been devised in the
wake of news that in 2023 Amazon’s parcel drone service has delivered its first
parcel in the UK, calling into question the sanctity of privacy, as well as the safety of
the human workforce. On stage the performer and the DJI Mini Pro 3 are both seemingly autonomous, but with an operator hidden in the wings, can we be sure that the drone or the human are truly independent beings?

Note for Audiences – This piece of work was born out of a desire to focus on the relationship between technology and people, and the questions drones conjure around ideas of surveillance and control through technology. We are, however, aware that large drones are also used in warfare to surveil and as a weapon (to devastating effect). We want to acknowledge that the image of the drone in this work inherently connects it to these themes and state that we as creators stand firmly against genocide, and in grief for its victims.

I, Honeypot

I, Honeypot is inspired by the lived experiences and intersectional identities held by lead artist and creative director Nikhita Devi. Born in India and raised in Scotland, they are a queer, femme, neurodivergent, non-binary dance and movement artist based in Edinburgh.  
 
In this piece Nikhita explores the tension between their Indian cultural heritage and Scottish upbringing, as well as their belonging to various intersecting marginalised communities, using a diverse range of movement forms such as Odissi (a form of Indian Classical dance) burlesque, clown and physical theatre to create work that is personal, visceral and meaningful. The piece expresses the universal human search for identity, community and meaning while battling the deep-rooted programming that dictates our self-expression, and is their debut full length solo professional work. 

This work is presented by Shalmali Shetty.

Biography

Althea Young (she/they)

Lead artist Althea Young is a performance maker, focussed on devising strange and atmospheric worlds, often using non-human ‘performers’ to explore ideas of humanness. Their work has been described in the Fjord Review as ‘lyrical, caustic and rather touching’ (Lorna Irvine, 2023) and in A Journal of the Performing Arts as ‘excellent and affecting’ (Dr. Sarah Hopfinger, 2021). They graduated with a First Degree from The RCS, winning the Avrom Greenbaum Player’s Award for Direction and a position on the Scotland+Venice PDP. They have since created Cumbernauld Theatre’s show Life of the Party and were the most recent Present Futures Associate Artist.

Nikhita Devi (they/them)

Nikhita’s practice is deeply rooted in their Indian heritage, based primarily on Indian classical dance, but also draws heavily from bellydance (or raqs sharqi) and burlesque. It is also influenced by their studies of martial arts and the spiritual practices of yoga and tantra. Their dance allows them to express themselves and helps them connect physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with themselves, their audience and their community. They hope that infusing the movement vocabulary of classical dance styles with the sensuality and earthiness of bellydance and burlesque will help to inspire and liberate femmes, the LGBTQ community and the South Asian community at home and abroad.

They investigate questions of identity, sexuality, heritage and freedom of expression through their work and are currently in a process of research and development for a full length solo show they hope to put on stage for public audiences in 2024. As well as physical dance they also engage in academic research to enhance their knowledge and bring understanding and respect to what they do and contextualise their work.

Credits

HOVER

Lead Artist / Performer  Althea Young

Drone operator / Collaborator  Sam Cogdon

I, Honeypot

Lead artist/ Performer Nikhita Devi,

Produced by Shalmali Shetty

Partners and Funders

I, Honeypot is supported by Creative Scotland, The Work Room, Surge, Kala Sangam, Jaivant Patel Company and Citymoves.