The Fourth Wall
What truly defines a performance?
At its core, it’s the dynamic between the observer and the performer, and essentially, anything can become a stage. In this context, the city itself becomes a stage, performing with its urban fabric. Mayfield is a city rich in drama and theatrical potential, using its existing infrastructure as a unique stage.
Act I of the project begins by reactivating a desolate site, repurposing the concrete plinth left from Tyrone’s Junkyard as a stage and promenade. This initiates a transformation, integrating an overlooked area into the fabric of the city.
Act II sees the concept evolve into a traveling theatre. Mobile installations are scattered around the city, encouraging people to follow them and creating an improvised procession that draws more participants into Mayfield’s urban stage.
But in a city with limitless opportunities such as Manchester, how do you create meaningful connections with others? As the scheme progresses into Act III, it becomes a residency for theatrical artists, where they can share resources and experiences to create performances for the city.
Inspired by Pina Bausch’s Tanztheatre, which prioritizes experience over narrative, the artist residency nurtures intimacy among citizens through observation. The project unveils the backstage through transparency and strategic placement, allowing the public to see behind the scenes first. During the day, the public can observe the artists’ daily lives through stage arches or other vantage points. This creates a non-physical intimacy, exposing the process and effort behind the art, cultivating a deeper appreciation. When people witness the effort poured into art, they learn to value it more.
By integrating performance into the urban landscape, Mayfield transforms into a living theatre, where every corner of the city can tell a story and every citizen can become part of the performance.
