Who says an octogenarian shouldn’t be working with scaffold boards, stepladders, electronics… and water?
Eden Court Connect member Robbie Synge tells us more about These Mechanisms, his upcoming physical theatre production co-created with performer Christine Thynne.
![](https://d1k3q0ugxih2r.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/386337/TheseMechanismsby-Christine-Thynne-Robbie-Synge.-Image-Amy-Sinead-Photography-2_f7d24497a43d8b641b7dfb62517060d6.jpg)
I’m very excited to be returning to Eden Court next week with co-creator Christine Thynne, plus a number of collaborators, for our final week of production on a new stage performance called These Mechanisms. We'll be staging a preview performance at Eden Court on Sat 27 Jul before a short run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (2 - 4 Aug). It's all very new, so we warmly welcome support from local audiences.
Christine performs solo in These Mechanisms. Having been friends and collaborators for over a decade, Christine wondered if she might make a dance performance in her 80th year. Thanks to a great team and support from Creative Scotland, Luminate (Scotland’s creative ageing organisation), Citymoves, Dance Base and Eden Court, here we are!
We’re looking forward to pulling together performance elements with lighting and sound in the OneTouch Theatre. For audiences, it’ll be clear that the production elements are tightly woven together, with Christine taking control of creating atmospheres and mechanical-choreographic actions through manipulating sound and objects. Who says an octogenarian shouldn’t be working with scaffold boards, stepladders, electronics… and water?
Open an image gallery
![](https://d1k3q0ugxih2r.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/386349/TheseMechanismsby-Christine-Thynne-Robbie-Synge.-Image-Amy-Sinead-Photography-12_d718a8182055d984ae9760ddf8cec4fb.jpg)
![](https://d1k3q0ugxih2r.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/386343/TheseMechanismsby-Christine-Thynne-Robbie-Synge.-Image-Amy-Sinead-Photography-8_d718a8182055d984ae9760ddf8cec4fb.jpg)
![](https://d1k3q0ugxih2r.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/386329/TheseMechanismsby-Christine-Thynne-Robbie-Synge.-Image-Amy-Sinead-Photography-18_d718a8182055d984ae9760ddf8cec4fb.jpg)
![](https://d1k3q0ugxih2r.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/386347/TheseMechanismsby-Christine-Thynne-Robbie-Synge.-Image-Amy-Sinead-Photography-11_d718a8182055d984ae9760ddf8cec4fb.jpg)
This performance isn’t about - or attempting to say - anything. It resists autobiography and tells no stories. However, aspects of Christine’s interests and lifestyle have fuelled the directions alongside my consistent practice with tactile, extended choreographies through materials. It’s been a joyous process throughout, which is reflected in the performance - and so is Christine’s adventurous spirit, desire to challenge herself, show skills, take risks and to surprise and entertain. Ultimately, we are speaking to ideas around effort, ambition and commitment. Just keeping going.
With family commitments and the consistent pull away from home, it’s wonderful to be working locally on what is quite an experimental performance production. So, a big thanks to everyone at Eden Court for having us.
We’d love to see you next week and hear how the performance lands with you!
This blog was written by: