PERFORMANCE: BROMANCE

Co-commissioned by Melbourne’s Next Wave Festival, dance company Lucy Guerin Inc., and Performance Space, Bromance is an exploration of a seemingly simple concept; the intimate companionship shared between two men. Is it mateship? Or more? One of its creators, Alisdair Mcindoe, shares his thoughts …

For those who haven’t heard of the term, what does ‘Bromance’ mean?
The term was first coined in the 90s by a writer for a skate magazine trying to describe the intimate relationships of male skaters who spend a lot of time together. If you break it up it’s a combination of brother and romance. So I guess by definition it is an intimate platonic male relationship.

Why did you think Bromance was an important story to tell?
Recently I have been coming to terms with the impending reality that I’m becoming a man. It’s pretty daunting. There is this sense as a boy that all the men around you are holding the secret to manhood waiting to pass it down to you, yet when the time comes it seems to be more of a personal internal journey. I guess part of this journey is thinking about all the lessons you have learnt about manhood, and a lot of them, in my case, happen to be lessons from other men. Sometimes observations, sometimes interactions.

There are still complex social reactions to intimate male relationships. Why do you think that is?
Well because male intimacy is a complex issue. There is a lot to answer for and a lot more to understand.

How have you explored this theme through choreography?
The work is really just about us (Adam Synnott and myself), we are both younger brothers and have delved into those experiences as a way to reflect on what becoming a man means and what love between men is. Choreographically the work draws from our influences and experiences … naturally!

You guys also do all your own sound and lighting. Can you tell us a little more about that?
Creating the design together has been the perfect nerd platform for our own bromantic relationship to blossom, after eight hours in the dance studio some nights we’ll be up until the wee hours designing for a choreographic idea. Adam and I know the difference between a, “Cup of tea?” look and a, “Is there any more choclate left?” look! More seriously though we chose to do the design for two reasons: firstly the theme of the work is so close to our hearts that it seemed appropriate to totally delve into the work from all perspectives. Secondly it enables us to build the piece with a design vision from early on. We were playing with lighting, video effects, wireless sensor technology and sound from the get go.

Jun 2-5, Performance Space, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, $20-30, 1300 723 038, performancespace.com.au