TANDY DANDY
BATS Theatre, Studio, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
16/11/2021 - 20/11/2021
Production Details
Leaving the house may feel like a strain. But did you consider looking down the drain?
This quirky physical theatre performance explores how a ‘TANDY-12’ (1980s handheld computerised game arcade) helps give someone the courage to face the outside world.
BATS Theatre, The Studio,* 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington
16 – 20 November 2021
6.00pm
“Pay What You Can” $5 – $25
The Difference $40
BOOK TICKETS
Accessibility
*Access to The Studio is via stairs, so please contact the BATS Box Office at least 24 hours in advance if you have accessibility requirements so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Read more about accessibility at BATS.
NOTE:
This piece was originally performed at Wellington Chocolate Factory as part of NZ Fringe 2020, with support from Creative New Zealand
Set & sound designer: Laura Gaudin
Operator: Hamish Gaudin
Theatre , Solo ,
25 mins
Bound to warm your heart
Review by Emilie Hope 16th Nov 2021
The Studio at BATS Theatre is a great space for something intimate. Laura Gaudin’s physical theatre piece TANDY DANDY is short (25 mins), sweet and intimate. We follow this faceless clown-like character as they live their life comfortably at home – they shower, have breakfast and do the dishes. Life seems normal, except for the fact their hand quivers when they try to open the door to the outside world.
Life at home for our unnamed protagonist gets even better when they discover a TANDY-12 (a 1980s handheld computerised game arcade) down their shower drain. TANDY-12 and the protagonist are quickly inseparable, and music and dance (we only see the protagonist’s happy feet) bring new life into the their relatively normal life – until TANDY-12 makes its way outside…
Although this show was originally performed in the NZ Fringe Festival 2020, prior to the first COVID-19 lockdown, it feels as though it is absolutely meant for us to view now, where many people have a sense of dread and anxiety about the outside world. We empathise with this unnamed protagonist and instantly connect with their dilemma.
The set Laura Gaudin made is reminiscent of the kids’ television show High-5 – a few moving parts, many windows, flaps, and cupboards – giving us glimpses into the protagonist’s home and life, except it’s made of cardboard or paper. Within these windows, cardboard cut outs of the shower head and a running tap can be seen, in the style of felt animation – these elements are really enjoyable. The little windows also isolate certain body parts of the protagonist, mostly the feet and hands, which are extremely expressive. Moving the set pieces is not as smooth as it could be but I’m confident this is just part of opening night jitters.
The show is appropriate for all ages, as confirmed by the 2-ish year-old behind me who exclaims they want to see it again after the show finishes. TANDY DANDY feels like an unusual yet excellent mix of Disney’s Wall-E, 80s synthetiser and felt animation that is bound to warm your heart.
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