In solidarity to all communities left behind by the conservative’s response to Covid-19

‘It’s really dense - laden with thoughts, imagery, challenge, theatricality – all beautifully made.’ – {Audience Member}

After so long without live theatre and art, we still couldn't gather to experience culture together. The virtual landscape continues to explode with more and more content. With support from Turner Contemporary, we set out on a journey to imagine and create a digital work that explore ways to connect over the virtual noise.

“ONE humble hour of exercise each day is essential. For Hugh, escaping the constant myriad of disinformation, cancellations and battles for care is becoming impossible. Loneliness, anxiety, the mundane repetitiveness of video calls, conflicting rules, mounting trauma – all this has jumbled his tired, restless brain. The reality of being a disabled artist is hitting home. Unable to be in the company of others creates a mind-numbing strain on Hugh’s imagination.

REAL, DREAM AND IMAGINED WORLDS begin to blur until the only thing that makes sense is nonsense. Hugh desperately searches for ways to reconnect above the virtual noise. Even with a perceived abundance of time, is it too late to escape?”

Creating original narrative and content is not only technically challenging in these times but the isolation, broken only by the 'Zoom box', results in ideas that have not necessarily gone through our usual colourful and creative devising processes. During this process, content will have been driven by staring at an editing screen rather than the magic created by organic improv driven by the atmosphere of the creative team in a space together. Additionally, the stress and strains we have all felt by an unstable political landscape and restrictions that push our ability to be creative to the limits, Still Suspended reflects the dark, raw, lonely and intense experiences felt by communities in an unapologetic fashion.

Read our reflective blog on the creative process here: https://hughmalyon.live/blog/-and-were-live-ish

Creative Team – Hugh Malyon, Steve Sowden, Jennifer Noice

Creative Producer – Nathalie Palin

Dramaturgical support – Sam Parker

Special thanks –  Becky Ilk, Sophie Amos, Sally Claire, Gareth Wolf, Hamish Fletcher-Cooney

Still Suspended is part of a new series of digital artworks from Turner Contemporary, commissioned in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

This piece was commissioned by:

It would be fantastic to hear from any and all of you, sharing your thoughts, emotions and questions brought up by Still Suspended. Please do comment on our Facebook and Twitter accounts @ymmv2021 or email hughmalyon@hotmail.com