'Handle with Care' was created by Laurie Bayley-Higgins and me in 2021. The piece blends film with live performance to tell the story of people searching for intimate connections in a digital world. We map some of the difficulties people face trying to find each other, exploring how challenging it can be to express vulnerability in a society driven by image.
Laurie and I designed the piece to be open to interpretation. We wanted to invite our audience in as co-authors, encouraging them to fill in the gaps between our episodic narrative and abstract imagery. Our visible stage management welcomes the audience into the theatrical process; the dating profiles are different each time and the app is scrolled through live on stage.
'Handle with Care' is about creating an imaginative space for people to reflect on the digitalisation of our lives and relationships.
To learn some more about our intentions behind the show, take a look at our performance manual.
