The performance is played in the half round within a circle of candles and is divided into 9 sections.
SHORES - Accompanied by a narrative poem, 4 performers, 3 of them in neutral masks, enter the performance space. Led by the shaman they move and dance through a ritual of arrival, lighting of candles and preparation of the space.
WAVES - The performers are stripped of their masks by the shaman and take on roles of patient, nurses and doctor. They dance slowly through a sequence of dreams, delirium and medical procedures.
HOSPITAL MARCH - The patient is wheeled at high speed from place to place. He tries to escape. He is restrained and sedated by the doctor and nurses.
TV & FOOD - While a comatose patient watches images of war and chaos on the TV the nurses and doctor prepare food and drugs some of which are fed to the patient and some of which they feed to each other. He is visited by friends and relatives and is washed by the nurses.
REFUGEES - The images from the TV and the patient's fevered consciousness collide to create tableaux and dances of oppression, suffering, flight and war that move throughout the performance space and into the audience.
BOAT - The cast huddle together on the bed that becomes a boat floating on an endless ocean that carries them towards the inevitable surgical procedures and operation.
SUPREME - The patient escapes from preparations for surgery and, with the rest of the cast enthusiastically joining him, enters a wild celebration of life, love, sex and just plain partying as the hour of his death approaches. Worn out, he collapses on the bed.
SURGERY - Slowly and ritualistically the patient is prepared for surgery. As his body is operated on his spirit dances with the aerial forms of the nurses and the shaman/doctor.
AWAKE - The patient is revived by the shaman. The candles are put out and the space is cleared. The performers leave as the shaman blows out the last candle.
Past productions of Waving not Drowning have been funded by the Arts Council, North Tyneside Council, The Hospital of God at Greatham and The Tyne & Wear Foundation.
