Absurdist show a homecoming

BALLARAT-raised actor and comedian Jasper Foley is set to launch an original multi-medium stage show in the region this weekend.

After three years of work, he’ll debut his Up Up Up Up Up production at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts on Sunday afternoon for one local performance only.

For Foley, who’s lived in Europe for the past five years, he said the show mirrors a kind of homecoming for him.

“Not unlike the creature in the show, I’m kind of landing back home finally after this long journey,” he said.

“Before going to France, I had the idea I’d go to this school for a year and come back here to perform a show. The wonderful thing about
coming back here is the support I don’t have in other places.

“I was inspired by the idea that the clown is born and dies on stage. That absurd situation of the stage to me was like the absurd situation of a human being suddenly coming into existence.”

Up Up Up Up Up was produced following Foley, and director and co-producer Toph Enany meeting in Italy in 2021 while participating in a month-long commedia dell’arte mask workshop.

“It’s part theatre, part clown comedy, part acrobatic show, and part choral concert,” Enany said.

“The big difference between a devised show and a play script, we’re writing in the room so we’re writing in the room, testing and trying things in the room in front of the audience.

“For the show we have a 3.5 metre ladder. We have a 2.1 metre egg and we worked with local Australian artists to develop these items and they kind of gave us an extra impulse.”

Funded through City of Ballarat and Regional Arts Victoria, the production crew have spent the last month rehearsing at Ballarat Grammar School, where they’ve also presented workshops and other opportunities to students.

The Ballarat show is being put on with tech assistance from two Ballarat Grammar students as well as the creations of four local artists.

Foley will be joined for the local show by Melbourne-based Georgian polyphonic choral group Tsinskaro providing an original soundtrack.

Up Up Up Up Up has been in his mind ever since he discovered the singing style.

“What I really liked about the music is when one voice rings out it can sound weird and kind of bad,” Foley said.

“The sounds are to reach each other from across these 5000-plus-metre peaks. It would make me laugh but then when two other voices come in, these really powerful harmonies just hit you.

“I’d go from laughing to being really close to tears.”

Following the local show, the pair hope to stage the production at the Georgian Caucasus Mountains that inspired the piece before bringing it to Australian festivals.

Tickets range from $25 to $38 and can be booked at bit.ly/3Uq3P3T