An acclaimed audio-based art installation exploring an artist’s experience of falling critically ill with a rare brain infection, followed by her journey of rehabilitation with an acquired brain injury, will premiere in the North West later this month at Liverpool’s 17 Love Lane arts venue.
In 2008, playwright Shannon Yee fell ill with a life-threatening brain infection requiring intensive surgery and a lengthy recovery process.
Reassembled, Slightly Askew allows audience members to experience the different stages Shannon went through; from descending into a coma, the surgery and during her recovery back into society with a hidden disability.
The artist explains: “Set in a make-shift clinical environment, the audience wear eye masks and headphones to listen to the audio, whilst lying on a hospital bed.”
By using special audio (binaural) technology listeners feel they are inside Shannon’s head.
“It’s like listening in three-dimension – people describe it as if they are experiencing the world from under water.”
Michael Broadway, a committee member at local brain injury Headway Liverpool, praised the play for raising awareness of brain injury and has since been working with Shannon and the director to bring the play to the North West.
Michael said: “We are very proud to be supporting Reassembled, Slightly Askew. At the performances, representatives of Headway Liverpool will be on hand to provide information and signposting to services for anyone affected by and living with a head injury.”
The installation, which gained highly acclaimed reviews during its time in Belfast and then London (as part of A Nation’s Theatre festival at London’s BAC), and most recently Dublin (as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival,) opens in Liverpool 24th January until 28th January at 17 Love Lane, Liverpool.
There are three performances each day limited to four people, 11am, 2pm and 5.30pm.
Tickets, priced at £7, are available from www.nolabelarts.org.uk