Tacita Dean: Event for a Stage

Tacita Dean, with actor Stephen Dillane (The Hours, Game of Thrones), presented a live theatrical happening performed over four nights at the 2014 Sydney Biennial, two 16mm cameras rolling on each occasion. Dillane changed elements of his appearance each night and, snatching pages from Dean who was sitting in the front row, recited Shakespeare, popular texts and personal stories, whilst also announcing adjustments in the camera set-ups and the changing of reels. Dean has returned to this tense scenario and cut into the material according to the systemic logic that emerged over the course of the serialised performance, inscribing changes in time and space, illustrating or actualising a form of deep choreography. Saturday’s screening will be followed by a conversation with Tacita Dean.
William Fowler, 59th BFI London Film Festival