No Former Performer Has Performed This Performance Before
Born in a Taxi forges new frontiers into long form performance improvisation. A live ‘study’ into performance, risk, improvisation, and audience-performer reciprocity. Edgy and immediate, intuitive and responsive.
Photographed by Darren Gill
“This particular sustained rigour, of creating and performing work together over many years, is unique, and it really shines…. the pure ambition of this commitment is both breathtaking and deeply reassuring. I mostly forget I am watching improvisation, it is polished and has a progression of structure that feels carefully thought out and planned...”
Improvised by Taxi’s two artistic directors and sound artist Michael Havir, No Former Performer’s process is guided by master improviser Andrew Morrish.
Our aspirations for this work are unorthodox. Sound, words and movement directly express the authentic impulses of three improvisers to create something entirely unpredictable. Instinct, the unconscious/associate mind and the body’s intelligence in performance-making, drive each piece, forged afresh each time.
Deeply personal, No Former Performer is presented once a year. Same name, same people, different age, different preoccupations till we die. Who will go first?
No Former Performer reflects our ongoing, deepening practice and immediate preoccupations.
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Performers: Carolyn Hanna, Penny Baron, and Bronwyn Pringle
Sound artist: Michael Havir
Lighting Designer and Operator: Bronwyn Pringle
Visual Dramaturg: Dagmara Giet
2025 NFP #10 - Performance - Drill Hall Footscray (Snuff Puppets)
2024 NFP #9 - Performance - Bluestone Church Footscray supported by Maribyrnong City Council.
2023 NFP #8 - Performance -Theatreworks; Nominated by the Greenroom Awards Association, Contemporary and Experimental Performance by a performer or ensemble.
2022 NFP #7 - Performance - Dancehouse Melbourne Fringe Festival; Nominated for Best Dance and Physical Theatre Fringe Award
2021 NFP #6- Performance - Bluestone Church Footscray supported by Maribyrnong City Council Artists in Residence program.
2020 NFP #5 - Performance - Lockdown live stream from THE CUBE at the Taxi depot/warehouse, Williamstown. Live edited streaming performances with live video mixing by Chris Codie, roving camera by Alana Hoggart.
2019 NFP #4 - Performance - Dancehouse
2017-18 NFP #3 - 2nd creative development funded by Creative Victoria with Helen Herbertson and Ben Cobram
2016 NFP #2 - Performance - La Mama Explorations
2015 NFP #1 - 1st creative development & birthplace @ Bundanon Artists in Residence program
Credits
Performers: Carolyn Hanna, Penny Baron, Bronwyn Pringle
Sound artist: Michael Havir.
Lighting Designer and Operator: Bronwyn Pringle
Visual Dramaturg: Dagmara Giet
Provocateur/ facilitator Andrew Morrish
Video credits: Leo Dale and Tim Sneddon