August 2021

Powerflex is a vertical journey where the building becomes the vessel for exploring power.

Powerflex

Originally commissioned by The Lowry for Week 53 Festival 2020 

Scarabeus Aerial Theatre/ We presented a site-specific aerial theatre piece, POWERFLEX, on The Lowry’s iconic tower in August 2021. 

Powerflex is a vertical journey where the building becomes the vessel for exploring power. On the tower 4 aerial artists, using its high visibility in proximity and at distance, expressed the triumphant feeling of being powerful, in charge of one’s life and the ability to cause positive change for oneself and our community.

A high-energy performance for audiences to immerse themselves within visceral aerial choreography, symbolising power in all its positive aspects; energy, strength, grace, dignity, being in control and ultimately flying!

Approximate performance duration: 20 minutes

Commissioned by Quays Culture – funded by Arts Council England

Images by Mark Morreau.

2013

Paradise Lost? was an arts project celebrating the communities of Archway and Finsbury Park.

Paradise Lost?

An extraordinary site-specific aerial theatre performance drawing on the history of the place and people of Archway, telling intimate stories of love, loss and hope against the backdrop of the Archway Tower.

Images by Sebastian Lynch, video by Jack Boswell

Two performers suspended looking as though they are falling from the top of a tall building spotlighted in blue

Commission by A Million Minutes and supported by Islington Council & ACE.

2012

Marking the climax of a special Welsh Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony and Festival to celebrate the start of the Paralympics on 29th August 2012, in London. 

Horizons

Horizons, commissioned by the Cardiff Millennium Centre, was a spectacular aerial performance on the facade of the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Marking the climax of a special Welsh Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony and Festival to celebrate the start of the Paralympics on 29th August 2012, in London.

Image by Brian Donaldson, video by Like An Egg Productions.

2006 - 2007

Light Touch was commissioned for the inauguration of the newly refurbished Brunswick Centre, London. Mixing live performance and video art on the facade of the building, the performance captured the pulse of Bloomsbury.

Light Touch

Light Touch was commissioned for the inauguration of the newly refurbished Brunswick Centre, London. Mixing live performance and video art on the facade of the building, the performance captured the pulse of Bloomsbury.

Image by Gabriella Piccaluga, video by SnakeOil Media Productions.

2002 - 2005

Exploring the theme of journeys by water and migration, various adaptations of this performance have been staged on historical tall ships and vessels such as the Grand Turk, the Cutty Sark as part of the Greenwich & Docklands Festival and the Trincomalee as part of the Hartlepool Festival.

Al Amor Del Agua

Al Amor Del Agua explores the theme of journeys on the water and migration. Various adaptations of this performance have beens staged on historical tall ships and vessels such as the Grand Turk, the Cutty Sark as part of the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival and the Trincomalee as part of the Hartlepool Festival.

Images by Gabriella Piccaluga.

2001

Performed on a satellite dish in Trinidad, the performance pays homage to the architecture of the site and the symbolism of the satellite receiver, inspiring peace and communication rather than war.

Signals

Signals was commissioned by the British Council and performed on a satellite dish in Trinidad, the performance pays homage to the architecture of the site and the symbolism of the satellite receiver, inspiring peace and communication rather than war. This is by far Scarabeus’s favourite location to perform in over the past  30+ years.

Images and video by Gavin Lockhart, video re-edited by Jym Daly.