A Symphony of Sloths at Auckland Fringe

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AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER TAKES SLEEPY SLOTHS ON A SYMPHONIC FRINGE TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
A SYMPHONY OF SLOTHS

Multi-media production and musical sensory experience A SYMPHONY OF SLOTHS is hitting the road – slowly. A full year after its sell-out season at the 2014 New Zealand Fringe Festival, award-winning composer and director Marika Pratley believes the Sloths are ready to move again – from 27-28 February as part of the Auckland Fringe.

Taking its inspirations from slow-moving animal the Sloth, this Symphony unleashes its musical challenges to common perceptions of Sloths.

Pratley’s ‘obsession’ with Sloths developed whilst studying towards a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Composition at the New Zealand School of Music. She composed her first ‘sloth work’ titled Sloth Knows for Javanese Gamelan, wine glasses and pipe organ for her graduation performance.

A development of this concept and using the original composition as a base for the soundtrack, A Symphony of Sloths features an unusual combination of instruments, including Indonesian Gamelan and DIY electronics. In addition, Pratley incorporates the use of robotics into her musical performance. “The sloth robots are intended to enhance the surreal atmosphere we experience while daydreaming,” she says. In addition, there are video projections of sloth-inspired movement, designed by Timothy Marsh.

The production has deeper political meanings for Pratley also, through her work as an activist in Wellington. “Under capitalism, everyone is overworked. People forget to relax and burn out. I want people to embrace their ‘inner-sloth'.” Using her musical practice and performance concepts, Pratley is asking an audience to investigate the ramifications of the capitalist system, demonstrating how the Sloth has much to teach us in finding life-work balance and becoming happier, healthier human beings.

Pratley was awarded an Honorary Mention for Sound Design under the Production Design Category at the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2012, for Salted Singlet’s production of A Unfortunate Willingness to Agree. Her first composition for dance, this work was also awarded Best Dance and toured to the Auckland Fringe Festival in 2013. A Symphony of Sloths, the first work produced by Pratley, also received nominations for Best Music/Cabaret and Most Original Concept at the New Zealand Fringe Awards 2014.

Pratley is a member of the sound-improv band, UENAI, which toured NZ in 2012 as the support act for Wang Fujui (Taiwan), celebrating the launch of The Subconscious Restaurant, a publication by White Fungus. She was a featured Gamelan performer at the 2014 Silver Scroll awards.

A SYMPHONY OF SLOTHS plays
Dates: 27-28 February, 8pm
Venue: Audio Foundation, 4 Poynton Terrace (off Pitt St or behind St Kevin’s Arcade)
Tickets: Koha

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