Alternative Realities: A Discussion about Live Art & Gaming with Symoné
- Time and Date
- 30 Nov 2024
- Venue
The Garrett Centre
Doors open at 12:45pm; the event will start at 1pm.
The Study Room will be open 10am-12.30pm and 3.30-6pm – book a session here.
- Location
117A Mansford Street, E2 6LX
- Price
- Free but please RSVP
Are you an artist, producer or curator working with or inspired by digital art, live performance and avant-garde storytelling? Join us on Saturday 30 November, 1-2.30pm for a discussion with Symoné.
The interdisciplinary performance artist, circus performer, video game designer, and proud member of the Pecs Drag King Collective is currently involved in the development of three mixed-reality experiences that combine theatre, live gaming, circus arts, and immersive digital elements: the audio installation/glitchy sensorial mixed-reality experience A Dream Within A Dream, the video game Highway to Infinity, and the theatre production Nullspace Motel in collaboration with Sammy Metcalfe (Sleepwalk Collective).
Symoné will present her work and her creative process. The event will conclude with an open discussion about how Live Art, technology and gaming intersect with queerness and alternative narratives.
The Study Room will be open for the day for two sessions: 10am-12.30pm and 3.30-6pm. Join us for one or both slots, for the whole day – or just for the event with Symoné! Book for the Study Room sessions here, and for the event at the link in the info box.
We will be offering more Saturday Study Room sessions in the New Year, alongside events with artists sharing their current projects and research interests.
Symoné
Symoné (she/they) is a Guinness World Record-holding interdisciplinary circus artist, video game designer, creative director and cabaret and performance artist, with British and American roots. Symoné’s physical practice has a focus on challenging traditional circus and pushing the boundaries of what circus is. She combines 6″ high-heeled roller skating with hula hoops, pole dance and voguing, creating surreal and high-energy shows. Since embarking on her artistic journey in 2016, Symoné has taken her act to international stages, leaving an indelible mark in 10 different countries, from the United States and the West End to India. She has had standout moments, such as roller skating alongside Nile Rodgers, performing on West End stages with magicians like Chris Cox at The Palace Theatre, and collaborating with Machel Montano and Omi on their hit song Hula Hoop (Precision Remix) at Machel Monday, Trinidad’s largest concert. She has worked with artists and companies such as Instagram, Peaches, Jon Hopkins, Taylor Mac, Guinness World Records, ASOS, Soho House, Kurt Geiger, Britain’s Got Talent, Paul Smith, Omi and Samsung, and she’s been featured in publications like Time Out, Instagram Editorial, Gay Times, QX Magazine, Diva and The Stage.
Symoné is also a director of personal theatre productions UTOPIAN (t&c’s apply) and Euphorica, having been commissioned by entities such as Cambridge Junction, Trigger Stuff, The Place, and Arts Council England, with shows touring across the UK. She holds a BA in Anthropology from SOAS and she has been awarded a full scholarship at Code Coven Games Academy. As a game designer, she focuses on rethinking traditional video games formats and mechanics and she’s experimenting with ways to queer the medium and its narratives. This includes not only creating queer protagonists and exploring gender performativity, but also rethinking the very nature of how games are played by creating DIY controllers to challenge traditional mechanics and creating ‘anti-games’, i.e. games with goalless and games with emotions and atmosphere as a primary focus. Her dedication to the gaming community extends beyond her own work, as she is the founder of Melanin Power Up that just launched, a community for LGBTQIA+ people of colour focused on learning accessible game design, supported by UK Black Pride and NYX Professional Make-Up.
Symoné’s website / Digital Art/Games Portfolio / Symoné’s IG / Productions & Projects by Symoné IG
Access Info
LADA and The Garrett Centre are wheelchair accessible by lift and provide gender inclusive bathrooms.
Should you have any particular access requirements, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to offer further support.
Banner image credit:
From Symoné’s Highway to Infinity videogame
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