The Nervous Atmosphere

Chamber Made and Arts House are delighted to be co-presenting this new solo performance work by cellist, composer and theatre-maker Zoë Barry. A haunting and poetic reflection on her real-life experience of being struck by lightning three times, The Nervous Atmosphere explores the myriad strange symptoms, chaos and confusion provoked by this bizarre and terrifying experience.

Told through text, live cello and striking design, this work is created by Zoë and an outstanding team of collaborators: co-director & dramaturg Ingrid Voorendt, dramaturg Tamara Saulwick, set & lighting designer Bosco Shaw, sound designer Jed Palmer, and costume designer Renate Henschke.

A hypnotic meditation on the relationship between fear, consciousness, nature and vibration, The Nervous Atmosphere combines Zoë’s real-life experience and her fascination with late nineteenth century parascientific investigations; a time in history when science, medicine, spiritualism, and psychoanalysis were crossing over in curious ways.

The Nervous Atmosphere conjures the awe, rupture and isolation we experience when faced with a situation so much larger than ourselves, then navigates a return pathway to a place of connection and grounding.

Chamber Made partners with co-presenter Arts House on this extraordinary work. There will be an Auslan interpreted and Relaxed Performance during the season.

For full details visit the Arts House booking site.

The season runs from Wednesday 13 – Sunday 17 September so book now to secure your tickets.

Chamber Made Salon: Invisible Forces

Thursday 7 September 2023, 6.30 p.m.

The Chamber Made Salon Program is an opportunity for audiences to delve deeper into the content and context of our works. Each Salon is set around themes and ideas underpinning a current artwork. Audiences are invited to engage with the speakers and be part of the discussion.

Join us for the Invisible Forces Salon as part of the world premiere of The Nervous Atmosphere.

Well before embarking on The Nervous Atmosphere, Zoë Barry was fascinated by the work of 19th century French neurologist Dr Jean-Martin Charcot, whose studies in science, parascience, magnetism and mesmerism both entranced audiences and divided medical and scientific communities.

After her extreme encounter with nature, Zoë found that Charcot’s experiments with electromagnetism, and the promise of invisible forces to affect and heal nervous function, strongly resonated with her experience and symptoms.

In this fascinating discussion, Zoë is joined by Associate Professor Jonathan W Marshall, author of Performing Neurology: The Dramaturgy of Dr Jean-Martin Charcot and Chamber Made Communications Manager and writer Emilie Collyer to explore the ideas that fed Charcot’s work, and the profound experience that charges The Nervous Atmosphere.

This is a free one-hour event at Arts House. Bookings are essential via Arts House. Auslan Interpreting is available on prior request.

Please email artshouseticketing@melbourne.vic.gov.au by Monday 4 September.

Zoë Barry is an APATA member and winner of the 2021 Telstra Aria Music Teacher of the Year Award.