DETAILS

Radioheaded 2: A Listening Party to Watch presented by OYR
Big Secret Theatre
Tuesday, September 14 - Saturday, September 18

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It all started with OK Computer and a spontaneous idea. One Yellow Rabbit’s Denise Clarke staged a “secret” experimental performance inspired by the landmark album’s release, going track-by-track through Radiohead’s songs with choreographed dance sequences.

But here’s the catch: Clarke would only meet with the performers one-on-one. She then left them to their own devices for three months, only returning to the final work on opening night. Additionally, the performers were not allowed to tell anyone else they were in it, surprising friends and family when they jumped out of their seats to perform onstage.

“It was a pretty wild experiment,” says Clarke. “And I think for the peeps watching, it was fun.”

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and Clarke was asked to stage it in other cities, and was also approached to co-ordinate performances based on every other Radiohead album. Yet she declined the suggestions until the release of the band’s latest, In Rainbows, 10 years after OK Computer.

“[The others] just didn’t strike me. But I sure fell for In Rainbows,” says Clarke. “I just thought musically, it was so playable.”

After returning from a concert in Los Angeles, the idea began to grow, so Clarke sent out emails, asking for any interested Radiohead fans to participate in a new project. The piece premièred at the University of Calgary’s 2009 Taking Flight festival and many of the original members are returning for this performance at the Big Secret Theatre.

Radioheaded 2 is a more scripted affair than the hands-off approach of the original, but not by much. Clarke brainstormed with the performers, sketching out the basic choreography and the storyline, before allowing them to find their own expressions.

“I just cast that way — first-come, first-served, and whoever wanted to be in it, could be in it. ‘Word of mouth casting,’ I called it,” says Clarke.

They didn’t have to be dancers or actors, explains Clarke, just anyone that was a fan. The key was that they had to be in love with the music, and the abundant enthusiasm in the absence of professional training was what she hoped to capture.

“It kind of has that flash mob energy to it, because they are — to my mind — beautiful movers,” says Clarke. “And I really, really get off on watching untrained people move in unison, and do things inspired by themselves.”

Christopher Duthie, one of the members willing to part from secrecy for an interview, described it as a very relaxed, organic process.

“We would show up to rehearsal, and basically listen to Radiohead for a couple of hours. And [Denise] began by sending emails back and forth, talking about In Rainbows,” says Duthie. “So she had all these emails on file that she would ask us questions about, and from just watching how we interact, she began to choreograph the piece.”

In preparation for their performance at the Big Secret Theatre, each participant armed themselves with videos of the 2009 performance and rehearsed alone over the summer, only to come together again a week prior to performances.

“It’s different, it’s definitely different,” says Duthie on the process. “What it brings out is much more individualized performances. You have to find a commitment there that is your own, and not based on being in a room with people who are guiding you along.”

“They’re rehearsing themselves,” adds Clarke, whose direction this time around is at arm’s length. “It’s like a complete deconstruction of how you normally make work.”

This production also ushers in Clarke’s beAutifulyoungaRtisTs program, which connects the new generation with Clarke and the Rabbits’ expertise and resources, along with a common kinship and love for theatre. Still fuzzy on the exact structure, Clarke sees it as an open invitation for those looking to create their own studies.

“I think she is particularly drawn to young theatre artists who are interested in doing something different,” says Duthie, who’s a member. “I can see she really wants to encourage us, and for her it’s a really positive experience because it allows her to be involved.”

And that kind of passion is exactly what this project is about. To Clarke, it’s more of a tribute stemming from an infatuation with the band’s music, lyrics and a deep respect for their artistry.

“So we really geeked out,” says Clarke, describing the lengthy talks they had about the themes and how to adapt their personal interpretations to the stage. “It’s just a really fun, fan club thing.”