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Conceived and designed by visual artists Holden and Conroy, Arnolfini presents a selection of pieces from Foster Wallace’s collection of short stories characterised by dark dry humour, alienation, and unconventional sexuality.

Please note that although originally advertised as 23 November, unfortunately we have had to postpone this event due to unforeseen circumstances. We are pleased to be able to announce that the new date for this event will be 22 February 2013.

(Adapted for the stage by Andy Holden and David Raymond Conroy)

Conceived and designed by visual artists Holden and Conroy, Arnolfini presents a selection of pieces from Foster Wallace’s collection of short stories characterised by dark dry humour, alienation, and unconventional sexuality.

A cast of four actors, along with projections, live music and props are involved in the presentation of four interviews and one short story from the author’s remarkable book, which through a series of unspoken questions examines the possibility of complete sincerity and truth within a modern relationship. Foster Wallace’s text is examined through a variety of staging techniques, incorporating ear-pieces and autocues, as well as dramatic monologues – punctuated by unspoken questions from the audience in the form of a projected letter Q.

www.andyholdenartist.com
www.davidraymondconroy.co.uk
Q&A and video with the artists

“BIWHM, is a book which, on first reading, we found to be simultaneously inspirational and crushing. In his book, perhaps a collection of short stories or possibly a kind of high postmodern novel, Wallace had produced, at least for us, an almost perfect work. It is not flawless, but maybe that helps. It speaks about judgment and value, about seduction and disappointment, about comedy, and obsession and pathos.

It seems to be able to propose incredibly difficult, unsolvable questions in the most straightforward way and it does this by being written in this amazingly rigorous reflexive prose. It breaks your heart whilst telling you it is doing it; whilst telling you how it is done. But what do you do when you love something? You share it, you hold it up, you take it apart to see why it makes you love it so. You give yourself to it because it gave itself to you.”

Andy Holden and David Raymond Conroy, 2012