Melbourne Recital Centre

Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and Speak Percussion & RISING

Clay shooting—with percussionists in the firing lines.

And… pull!

Pigeons is a clay shooting event, but the birds are the musicians and pigeons are the ammo. Three robotic trap machines take centre stage. In unrelenting, symphonic, patterns, they hurl hundreds of fluorescent clay targets at a wall of suspended, resonant percussive objects. The musicians duck, flap, glide and slide among the projectiles, in a frantic search for safety. Glorious music rings out—fragile, violent, poetic and heroic. It’s percussionist vs pigeon. Human vs machine.  

The idea was hatched by Speak Percussion’s Co-Artistic Director Eugene Ughetti, with a bunch of risk-taking collaborators who’ve been working to redefine the potential of percussion since the turn of the millennium.  Will their plan present a logical endpoint to our algorithmically massaged future? Or lead us on a path to broken bones? Either way, it’ll be epic.

Sensory Warnings

Flashing lights, Moving lights, Loud sounds. This performance contains heightened audio-visual content. There is unpredictable sound and visual projection throughout which may quickly change in volume, tone, brightness, and colour. Sound sensitive audience members are encouraged to bring headphones. Earplugs available at the venue. There are no dominant light flashes or colour changes which occur more frequently than 3 per second.

Dates & Times

[object Object]

Duration: 1 hour 15 mins. Please note, running times are approximate and subject to change.

Tickets

Standard $69

Concession $59

A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.

About Speak Percussion

Speak Percussion has shaped the sound of 21st century Australian percussion music through the creation and presentation of daring arts projects. Internationally recognised as a leader in the fields of experimental and contemporary classical music, Speak seeks to constantly redefine the potential of percussion.

Ranging from solo concerts to massed sound events, Speak Percussion’s ‘breathtakingly impressive’ (The West Australian) work is presented throughout the world in concert halls, theatres, galleries and site-specific locations. Speak Percussion has been responsible for over 220 commissions and premieres of new percussion works and has contributed new masterworks to the global percussion repertoire.

Artistic Team

Eugene Ughetti concept/composer/director/percussionist
Kaylie Melville percussionist/collaborating artist
Nick Roux instrument systems design & sound engineer
Jason Lehane set & costume design/set construction
Bosco Shaw (Additive) lighting designer
Keith Tucker production and technical manager/collaborating artist
Kate Davis outside eye
Bruce Gladwin dramaturg
Janice Chalmers costume design & maker
Malte Wagenfeld industrial design
Alexander Meagher understudy percussionist
Theo Carbo show operator/collaborating sound artist
Rohan Goldsmith technical assistant

Nicholas Moloney lighting programming and operation

This project was funded and supported by Creative Australia, City of Melbourne, City of Darebin, Creative Victoria and the Robert Salzer Foundation.

Accessibility