Singer - Hug, Verity Standen

I toured Verity Standen's 'Hug' to various places around the country, including Battersea Arts Centre, The Basement (Brighton) and The Wardrobe Theatre (Bristol).

Each audience member is blindfolded. They are then individually hugged by a singer. Unable to visually gauge their surroundings, participants experience the performance through sound, breath and vibrations of the body as the choir of voices deliver the song. Playing with sense and perspective, HUG is a unique examination of the human voice’s power.

★★★★★ TimeOut:
‘TO FEEL SOMEBODY’S THORAX VIBRATE AS THEY TACKLE AN ELABORATE COUNTERMELODY FEELS LIKE THE MOST IMMEDIATE, VISCERAL EXPERIENCE OF MUSIC AS HUMAN EXPRESSION POSSIBLE, NOT JUST HEARING THE MUSIC BUT FEELING IT PHYSICALLY COARSE THROUGH YOU, YOUR WHOLE BODY SINGING LIKE AN ANTENNA TO HEAVEN.’ 

★★★★ Exeunt:
‘THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN JUST SENSATION. HUG IS ALSO A STRANGELY CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE, UNEQUIVOCALLY ILLUSTRATING THE POWER THAT MUSIC HOLDS TO MOVE US’