ANITO

 The Port Jackson Fig also known as Damun in Dharug language or Ficus Rubiginosa line the sandstone escarpments of Gadigal Country. Seeds are excreted in the guano of birds and flying foxes becoming lodged in rocks and the walls of buildings. Roots spread out like tendrils finding fissures in rock, spilling over to find a firm footing in the soil.

In Philippine folk tales the Ficus Indica, or Balete tree is considered a portal that connects the three worlds: the skyworld, underworld and the middle world of humanity. They are the dwelling places for supernatural beings like the kapre (tree demon) or tikbalang (humanoid animal).

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Crawling upon a refurbished planet a collaborative ecology of storytellers gather to tap deep into the grounds of their collective ancestral memory. In this space of latency miraculous forms emerge of intricate labour. Ancient babies dance megafauna in non-linear evolutions. Seasons change, in a world of sheer terror and tremendous beauty.

Honouring their roots in Sydney’s underground queer and diasporic club scenes The Future Folklore collective build on their shared histories of costume, puppetry, drag, dance and experimental electronic music to re-imagine myths and stories for the now.

CREDITS

Directed, Performed and Co-conceived: Justin Talplacido Shoulder
Production Design: Matthew Stegh and Justin Talplacido Shoulder 
Costume Design: Matthew Stegh, Anthony Aitch, Justin Talplacido Shoulder
Sound Design and Live Score: Corin Ileto 
Performer and co-generator: Eugene Choi 
Mentor and Collaborator: Victoria Hunt  
Lighting / Vision Design: Fausto Brusamolino
Costume Design Technicians: Brenda Lam, Anthony Aitch, Luna Aquatica  
Produced by: Jason Cross at Insite Arts
Special thanks: Marrugeku, Carriageworks & Talking Bodies 

ANITO has been supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative; Create NSW; the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., commissioned by RISING, Sydney Festival and MONA FOMA. 

VIDEO DOCUMENTATION AND TOURING

Please contact justin.shoulder@gmail.com or my Producer: jason@insitearts.com.au for full length video documentation and interest in touring.

UPCOMING SEASONS

January 2025 / Sydney Festival

PREVIOUS SEASONS

Feb 15 - 17 / Premiere ANITO, MONA FOMA, Theatre Royal, Nipaluna Hobart, AUS

April 12 - 14 / US Premiere ANITO, Fusebox Festival, Rollins Theatre at the Long Centre, Austin Texas, USA

June 5 - 9 / ANITO, Rising Festival, Artshouse, Naarm Melbourne, AUS

Image credit: Liz Ham

Image description: Two performers lie entwined in the copper tendrils of an elaborate root system costume. The performers are unclothed and are dappled with light in pinks and purples.