Slap and Tickle

Presented by Tasmania Performs as part of Mature Moves

SLAP AND TICKLE is a dark and ribald physical commentary on cultural mores, forays and sexual taboos. Liz Aggiss places herself centre stage in this solo performance in a vociferously moving and disorientating display of contradictions and interpretations, on girls, ladies, women, mummys, mothers, bitches and dogs, pensioners and senior citizens. Decoding mythologies, platitudes, refrains and old wives tales, this performance navigates itself into a feminist soup; it is push and pull, punishment and reward, slap and tickle……all the way home.

Conceived, written, choreographed and performed by Liz Aggiss, SLAP AND TICKLE beats a path through the personal and historical. The stage is littered with an aural and visual collage; from archive and cover versions, to radio nostalgia and contemporary reference. The performance lurches relentlessly from spoken word to expressionist and music hall movement and gesture, from costume change to prop manipulation.

The performance is driven by content that embodies feminist dance practices, is framed by the politics that challenge and resist the ‘authority’ of formal conventions, revising attitudes towards mature female visibility

“a very funny solo piece... no need for Aggiss to bemoan the lack of opportunities facing older women in the theatre, because she puts herself centre stage through her live art practice.”Lyn Gardner

Liz Aggiss is an un-disciplined artist with an un-disciplined body of work. This does not mean she is undisciplined. Au contraire. She is exceptionally disciplined. Dodging categorization and being classified as unclassifiable, has been a full time job.

MATURE MOVER bonus! This performance is included in your Mature Moves [un]convention pass

Slap and Tickle is supported by Arts Council England, Dance4, South East Dance, University of Bath.