Four bold bald men with Australian accents take to a hermetically sealed "cell" in the west today, where they plan to live for the next fortnight.
Not quite Big Brother but better, the Urban Dream Capsule is billed as one of the high lights of the Galway Arts Festival which opened last night. The stage for this free 24-hour, 12-day performance is the window of Galway City Library. The open-plan "room" has been designed complete with hammocks, air-conditioning, a shower, study and kitchen.
Fresh food will be delivered daily to the four actors, Neil Thomas, Andrew Morrish, Nick Papas and David Wells, who will not leave the set until the festival ends on July 29th.
First produced at the 1996 Melbourne International Arts Festival, the "non-stop incubation" drew an estimated 250,000 people on its first outing. Since then, it has been staged all over the world. Last year, Thomas participated in the festival as one of the Blue Boys in the window of Moon's (now Brown Thomas) department store.
The capsule has evolved over the five years, with different sets designed by Richard Jeziorny in each location. It is now performed three times a year by the group, who have remained friends (they swear) throughout.
Critics have compared it to an "interactive silent movie" where the necessities of everyday life are blended into performances to create a "seamless and surreal world". So dinner may become a dance, a shower promises comedy-drama and cooking could involve "slapstick interactive gymnastics".
The cleaning rota is simple, according to Morrish, who says he is the only one interested in hygiene and is therefore known as Cinderella.
The troupe's pet sheep has taken to the new surroundings and during the fortnight the performers will paint figurines or gnomes which they have made. The gnomes will be named and released for day trips with the public who must agree to return with a photographic record.
The window glass precludes direct dialogue, so the performers can be reached at www. urbandream.com, e-mail urban dream@eircom.net and fax (091) 567082.
Last night was the only social outing for the actors, when the arts festival was officially opened by veteran US actor, John Astin, who has worked with Doris Day, Cary Grant and Jodie Foster, and who is presenting a one-man show for two nights, Edgar Allan Poe - Once Upon a Midnight.
Welcoming the international and national participants, the festival director, Rose Parkinson, paid tribute to the festival's many sponsors and supporters.
The annual Macnas parade takes place this Sunday at 9 p.m. on the theme of "colours", with asylum-seekers among the many community groups taking part.
Three new routes for the troupe's first twilight parade will start at Father Burke Park, Lower Merchant's Road and Prospect Hill respectively, ending up at the Black Box theatre car-park for what promises to be a "fantastic finale".
Tickets are still available for many events and the festival box-office is at (091) 566577 and www.galwayartsfestival.ie
