SWING
SWING is a free installation that is big, beautiful and joyous, made for adults (and everyone else) to regain their childhood selves, in public space, by playful action.
THE EXPERIENCE
It is simply a swing – but what a swing! A giant, playful, bright yellow swing. Almost 9 meters tall. It's the swing of your childhood. Not a theme park parody, or a bungy jumping knockoff. It is spectacular and eye catching and as you approach the giant plaything you notice there is quite a crowd. People are lining up waiting to have a go. Whether you are a teenager, an adult, in a wheelchair, willing or slightly nervous, everyone wants to play.
You line up and watch others. Folks squeal and laugh and close their eyes and look transported by their experience. Suddenly it’s YOUR turn. The whole place seems to be run by children, some helping you onto the swing’s seat, some who call your name to the crowd – this is your time. Once you are secure the kids step away. An adult pulls you back and back and…wheeeee! Once, twice, three times they push you, higher and higher. Your six-year-old body memory kicks-in, you lean back, stretch out your legs and you are flying! It's MUCH higher than it looked to be when you watched others do it. It’s thrilling, but there is just a hint of fear. The crowd disappears and you are transported. There is music (either recorded or a live choir) that plays out your experience. In time the arc shortens, you slow down, the music follows. You come to rest... Silence. You are released, guided away by the children to sit down, given a little snack, something to bring you back to earth, and be safely sent out to the grown-up world.
“A bright yellow, eight-metre tall swing sits in the forecourt of the neoclassical grandeur of State Library Victoria as pop music blasts across the space. This installation … Swing … sets out this festival’s statement of intention – to celebrate play – with absolute clarity.”
Daniel Herborn, The Saturday Paper, 14/10/2023
How it works
SWING is designed as a free installation which enlivens public spaces with spectacular play. Debuting in the Melbourne CBD as part of Melbourne Fringe in 2023, SWING can be erected on almost any surface (street, park, dirt, grass) and can give rides to over 160 humans, and a thrill to thousands more, over the course of a daily 7-hour operation.
SWING requires a small crew of production professionals, and minimal tech. Bump-in and bump-out require a small crane truck and a scissor lift. The swing can be operational four hours after arriving on site. SWING comes with a wheelchair attachment capable of giving a ride to people in electric chairs of up to 400KG.
The SWING experience is hugely enhanced when it is “staffed” by young people. We are experienced in collaborating with drama classes or dance schools to coordinate this. The original concept included choirs creating a live sound-track. This is very much an add-on option, but it is great when it happens.
SWING People:
Direction and original concept: Ian Pidd
Commissioning Producers: Melbourne Fringe - Simon Abrahams and Eilysh Toose
Design and realisation: Lisa Oaten and Robert Sim of Periscope Design Studio
Fabrication: Third Angle Engineering
Co-direction: Susan Giles
Dramaturgy: Martyn Coutts
Kids direction: Alex Walker and the young people at House Of Muchness
Choral Direction: Fiona Roake
TECH SPECS
Swing Dimensions: 9 metres high. Footprint (Including exclusion zone) 15m X 5m.
Bump-in/Bump-out: 4 hours each way. Bump-in requires truck access and 4 hour crane hire (with dogger) and scissor-lift hire. No single lift is over 1000KGs.
Bump-in crew: 4 including licensed rigger, 3 hour call. (Included in fee.)
Operational crew: 5 crew plus volunteer FOH. (Included in fee.)
Optional extra crew (if budget allows):
Children’s Director and supervisor (for young people to “staff” the event).
Choir Director (if the music/sound is to be live).
Ongoing tech: Small PA and 2 radio mics, playback. “Nice” crowd barriers for the exclusion. Access to storage and crew rest area. Overnight security.