"Two men are left behind in this futuristic dystopia. Immerse yourself in their world and witness their battle for control."
Step into a not-too-distant dystopian future with MindCon, a contemporary dance piece created by choreogrpaher Mitch Harvey and composer Louis Frere-Harvey. Mitch and Louis will take audiences out of the traditional theatre setting, by staging MindCon at the European Food Warehouse in Northbridge. Further adding to the unique experience, audience members will create their own perspective of the show, as they freely roam the space during the performance.
Between rehearsals Mitch and Louis took a moment to give further insight into what MindCon is all about. Here’s what they had to say…

MindCon, Mitch Harvey Company. Matsu Photography.

MindCon, Mitch Harvey Company. Matsu Photography.
Louis: I think we both agree there isn’t necessarily a storyline, however we wanted to play with power struggles within self and against some form of authority. We wanted to make the audience feel like they could attach their own experiences into a future setting and how they might question certain powers differently.
MindCon Development Trailer. Videography Matsu.
What was the development process for MindCon? And how did the idea for this performance emerge?
Mitch: It first started in 2019 on a residency at Lake Studios in Berlin, I didn’t really know Louis and I asked him if he was keen to join me after I had heard his music on some other works and loved it. We spent a 3-4 weeks there first developing the show looking at theories of different futures and societies taking inspiration from Yuval Noah Harari’s book Homo Deus. Then we undertook another residency at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre for a week continuing to develop the work. We then had a week development in 2020 and that is when we brought in Jackson and Lighting designer Nemo Ganossini-Poirier to bring in the elements of the work and play with ides for the set and how we could create the world. Now we have the opportunity to present the work and with the support of Co3 through the IN RESDIENCE program we are able to bring the work to life and share it with everyone.
Louis: From my perspective, the developments involved sitting in the studio with Mitch and having a whole lot of conversations about how we perceive potential futures. Then I would leave the studio each night and work on something to bring in the next day to play around with. The first two developments were over a span of several years, and I’m feeling like I have improved a significant amount over this time. I’m definitely confident that this development is by far the closest version to how I’ve always imagined the sound to be.
What role do you want the audience to take on during this performance?
Mitch: I want them to walk into the space and to feel like they are no longer in Northbridge and are placed in some new world. From there they become someone who occupies the space and has the freedom to to move around and view the work from where they are interested, a bystander or inhabitant of the world.
Louis: From a sound perspective, I’m trying to create moments of high impact and high tension almost to an overwhelming level. The build-up to these moments is the real key however, and it always is my favourite part of the journey. Slow spacious landscapes of sound, juxtaposed against some hard-hitting high-tension impacts.
MindCon is running from Tuesday 2 November to Saturday 6 November at The European Food Warehouse in Northbridge.