I still remember the pure sense of awe I experienced seeing my first Co3 show in 2017. It was The Zone, and I was so enthralled I saw it three times, even dragging my moody 16-year-old brother along on one occasion (it was moody-teenager approved).
By that point, the company was in its third year of life. Now, Co3 is celebrating its 10th birthday in a rave-style experience that scatters moments of performance throughout a room filled with their greatest supporters at the Liberty Theatre.
The program contains three works from artists who have come through Co3’s Pathways program. Before those pieces, Artistic Director Raewyn Hill started the night off with what she described as a “small, intimate work” named What Remains, taking place on a 2 x 2 metre rostrum with nine dancers. The piece reflects on the moments and movement that live in the bodies of these dancers from their involvement in previous Co3 works. What Remains is the epitome of Raewyn’s strong aesthetic that she’s developed for the company. The small space acts almost like a frame – a snapshot of their former works and their successes.
The use of the stage was fascinating. At some points, it felt overcrowded, filled to the brim with the nine dancers; yet at other times, it was sparse – space was made where there seemingly was none. The dancers truly showed their cohesion and trust as they melted into one another.
CO3 IN.RESIDENCE 2025 GATHERING.1. Work – HUH – Choreographed by Mitch Harvey (Staged by Zee Zunnur). Featuring-Co3 COMPANY DANCER Macon Escobal Riley Photography-SHOTWEILER PHOTOGRAPHY.
A lighting and music change led us to spin our heads and bodies to the other side of the room where, quite remarkably, a girl was lying atop some inflated balloons, magically floating on them. When she was delicately lifted away, the balloons were dispersed throughout the audience. How fun and joyful are balloons – and what’s a party without them? The audience was a bit timid to interact at first, and this interlude was filled with music from the DJ situated towards the back of the room playing girly-pop bangers. As much as I loved the music (and kudos to him for playing Fame Is Gun by Addison Rae so soon), I felt like the interludes were a tad too long and clubby for this time slot at 7 pm.
I found myself in a less-than-ideal spot for The Rest is Noise, choreographed by Logan Ringshaw, who was also performing in the piece – only spotting the heads and hands dipping in and out of view from afar. I love works that move you around the room, and GATHERING.1 does this excellently, actively engaging the audience in movement around the space. It does come with the downside that sometimes you miss out on some bits, but hey, that’s all part of the experience!
After another Pink Pantheress-fuelled interlude, TRI-HARD was the next piece that broke out, choreographed by Kimberley Parkin with an original composition by David Stewart. This was unlike any work I’d seen from Kimberley before, showing a different side of this multifaceted artist while capturing the infectiousness of others versus the drive of an individual. I enjoyed the daring nature of this piece, with the performers diving into the audience at times with full force, using us as a vessel for the story.
HUH, choreographed by Mitch Harvey with original composition by Louis Frere-Harvey, ended the evening on the most joyous note. Watching the dancers smile and embrace the warmth of the piece was enchanting. I noticed some people with their phones out recording, which as we all know is usually a theatre sin. But since we hadn’t been told to put them away or not record – and maybe I’ll get in trouble for admitting it now – I too took my phone out to capture a quick moment of the performance as a keepsake.
I have been waiting for someone to host a club night or rave at the Liberty Theatre. The grungy former glory of the space has been begging for some strobe lighting and a DJ to set up shop. With GATHERING.1, the Co3 team has brought my dream to life and made it even better than I could’ve imagined by bringing some magnificent works to this space.
CO3 IN.RESIDENCE 2025 GATHERING.1 is on at the Liberty Theatre from 18-22 June.