Synaptic Space Push-Pull, an outdoor performance

Olivia Hassett and Rachel Macmanus are the artists behind the performance art collective Synaptic Space. Their new performance, ‘Push Pull – the dance of control’, tells of their frustration and fear of ageing, while also celebrating the black humour, joy and release that age brings. The performance moves through a series of actions, from slow and controlled to wild and furious. These actions could be interpreted as socially inappropriate in mid-life women. By inviting an audience to witness these unexpected behaviours, the work seeks, with humour and pathos, to question societal norms and to explore the insidious effect these societal norms have on identity.