As Georgia Symons, creator of You Must Come Alone To The Last Book On Earth explains, Melbourne is so attuned to literature that the fact residents experience an improved quality of life is only natural. Part of the Fringe Festival’s new Open Book program, You Must Come Alone To The Last Book On Earth asks attendees to imagine a time when books have become extinct. It’s a scenario Symons describes as “disastrous end of days” and she hopes will help renew the value of literature in society.
Participants are given half an hour with the world’s last remaining book, an item specially created for Fringe in collaboration with Melbourne School of Bookbinding founder Phil Ridgway. But if the thought of trying to make it through an entire book in thirty minutes fills you with fear, fear not! Symons has designed the tome with the half hour intervals in mind. And there’s no doubt Melbournians will make a captive audience, as she acknowledges ‘‘I can’t see myself making this anywhere else.”
Launching this year and supported by UNESCO Cities of Literature, Open Book features nine live art events that showcase our relationship with books, including some Melbourne Fringe Festival past participants.
After winning the Best Live Art Award last year, Anna Nalpantidis has taken a fresh approach for her piece, Between Two Lines. Inspired by biblio-therapy, a concept she describes as ‘the use of written word as a remedy to cure ailments’ Nalpantidis will provide attendees with the opportunity to rejuvenate, replenish and reconnect with their best selves.
Held in the iconic Embiggen Books in Little Lonsdale St, Nalpantidis capitalises on the nostalgic atmosphere and architecture of the bookstore to create a sensory experience which will include paper art, illustration, tea brewing and even a bath (don’t worry, you can keep your clothes on) Passers-by can bear witness to performances via the front windows of the bookstore throughout the festival, which will include the illustrations of Astrid V Mulder.
Nalpantidis’ 2015 show The Ministry was also interactive however she notes that Between Two Lines will be much more of an intimate experience with just a single participant at a time. She believes that the popularity of these one-on-one type performances stems from audience demand for experiences that are unique to them, noting that the general public “crave real time with real people, tactile experiences.”
She is conscious however that audience participation means anything can happen, “I learned with The Ministry that you never know how audiences are going to react and it’s a bit spontaneous. You never know how people will act, that’s the fun of it.”
