Handbag by Geraldine Pilgrim

I was puzzled before the performance began. Herded into a strange windowless room, escorted through backstage storerooms then corralled into a small, circular area in the middle of the Corn Exchange.

The 15 minute performance took place in ‘stereo’, with female volunteers appearing one-by-one on either side of us, placing their handbags on the floor and starting to dance to the pulsing disco music, then leaving one-by-one at the end.

One dancer told me that participating had been a wonderful and emotional experience, so it’s a great community project, but as an audience member I felt unmoved, disconnected and bemused.

Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 16 February 2013
[Rating:2.5/5]
Elizabeth Hughes