Created by Rebecca Jensen and Aviva Endean, the new work builds on their acclaimed duet Slip, diving deeper into a messy, saturated landscape shaped by digital overload, environmental anxiety and the constant noise of contemporary life. Where the earlier work explored disconnection, Slop leans into excess, creating a space where sound, movement and material collide.
“Who do we trust? How do we make sense of non-sense?”
The performance unfolds across a shifting terrain of mud, water and live sound, with the artists manipulating tactile materials on stage to generate both movement and audio in real time. Foley techniques are pushed into something more physical and unpredictable, turning the stage into a living composition that evolves moment by moment.
Developed before the recent rise of so-called AI slop, the work taps into a broader cultural mood, reflecting the confusion and overstimulation of the present. It invites audiences to sit with discomfort, to find meaning in chaos and to engage in deep listening and watching rather than passive consumption.
Jensen and Endean are known for blurring the lines between disciplines, and Slop continues that approach. There is no clear divide between dancer and musician here, with both artists sharing the stage equally and shaping the work together in real time.
The result is a performance that feels both raw and deliberate, unsettling at times but also unexpectedly intimate. It challenges traditional theatre structures while remaining grounded in physical experience, drawing the audience into its unstable world.
Slop runs from 13 May to 23 May, with evening performances during the week and matinee and evening sessions on Saturdays. Tickets are on sale now via arts.darebin.vic.gov.au with a range of pricing options available including previews and discounted entry for local residents.
