Bonnie Cowan

Bonnie is a Sydney-based performance artist, facilitator and curator. With an intense fascination for human connection, Bonnie is a concept-centric, process-driven creative. Since graduating from the University of Wollongong’s theatre course in 2015, Bonnie has created various solo performances and performative installations, Most recently, she curated [dis]connection a one-day festival of performance art. In collaboration with Tegan Arazny, Bonnie is currently developing gathered, a touring physical theatre and devising workshop for young people. In a performance landscape just bristling with “immersive theatre experiences”, what role does the creative practitioner play in keeping audiences feeling safe? What are the ethical considerations when blurring the role of audience and performer? Can true audience autonomy ever be achieved while inherent performer/audience power structures exist? In her performance-lecture entitled ‘Gentle interaction; an exploration of ethical immersive performance’, Cowan will talk on the audience interactivity she loved and loved to hate. Audiences are invited to gently participate, or simply observe. [Image credit: Third Star Photography]