The Bird Box
Site-based performance: Dee Heddon.
Start on the path outside the two pods. Walk up the gravel path that leads to Taransay. Pick up the plastic Owl that perches on the wooden railing outside Taransay. Hold the Owl close. Walk back down the gravel path, that becomes, at about half way point, more like a stream. At the end of the path, turn around and walk back. Repeat a number of times. Enjoy the sound of the gravel underfoot, followed by the swish of the water that is now submerging the path.
After at least three journeys, begin to drop bits of broken white crockery onto the path – like bits of crockery discovered down on the beach. Drop a shard of crockery each time you walk towards Taransay. Drop 5 bits in total.
Once you have dropped the final piece, walk on to the decking and lie down on it, still holding Owl. Look through the taut wires that run between the posts. You and Owl. Look at the people looking at you. You and Owl. Look through each of the wires – each gap offers a different viewpoint, a different perspective, a different way of framing, seeing the view. Look for the birds. You and Owl.
Return to the lowest gap, You and Owl:
I spy
Then the next gap, You and Owl:
I am spying
Then the final gap, You and Owl:
I am spied
Return to the lowest gap, You and Owl:
I spy – water, reeds, moss, mud
Move up to the next gap, You and Owl:
I spy – paddle steamers, day trippers, Queen Victoria
Move up to the next gap, You and Owl:
I spy – submarines. Duck. Hide. Duck hide.
Move up above the railing entirely, look up towards the sky, You and Owl:
I spy – a small, wooden bird box, attached to a tree. A small, wooden bird box, attached to a tree.
Place Owl on the wooden railing, and put woolly hat on her head. Wait – then pull hat down over Owl’s eyes.
Once upon a time there were steps leading down
Once upon a time there was a wooden floor
Once upon a time there were four wooden walls
Once upon a time there was blue tarpaulin sheeting
Once upon a time there was a grass roof
Once upon a time there was an inside and an outside
Once upon a time there were no steps leading down
Once upon a time there was no wooden floor
Once upon a time there were no wooden walls
Once upon a time there was no blue tarpaulin sheeting
Once upon a time there was no grass roof
Once upon a time there was no inside or outside
Once upon a time there were steps leading down
Once upon a time there was a wooden floor
Once upon a time there were four wooden walls
Once upon a time there was blue tarpaulin sheeting
Once upon a time there was a grass roof
Once upon a time there was an inside and an outside
Once upon a time there were no steps leading down
Once upon a time there was no wooden floor
Once upon a time there were no wooden walls
Once upon a time there was no blue tarpaulin sheeting
Once upon a time there was no grass roof
Once upon a time there was no inside or outside
Once upon a time there were steps leading down
Once upon a time there was a wooden floor
Once upon a time there were four wooden walls
Once upon a time there was blue tarpaulin sheeting
Once upon a time there was a grass roof
Once upon a time there was an inside and an outside
Once upon a time there were no steps leading down
Once upon a time there was no wooden floor
Once upon a time there were no wooden walls
Once upon a time there was no blue tarpaulin sheeting
Once upon a time there was no grass roof
Once upon a time there was no inside or outside
Repeat as often as feels right. Then stop. Take a small piece of blue tarpaulin sheeting from coat packet. Then a small piece of wooden floor. Then a small piece of wooden wall. Then a small piece of grass roof. Then a small twig. Place all in a heap. Place in the centre of the heap a tiny model of a woman.
Remove the hat from Owl and put it on Your head. Turn Owl to look down on miniature scene. Pick up steaming drink – served in a white china mug – and walk towards the pod: the pod with the steps leading up, the wooden floor, the wooden walls, the blue tarpaulin sheeting, the grass roof, the inside and outside…
