In the central space of Saying the Unsayable Once presented an An Extraordinary Ordinary Day
a perpetual performance, sharing stories of those we know who have died.

In the centre of the dome a collection of everyday objects and furniture surrounded a kitchen table and chairs. A woman and a musician invited people to join them at the table, staying as long or as brief a time as they wanted. Using puppetry, poetry, laughter, song, music and everyday things she shared a cycle of stories of people she has known who have died. Her grandmother, her baby, the lady she didn’t really know, her father in law. Some distant, some close. Just like all of us, she has many of these stories.
A handbag contents revealed her memories of her Grandmother … she drew distant lands with salt and wondered about the lady at playgroup … whispers were passed around the table ‘She lost a baby you know’ …paper birds emerged, they laughed and sung with her as she danced and remembered her husband and they helped her create a funeral for an old sailor.
During the performance she would take moments to ask participants’ about their stories. As strangers and families shared their real experiences of people who have died the performance became a dialogue.
Think of someone you know who has died.
Don’t tell me their name.
Tell me three things you know about that person.
Tell me one thing you would like to know about that person.
Tell me one thing about their death.
Both celebrant and performer, the woman listened and talked, sharing stories and honouring those of her guests.
Outside the dome 2 artists made a temporary memorial with participants in the performance and with passers-by, painting names in water of people they know who have died onto the floor of the square.

This peaceful, absorbing activity gave a moment of reflection, a ritual to mark the name of the person they had been speaking or thinking about and an opportunity to talk about their stories and responses to the exhibition and performance. Participants and viewers of many ages interpreted the meaning of writing in water in many different poetic ways, the changing weather also inspired different poignant readings.