The Theremin, an electronic instrument made famous in the 60s by bands like the Beach Boys with songs like Good Vibrations is having a revival! Acclaimed Theremin Artist and Playwright Karen Cecilia will bring her TIMESTAMP featuring the Theremin to Australia.
This is a unique opportunity to see a master at work with the Theremin somewhat of a dying artform. Following performances at Edinburgh Fringe Cecilia will bring the show to Australia with dates to be announced. The Theremin is an electronic instrument that is played without physical contact, it looks like the artist is conjuring up the ethereal electronic sound by moving their hands as if conjuring magic or like some kind of sci fi instrument straight from an episode of Star Trek! It was invented in 1920 by Russian physicist Leon Theremin and patented in the US in 1928 and used in compositions by composers including Percy Grainger and Paul Hindemith.
Cecilia, also a playwright, hails from Brooklyn, NYC and her work has been seen in the UK. Her show TIMESTAMP will be presented at Edinburgh Fringe and explores social constructs through the point of view of two women. The show looks at what it means to be a woman and challenges the expectations imposed upon us by a patriarchal society. The strong feminist piece shows each performer differing in expression whilst bringing a common thread to the story that binds them together. Cecilia has also written the popular book Recipes & Rejections with 100 of the best worst rejection letters she has received as a playwright. Each letter is accompanied by a recipe supplied by fellow artists intended to soothe the rejection. Surely, this book has to become a staple of the artist with the word ‘no’ heard more often than the word ‘yes’.
As a leading Theremin player, Cecilia has cemented her reputation as an artist and expert on this unique instrument and brings together both talents in TIMESTAMP. The piece shares important messages around being a female in modern society. Cecilia played the Theremin and acted in the 2024 show Falling Sideways Off The Edge Of The Earth in NYC. That same year, she was also a Thereminist in COMPOSITE, a short film.
In TIMESTAMP musician and playwright Karen Cecilia along with Emilee Lord, dancer and visual artist name the expectations they have each combatted and then assert what they chose instead. From “pretty, obedient, sexy, and chaste” to the overwhelming expectation of motherhood and a list of what they have made of their lives instead, the performance shows, says, describes, and dances what they have named themselves and chosen to become.
TIMESTAMP will be a great opportunity to experience firsthand the beauty of the THEREMIN in the Australian premiere. More information to be announced soon including details of performances at Edinburgh Fringe and in Australia. The book Rejection & Recipes is available from Amazon.
For more information about Karen or TIMESTAMP visit KarenCecilia.com.
