START
WITH
A CIRCLE
EXPERIMENTAL
AERIAL
ELECTONICS
SYNTHS
Start with a circle. Continue outwards. Keep going. Stop, start over. Start with a circle. This time work inwards. Good, start again. Making progress? Getting lost? Yes. Start again. In a darkened space, a performer approaches a rope hanging from above. At the end of the rope hangs the only source of light, a glowing sphere.
Created by Jack Phelan and Erin Hermosa with musical direction by Dunk Murphy (Sunken Foal), Start with a Circle throws an aerial performer, an ingénieur and a composer into the void and presses the button. Rope swings, light flickers, body turns, sound builds. An obsessive study of potential through neon-noir nothingness. Sure you wanna do this
This project was an absolute labour of love between Erin, Dunk and I. I had two starting points for it - an expermental performance with ball of light in nothingness and a to develop it more like a band than a theatre troupe. The process was amazing. We jammed in a warehouse in the dark for hours until a vague structure emerged. Dunk and I constantly watching Erin, looking to her for the lead.
The show was bright, fucking loud, dark and terribly exciting. People came up after and couldn’t believe it was all just one performer, a ball on a rope and a sound system. A few people said the hadn’t seen anything like it (which can be good or bad) but have since said it has been an inspiration and they think about it from time to time. This is amazing. This is everything.
It all seems like a blur now and there is no video document of the show as it would not have translated well to film. However, the photos and videos below should hopefully give an idea of what it was.
Concept, direction, electronics, construction and software - Jack Phelan
Performer and choreographer - Erin Hermosa
Composer and performer - Dunc Murphy
![]()
Development
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Created by Jack Phelan and Erin Hermosa with musical direction by Dunk Murphy (Sunken Foal), Start with a Circle throws an aerial performer, an ingénieur and a composer into the void and presses the button. Rope swings, light flickers, body turns, sound builds. An obsessive study of potential through neon-noir nothingness. Sure you wanna do this
This project was an absolute labour of love between Erin, Dunk and I. I had two starting points for it - an expermental performance with ball of light in nothingness and a to develop it more like a band than a theatre troupe. The process was amazing. We jammed in a warehouse in the dark for hours until a vague structure emerged. Dunk and I constantly watching Erin, looking to her for the lead.
The show was bright, fucking loud, dark and terribly exciting. People came up after and couldn’t believe it was all just one performer, a ball on a rope and a sound system. A few people said the hadn’t seen anything like it (which can be good or bad) but have since said it has been an inspiration and they think about it from time to time. This is amazing. This is everything.
It all seems like a blur now and there is no video document of the show as it would not have translated well to film. However, the photos and videos below should hopefully give an idea of what it was.
Concept, direction, electronics, construction and software - Jack Phelan
Performer and choreographer - Erin Hermosa
Composer and performer - Dunc Murphy
Development
The Making of things
JACK PHELAN - VIDEO ARTIST, DESIGNER, DIRECTOR WICKLOW, IRELAND.