Tutti – We Can Complete It Together

This is a conversation. The one that never got to happen until now, at the back of this book, that you are holding in your hands, or are reading onscreen. This is a conversation between Ollie and Michael. It is their opportunity to
return to the roots of their practice, to break down the discourse and unpack it together. It puts into action the very denotation of the word ‘conversation’, as derived from the Latin, con meaning ‘with’ and versare, the frequentative of vertere, meaning ‘to turn’. Conversation, when understood by these terms, is active, and implicitly encourages movement. This is a call to action; for Ollie and Michael to turn, and be with each other, in conversation. This is their opportunity to have that post-show discussion. It takes place online, where we all have mostly existed for the best part of the last two years. Where performance has also had to reside and survive. This is the recollection of a conversation online. Ollie is positioned on the left; Michael is to the right. Microphones are on, cameras are on, and the transcription ‘go live’ button is clicked. We are recording.
I give a nod. There is a shared intake of breath, and we begin...