Stretch Mk1

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Stretch Mk1 is a small Australian Theatre Company operating out of Sydney. It was founded in 1983 by Richard and Benni Seidel. The aim was to have a self sufficient, contemporary, image-based theatre company that was accessible to people regardless of age, race, language or religious beliefs.

Photo from a performance at the opening of the Asian Games 1998

Enlargement

After an initial experimental period during which the company busked, Stretch Mk1's first paid performances were during the 1989 Spoleto Festival in Melbourne. They were invited back in 1990 and 1991, by which time the work had grown to include sculpture.

Since that time the company has performed in over 44 countries around the world, in the streets, in embassies, with the South Australian Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, in theatres, dusty barrios in South America, the Olympic Arts Festival in Barcelona and Sydney.

Although it has a formidable international reputation, members can still be found busking in order remain independent of any form of Government funding.

Stretch Mk1's style of visual theatre has overcome all barriers of communication, captivating audiences of all ages without an intelligible word being spoken. Individual pieces in the repertoire are part of a larger landscape. Everything integrates in every way, a costume is a set piece, which in turn can be a puppet. Humour seamlessly becomes drama, dance becomes sculpture.

They were amongst the Artistic Delegation for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Bid in Monaco, were featured in the Paralympic Opening Ceremony and have represented Australia on many occasions.