"I don’t want pain to be my legacy." Tristan Niemi on subverting the expectations of theatre
Tristan Niemi lives and breathes the arts. Originally from the lands of the Yuwi people / Mackay, they have been training in theatre and dance for more than half their life and have recently completed their Honours research about creating trauma-senstive Queer theatre. Add to their resume activist, poet, performance artist, musician, ballroom powerhouse and writer (including stellar work for us) and you have an incredibly well-rounded individual.
The 2022 Anywhere Festival sees the debut of Tristan’s latest work, ‘ASK’, in which they will pose the deceptively simple question to their audience each night; What would you ask Queer Disabled artist Tristan if you were guaranteed an honest answer?
Ads J was suitably intrigued and got the lowdown from Tristan about ‘ASK’ in advance of its debut this week.
Tell us about the show in 100 words or less
ASK is a one-hour experience in which an audience can be guaranteed a completely honest answer to any question they put to local Queer Disabled artist Tristan Niemi. Yes, any question. Yes, a completely honest answer.
What can audiences expect from your show?
The only thing I can really say is radical, perhaps even brutal, honesty. The better question really is: What can I expect from the show? I’m not really in control of what I’m talking about showing-to-showing so the audience can expect a satiating of their curiosity, I guess. And in a perfect world a bit of mind blowing at the end – as a treat.
Tell us about your creative practice and the origin of ASK. How did your idea for the show come about and what has been like to develop and present this work?
I’ve been training as a theatre and dance artist since I was a wee eleven-year-old in Mackay. Writing and poetry and performance art kind of found me in the last few years, and Gods am I glad they did. ASK, specifically, comes from my discovery of Marina Abramovic and her commitment of only doing works that scare in some way. She said that in an interview, I think, and I immediately said to myself “what is the most terrifying thing I could possibly do for art?” and the answer was vulnerability. I put the works rules together and it kind of sat in a draw for a year while I completed my Honours research which was all about creating trauma-sensitive Queer theatre. I got very angry about a lot of things during that process, in particular this “all drains lead to the ocean” type energy that exists but rather than the ocean it was what I call “the wallowing place”. Which I define as a theatrical space wherein Queerness is pain and investment in Queer modes of being and doing can only lead to tragedy. And so, ASK kind of reared her head again at the end of that process as a tool through which I could present these ideas in an artistic mode rather than an academic one.
You've noted that your show is in part an institutional critique of theatre and its demand that the works of those who are othered by society can only be vessels for their trauma that can be consumed by the public. Can you expand on why this is important for you as an artist and how ASK will subvert this typical practice in theatre?
It's important to me because, as I mentioned earlier, I am angry about it. The way I’ve been explaining it is like this: The artists that I’m close with, when we talk about our practice, we often come to a place of discussing this pressure we feel to be in pain in order to making art of value. That’s an issue all on its own. But when a layer of othering, as you put it, is added to that the pressure becomes intensified and localised to the “otherness” we are branded with. I, personally, plan on being a working artist for the rest of my life and I don’t want pain to be my legacy. I don’t want the next generation of artist to have to inherit that from me and feel that same pressure. So, I’m using ASK to point out the despicable nature of this pressure. I go to the wallowing place at the behest of the audience before I – in a moment I won’t spoil – reclaim my agency and demand release. That’s the subversion and that’s the thing I want this work to be remembered for rather than any secret I might reveal.
The format of ASK relies on audience interaction and that the audience actively reflects on how they ask questions, how they consider others and the impacts of asking questions of others. There's a lot of potential ways that this can go each night. As well as this, there is a lot of potential for you to have to revisit your own personal traumas in each performance. How have you prepared for these things?
The kind of twisted, sadistic thing about this work is that me having to talk about my trauma is kinda the point. So, I have done a lot of self-lead reflection around the things I’ve experienced – both specific and general – and built what I’ve been calling “logic fences” around the way I speak about them. It’s not so much a script because that would ruin the authenticity of the experience, but I have frameworks for how much I am and am not going to say while, of course, remaining completely honest. ‘Cause I can tell the truth without going into harrowing detail. I also have very strict pre- and post-show routines. I’ve micro-managed myself down to what music I’m allowed to listen to at what part of the day so that each performance is bookended by a release and regaining of control. And of course, I have protocols in place that in the event I need to leave the performance space I am able to do so safely and in a way that allows me to take the time I need to decide upon my level of readiness to return or call the whole thing off.
Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?
Busy-bodies make the world go ‘round and the same is true of ASK. My perfect audience member is someone who isn’t afraid to just do the thing and ask the hard hitters. I also feel like groups of friends who do escape room together will really like this work because it’s a very similar experience. I guess you’re trying to get in rather than out and it’s my psyche rather than a room – both are equally puzzling I will say.
Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?
Two things. One, we’re at half capacity ticket-wise so if you’re gonna book ‘em do it now. Two, this is a work I plan (depending on how things go) on remounting for the rest of my career or at least until it isn’t necessary anymore. So come along and you’ll be able to say you were there when the first question was ASKed – lol I love puns.
‘ASK’ runs from 6-8 May 2022 at the EC Venue as a part of the 2022 Anywhere Festival.
