The main event thus far by Unexpected Ensemble was a ceremonial and immersive performance- installation at Åbne Scene in Godsbene, Aarhus, Denmark. The practices done mainly outdoors were now installed in a generic black box theatre space. The scenographics were done by installation art and sculpture, filling the room with reeds, leaves and clay. The resonance of reeds was an elemental part. The participants entered the space through a portal in a reed-bed, surrounded by the sound of actual reeds moving. This was followed by a collective improvisation where reeds were also used, and finally at the end, the participants exit the ceremony through a circle of reeds hanging from the ceiling.
The ceremonial plan of the installation was curated together with the author Silja Hendersson, including collective ceremonies around grief, joy, death and rebirth. The work in progress performances were given to three very different test audiences: members of the Sydhavn community living without a permanent address, a group of young writing students and an open rehearsal for a very diverse group of participants.
