Space and the senses: the (syn)aesthetics of Punchdrunk's site-sympathetic work

Abstract

My intention with this paper is to discuss the work of Punchdrunk, founded by Felix Barrett, with particular reference to Faust (2006-7), Punchdrunk’s most recent event that enjoyed a run at Wapping Lane, supported by the National Theatre. In doing so I will apply ‘(syn)aesthetics’, my appropriation of this term, as a theory which embraces both practice and analysis in order to show how the ‘(syn)aesthetic style’ identifies a particular, exciting contemporary performance practice exemplified by Punchdrunk’s work. Furthermore, I hope to show that (syn)aesthetics, as an interpretative device, is a vital mode of appreciation to analyse such work.