Electric Theatre

Sly was approached by the Electric Theatre in July 2004 and invited to develop designs for a new sculpture to be positioned in front of the theatre, as a result of a bequest from Darren Lloyd, a local resident with a long-standing active interest in the Electric Theatre. The Electric Theatre, established in 2007, planned the sculpture to ‘reflect the spirit of the theatre and to contain a feeling of movement and life’ and to be ‘abstract in structure and stimulate enquiry beyond the obvious’.

Sly researched the history of theatrical masks and then designed a sculpture using mask shapes that avoided the stereotypical shapes of the more commonly known tragic and comic masks. He wanted the shapes to have the appearance of torn, fragmented forms, that alluded to the character of the philanthropist Lloyd, and revealed the inside of the structure. As the mask shapes could not be solid it was necessary to consider ways in which to fabricate in a material that was light yet strong and also highly reflective, to carry the reflection of the sky and artifical light, and dissipate the solidity of the structure.

Working closely with engineers and lighting designers a number of small aluminium maquettes were made to demonstrate the effect of the light on the work. In determining the suitability of the design for the site it was necessary to consider vandalism and wind factors. Once these designs were approved a full-size four metre high version was made in aluminium by Sly and then sent to the engineers to be made in stainless steel. Working with the lighting engineers on site Sly supervised the installation of the fibre optic lighting.