There is something distinctly uncanny about the child’s stuffed animal. Visibly grubby and smeared in spit, tears, and other abject fluids, the stuffed animal is nonetheless the object of unbridled affection. As a child, the Swedish born composer, cellist, and performer Alexandra Hallén was particularly attached to Byggis, a stuffed bunny which was tragically lost. Simultaneously, Hallén had a habit of falling flat on her face, which caused her teeth to resemble – you guessed it – a bunny.

Hallén’s The Bunny Shack, which was premiered at SPOR Festival 2023, is the work of an artist coming to terms with these painful childhood experiences. In a liberating performance which not only disbands the polarity of performer and audience but also of human artist and stuffed animal, what unfolds is nothing short of an adventure: “Hello, dear. It’s me, the bunny. I’ve prepared something special for you. Do you want to be a part of the great egg hunt? The rules are simple, just follow them”.

The Bunny Shack is a concert installation with five performing musicians and audience moving freely.

Duration: 60 min

Created by: Kaninen and Alexandra Hallén
Performers: Vicky Wright, Matias Seibæk, Anne Eisensee and Kaninen
Photo & Video: Kaninen

Scenatet, SPOR festival and The Royal Academy of Music