REVERIE
-- Sydney Harbour Drama House --
250 SPECTATORS • 11 BOATS • 10 STAGES
1 THEATER
Reverie is a floating theatre set in the heart of Berrys Bay. It brings a transformative approach to performance design against the serene backdrop of Waverton Park on Sydney's waters.
The essence of Reverie lies in its ability to blur the line between audience and performance through translucent architecture, creating a dreamy, mysterious, and ethereal quality when seen from afar.
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This unique design celebrates both the surrounding environment and the unfolding story, offering a remarkable and immersive experience.
BERRYS BAY
nature | silence | mystery
THE STORY
the story of boats | the story of piers
THE DEPARTURES & ARRIVALS
balmain wharf | circular quay wharf | darling point wharf | greenwich point wharf | kirribilli wharf | manly wharf | milsons point wharf | pyrmont wharf | rose bay wharf | watson bay wharf
" I have known the silence of the stars and of the sea,
And the silence of the city when it pauses,
And the silence of a man and a maid,
And the silence of the sick
When their eyes roam about the room.
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There is the silence of a great hatred,
And the silence of a great love,
And the silence of a spiritual crisis.
Through which your soul, exquisitely tortured,
Comes with visions not to be uttered
Into a realm of higher life..."
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Silence
-- Edgar Lee Masters
" That is no country for old men. The young
In one another's arms, birds in the trees
Those dying generations - at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
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An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing..."
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Sailing to Byzantium
-- William Butler Yeats
THE PERFORMANCE
shadow puppetry | sails | layers
" A boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July
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Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear-..."
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A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky
-- Lewis Carroll
Reverie unfolds across three distinct islands — two dedicated to spectators, one reserved for staff — each serving a unique role in the experience. The spacing between them is carefully calibrated based on the turning radius of the boats, allowing smooth circulation and layered viewing angles. This choreography of distance and movement enriches the audience's engagement, offering both intimate and distant perspectives of the performance. Designed specifically for shadow puppetry, Reverie transforms each journey between islands into part of the theatre itself.
Illustrative Concepts
moments of experience| between the islands
arrival experience
Hidden Pathways
An unseen rhythm directs boats through a seemingly random array of piers
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Dynamic Entry
Vessels follow along an invisible path, subtly weaving toward the performance
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Embodied Reverie
Spectators seated among the piers feel interwined with the essence of place, belonging to the unfolding story of Reverie
PROPOSED ELEVATION
Translucent Facade
Where shadow and light blur human presence
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Layered Shadows
Figures cast in depth, storytelling through silhouette
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Casual Seating
Spaces for a relaxed encounter, legs dangling in the breeze
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Enveloped in Light
A structure alive with transparency and subtle mystery
PERFORMANCE ATMOSPHERE
Scene in Motion
Boats come together, casting shifting shadows
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Overlapping Sails
Layers of light and motion, sails converging in harmony
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Audience Immersion
Viewers engaged in a dynamic, evolving experience
Dreamlike Ambiance
An ethereal world unfolding through light, shadow and water
SOFTWARE
Mentorship & Guidance
Rhino
Grasshopper
AutoCAD
Enscape
Adobe Creative Suite
Graduation Studio
Bachelor of Design in Architecture | The University of Sydney​
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Studio Lead: Dr Ross Anderson
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Tutor: Adam Grice