KENNY MATHIESON dropped in on a fun afternoon in Aviemore.

The Bile Canon

THE ACCLAIMED Glasgow-based Mischief La-Bas brought their own special brand of interactive performance to Aviemore Village Green. The Market of Optimism turned the familiar staples of outdoor markets upside-down, with free currency – neuros – dispensed from a talking cashpoint, and a rather unusual range of stalls to spend them in.

It made for a colourful scene on the recently revamped village green, and by midway through their allotted three-hour performance, around 600 people had already taken a wander around the stalls. The Market was first set up for Liverpool’s stint as City of European Culture, and will be seen in three locations in Scotland this year.

Aviemore won the right to host the event when Carrbridge Community Arts led a bid against strong opposition, supported by Aviemore Community Council and Aviemore Business Association, with additional support from Highland Council and several local business.

They were rewarded with a pleasantly sunny afternoon and a definite buzz around the site, as locals and holiday makers sampled the delights of the company’s inventions, including The Bile Canon (shout your frustrations and dislikes into a bin and have them fired to oblivion from the canon), a magical makeover, a chance to try out rose-tinted spectacles, grow you own luck, take a wallow in nostalgia, sample the elixir of life, receive the ministrations of the guardian angels, or meet some sleepy salmon.

© Kenny Mathieson, 2009

Links

• Mischief La-Bas
• Carrbridge Films

Associated Pages

• The Market of Optimism Photo Gallery