Multidisciplinary artist Pevyand Sadeghian took part in the Artist Residency programme in 2020, developing the theatre show Aphonia.
Aphonia explores the true story of an older woman who, from loneliness and minimal social interaction, begins to physically lose her voice.
Taking place during the 2020 lockdown, the residency provided crucial dedicated time and studio space for solo development. It enabled Peyvand to conduct vital research into the project’s core themes, connecting with artsdepot’s older community patrons through interviews and surveying the wider public. This research resonated deeply as the pandemic brought themes of isolation and loneliness into sharp focus.
The residency was a significant step in Peyvand’s journey as a lead artist. The focused R&D process contributed directly to her wider interdisciplinary practice, which merges performance, multimedia, and text to explore themes of voicelessness, displacement, and the search for human connection.
