In a world where fungi reign supreme, The Mushroom Whisperers demonstrates that sometimes the most extraordinary stories grow in unexpected places.
The Mushroom Whisperers offers an immersive experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional cinema. With breathtaking timelapse footage of fungi, the show invites us into a world where nature’s unseen wonders are animated via a stunning combination of visual art and live music.
The time apse footage, crafted by Planet Fungi’s Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak, captures mushrooms’ slow, mesmerising growth in stunning detail. This footage, already captivating on its own, becomes more powerful when accompanied by live music.
Featuring the exceptional Elektra Collective Unconscious (ECU)— Carla Thackrah (flute, vocals), Romano Crivici (violin, keys), multi-instrumentalist Jess Ciampa and Mark Atkins (didgeridoo)—the performance is a fusion of art and science.
The music is entirely improvised. Yet it shifts seamlessly between tranquil, atmospheric moments and intense, rhythmic bursts, mirroring the organic patterns of fungi. This dynamic musical performance is finely attuned to the visuals. It feels like the fungi are pulsing with the beat, and we are carried along.
In moments where the visuals briefly stop, the music continues. The auditory experience is enriched, allowing us to wholly appreciate the ECU.
What makes this show captivating is its ability to blend the beauty of nature with an evocative musical landscape. The instrumentation provides an otherworldly soundtrack. It creates a soundscape that is at once enchanting and deeply meditative.
The frisson is very real!
For one hour, we experience a hypnotic, dream-like, sensory journey. One where it feels like we are stepping into the heart of the forest and witnessing the hidden life cycles of fungi that often go unnoticed.
The Mushroom Whisperers is a hidden gem of this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival. It is a beautifully curated experience that leaves you with a renewed appreciation for fungi and the rhythms of life, often invisible but always present.