Marathon '08

12 noon on Saturday December 6 - 12 midnight on Sunday December 7 2008

MARATHON ’08 was a 36 hour durational continuous performance event on the edge of the current global depression, on the edge of love, and on the edge of complete and utter exhaustion. MARATHON ’08 intentionally explored this “edge”—this place of precariousness from which we all might “fall”. MARATHON ’08 invited its contestants and audience to “dance” in the face of the looming economic problems we are facing.

MARATHON ’08 was also a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Drama Department at the University of Exeter, AND the inauguration of the newly established Drama Department Postgraduate Scholarship fund intended to help future students in need of financial aid.  

Based on the early US model from the depression era, but adapted for today, MARATHON ’08 was an actual contest in which 22 student and alumni couples danced throughout the entire 36 hour period except for short rest breaks. MARATHON ’08 was part athletic contest, part endurance feat, part rehearsed performance, part dance, part fund-raiser, and part party. At the end of the 36 hours, the couple with the highest number of points won a prize.

MARATHON ’08 took place in the Roborough Studios on the Streatham campus at Exeter University. Contestants danced within a large oval track at the centre of which was a performance stage. Seating was provided around the oval and at two ends of the track.  

For photos, see the Marathon '08 webpage.