We found the perfect opportunity, at this year's Sydney Fringe Festival...
...and we decided to book our places at a SILENT DINNER PARTY.
All we knew about the event before we got there was what we had seen on the site: http://thesydneyfringe.com.au/shows/silent-dinner-parties
We were a bit nervous that it might actually be a cover for some sort of serial killer/terrorist group/cult, needing an excuse to lure defenseless victims into their trap, so devised a cunning sign between the four of us which would be signal to leave should it all get a bit weird (e.g we turn up and the hosts are dressed in head to toe leather with whips and four gimp outfits laid out...)
As it turned out, we didn't need the signal- who knew dinner parties in silence could be eye opening fun!
 |
| Speachless Supper |
We arrived and were welcomed (in gestures!) by our gracious hostesses, including Honi, the organiser and inspiration behind the silent dinners. It felt very weird to be waltzing into a strangers house, and not being able to introduce ourselves to those present as they busily finished preparing the dinner.
There was a fair bit of giggling as we got to grips with our hastily invented sign language, as the remaining guests arrived, with waves and nods.
 |
| The Quiet Crew |
We tucked into a delicious three course vegetarian meal, and I was surprised at how quickly I got used to the silence and signing being the only means of communciation! We figured out who was with who on the table, and I managed to share a joke with another guest as we waited for the toilet to become vacant using the universal power of sign and toilet humour.
There was something quite refreshing in having dinner with people without knowing their names, what they do for a living, how they 'sound' and the associated stereotypes that go with accents and information. A certain level of stereotyping was unavoidable though, with the girls sat next to us guessing we were English (could have been to do with the fact that we were knocking back the wine the fastest).
Funniest moments were definitely Maxwell & Nettbags demonstrating the new moves they had learnt the night before in Day 23's strip club experience for the group, Bru making a new friend in the garden who tried to guess where he was from through a series of improvisations like bull fighting for Spanish etc.. (Bru attempted to demonstrate 'French' using a mop as a baguette).
After about 2 hours, one of the group broke, and a deluge of conversation ensued... fascinating to speak to everyone afterwards and see if those preconceptions were wrong! Most people had come along as a personal challenge or just to experience something different, and it was interesting to learn from Honi that some groups actually leave in silence and don't even speak at the end which would have been even weirder!
Check out the silent film:
