The How Presents:
UnTethered is an autobiographical show that follows a queer, demisexual woman with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as she attempts to transcend her irrational fears so that she may finally experience what it’s like to feel safe and loved. When her intrusive thoughts manifest as monsters made from plastic bags, she begins to question the absurd lengths the mind will go through to create an illusion of safety. UnTethered pushes at the boundaries of fixed identity and asks if we should tether to the things that make us feel safe, or if the power lies in the letting go.
Coming up!
UnTethered will have a Manhattan premiere at The Tank on November 21st at 7pm, 23rd at 3pm and 25th at 7pm.
Meet the Team
UnTethered written and performed by Tana Sirois. UnTethered is her brain baby. This project is directed/guided by Polina Ionina.
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Founder of the How Theater and Director of UnTetherdPolina is a Russian-American director/actor born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Classically trained at Pace University BFA Acting program in NYC, Polina has also studied abroad in Kyrgyzstan and at the Grotowski Institut in Poland. In NY she’s worked with Interactive PlayLab led by improv pioneer and master clown Jeff Wirth, and with the experimental theater group Dzieci. Polina is a founder of The How, and has performed with and directed the ensemble at celebrated venues such as HERE Arts Center, IRT, The Tank NYC, Dixon Place, and Tuhafier (Istanbul). Work with The How includes: The Vyuga Project, Vandals, Hunger, What We Do, I Am the Wind, 5 Hour Piece, My Favorite Person, and Rat King which recently performed at Culture Lab in LIC. Polina has also worked with up and coming film-makers in NYC such as Alex Blackstorm, Sonoko Ogata, and Steve Perterson as well as industry giants such as Bob Balaban, and Lisa Robinson.
ig: @mspyaari
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Actor, theatre-maker, director, producer & facilitator.Tana holds a BA in Acting from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and an MSc in Creative Arts & Mental Health from Queen Mary University of London. She is represented by LADA Management and is a member of Equity UK. She is co-founder of the non-profit arts & culture center, Culture Lab LIC in NYC, and Artistic Director of Dirt [contained] Theatre Company, where she has been producing socially conscious theatre with an absurd twist since 2010. Tana is a member of the international movement theatre collective, The How, and of the feminist musical comedy troupe, Broad Comedy, where she has helped raise over $2,250,000 for Planned Parenthood and The ACLU. Her original play "Crushing Baby Animals" played at The IRT theatre in NYC, and her two-person movement theatre piece, "My Favorite Person" ran in NYC at Culture Lab LIC and HERE Arts, and at Thuafier in Istanbul. She has been producing theatre for 18 years, acting for over 30, has directed Off-Broadway, and performed in over 100 theatrical productions across the USA, UK, and Turkey. She utilizes improvisation to devise movement-based work that strives for eloquence in absurdity and authenticity in chaos. The research she has undertaken at the intersection of art and mental health has inspired her to create work centered around issues of equality and identity, and the ever-changing nature of the self. She is currently developing an autobiographical solo show titled “UnTethered”, which examines Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, demisexuality, and intimacy, and asks if we should tether to the things that make us feel safe or if the power lies in the letting go. Tana believes in the efficacy of art for social justice, and holds a deep respect for the profound healing power of the theatre.
UnTethered Istanbul
Tana and Polina had an absolutely incomparable time presenting work at the Istanbul Fringe Festival in Turkey. They packed the house at DasDas and had a meaningful talk back after the show with the audience about Art and Mental Health. This production was graciously supported by the American Embassy of Istanbul, Turkey.
