In 2021, Abigail designed and developed a set of ten wireless speaker units for Ni-Ku’s performance project at Bristol Trinity, supported by an Expanded Performance Prototype grant from the Watershed’s Bristol & Bath Creative R&D programme, along with Minirig, Sennheiser and Real World Studios.


The first performance was 15.08.21.
The custom sound system devices are worn on the bodies of performers who create a network of live voices and a communal sound body from which Nik sings through. The performance circulates around the viewers, inverting the relationship of audience and performer. This creates an organic soundscape, with different layers of audio moving through each channel and performer.

Performance, music and direction: Nik Rawlings A.K.A Ni-Ku

Design & Fabrication: Abigail Portus
Sound design: Edd Sedgwick
Choreography: Ania Varez
Photographs: Paul Blakemore