The Sound of Cancer

In some way or other, cancer will touch most Australians’ lives. In 2017, an estimated 131 people will die from cancer every day in this country. A new case is diagnosed every four minutes. Causes and treatments of the disease are the focus of intensive research, but public understanding of cancer is often clouded by fear and misinformation.

In an attempt to demystify cancer, and to reframe what we know about it, Barking Spider Visual Theatre and La Trobe University have formed a new and unique collaboration that bridges the arts and sciences. They’ve created innovative scientific approaches to cancer, experimenting with live audio recording of cancer cells, and sonifying the interactions between cells – as well as interviewing a range of people affected by it, from clinicians to patients and families.

In this discussion, we’ll look at our growing understanding of cancer and its treatment. We’ll explore advances in immunotherapy as well as the social impact of the disease – delving into scientific research, lived experience and the sound work generated by the artists, followed by an interactive installation.

Presented in partnership with Barking Spider Visual Theatre and La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, and supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program.

Photo: Immune cells (green) communicating with tumour cells (red) in pre-chemotherapy triple negative breast cancer patient. Credit: Natasha Brockwell/Belinda Parker, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University.