Holding Achilles – The Making Of – Sydney Festival 2023

„Holding Achilles charts a new theatrical landscape.” – The Australian

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About the show:
Adopted by Achilles’ father, Patroclus initially faces hostility from the young hero. But thrust together to train under the centaur Chiron, a friendship develops, which deepens as Achilles becomes the legend he was destined to be. But war with Troy is brewing and the two young men are caught between their hopes for a future together and the brutal realities of a bloody conflict.

Written by David Morton, this beautifully crafted co-production from Sydney physical theatre virtuosos Legs On The Wall and Brisbane visual theatre masterminds Dead Puppet Society is an innovative interpretation of one of the great mythic stories, turning a magnifying glass toward one of its central relationships, so often downplayed or ignored.

Featuring daring aerial work, exquisite puppetry and set to a haunting score performed live by Sydney singer/songwriter Montaigne and composed with Tony Buchen and Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear), this epic adaptation of Homer’s Iliad blends heightened physicality and powerful design to weave a story of mythic proportions with queer heroes at its heart.

Credits:
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., commissioned by Brisbane Festival, Sydney Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Glass Half Full Productions together with Bristol Old Vic and Northampton Royal and Derngate in the UK.

CREATIVE TEAM

Director and Co-Creator
David Morton

Movement Director and Co-Creator
Joshua Thomson

Creative Producer
Nicholas Paine

Composers
Tony Buchen, Chris Bear with Montaigne

Music performed live by
Montaigne

Set Co-Designers
Anna Cordingley and David Morton

Costume Designer
Anna Cordingley

Lighting Designer
Ben Hughes

Sound Designer
Tony Brumpton

Rigging Designer
David Jackson

Puppet Design
Dead Puppet Society

Dramaturg
Louise Gough

Associate Director
Matt Seery

PRODUCERS

Legs On The Wall, Dead Puppet Society, Sydney Festival, Brisbane Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Glass Half Full Productions.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Technical Director
Scott Barton

Production Stage Manager
Kat O’Halloran

Deputy Stage Manager
Nicole Neil

Head Rigger
Byron Cleasby

Head of Lighting
Chris Conway

Sound Engineer
Benn Sargood

Head of Fabrication
Savannah Mojidi

Costume Makers
Fiona Warmbath and Gayle MacGregor

Costume Assistant
Azure Schofield

Fabricators
Maggie Alexion, Carol Jelley, Fanaia Novoa, Liz Prior, Giancarlo Salamanque

Associate Producers
James Beach and Lauren Eisinger

CAST

Achilles
Stephen Madsen

Patroclus
Karl Richmond

Ajax / Hector / Puppeteer (Baby Bear)
Ellen Bailey

Odysseus
John Batchelor

Agamemnon / Lead Puppeteer (Bear)
Lauren Jackson

Meneleus / Peleus
To be announced

Paris / Chiron
Nic Prior

Briseis
Christy Tran

Priam / Chrsyses
To be announced

Thetis
Montaigne

Ensemble / Counterweight
Johnas Liu

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERFORMERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Bjorn Aslund | Craig Bary | Jana Castillo | Caroline Dunphy | Cecily Hardy | Alex Kaan | Joe Klocek | Zachary Lopez | Reagan Mannix | Lucia Mastrantone | Gideon Mzembe | Liam Nunan | Kyle Shilling | Christopher Sommers | Catherine Wait | Alex Warren | Drew Wilson | Tom Yaxley

Photo by Joel Devereux, artwork by Jacob Brewer.

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