Blackbird Ensemble The Afterlife

The Blackbird Ensemble are rapidly growing a reputation for creating a unique combination of musical and theatrical magic on stage. "The Afterlife" is our new show in development which we are excited to present to you in early 2017.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE

"The Afterlife" will travel into theatrical territory where no other chamber orchestra has gone before. Not only are performers all highly skilled classical musicians, they also play characters that move about the stage, creating a closer and stronger audience connection. Composer Claire Cowan has created an original score for the work. Director Sara Brodie is an expert in working with musicians, having directed many operas and musical works both in NZ and abroad, exploring movement, story and characters.

"The Afterlife" replaces spoken word with blown air and the vibration of strings. These are the only forces through which these lost souls communicate now; they use it to replicate the properties of life they no longer possess. What is a body when it is barren of emotion, of chemical desire? They blast their cries and thump out their own heart beats - they create pointless order and systems to replace the comfort of passing time - they look inside each other for the people they have loved and lost. When music is the only thing that connects them to the memory of life, what choice do they have but to keep playing?

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

We are raising funds to cover one week of workshopping the show.

This will go towards:

-Paying cast and designers wages

-Rehearsal space hire

-Prototype costumes/set

Total costs for our development this year are over $40,000. This campaign will go a long way to enable us to come together and work solidly on the show's development.

We are raising the other costs through a fundraising concert on July 20th at Crystal Palace and various other funding bodies. 

THE CAST & CREW

Eamon Edmunson-Wells (Ruckus, Dreamville) - Bass

Peau Halapua (The Black Quartet, APO) - Violin

Kevin Keys (Soul Samba Circus, APO) - Trombone

Mark Baynes (Quantum Blue, U.S Chicago) - Keys

Chris O'Connor (Phoenix Foundation, SJD) - Percussion

Jess Holly Bates (Real Fake White Dirt) - Flute

Callum Passells (Sal Valentine's Baby Shakes) - Saxophone

Tom Dennison (Mike Nock Trio, Baby Shakes) - Electronic

Michael Howell (Creative Jazz Club, WD40) - Electric guitar

Anya Whitlock - Production Designer

Filament 11 - Lighting Design

Claire Cowan - Composer (Fledgling, SJD) - Cello

Sara Brodie -Director (Arts Foundation Laureate, NZ Opera, ATC)


www.blackbirdensemble.com

www.facebook.com/blackbirdensemble

www.clairesmusic.com