Between 24 and 26 August, Footscray Community Arts Centre will come alive with The Magic Hour, an exciting and flamboyant multicultural dance theatre interpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello
Presented by Cicero Circle Theatre Company ‘The Magic Hour’ has been created by internationally-acclaimed Indian dancer and actor Arjun Raina, who through the vibrant melding of traditional Indian Kathakali dance with the works of William Shakespeare, has astounded audiences all over the world.
Trained in classical dance in India and in the British acting tradition in London, Raina is ideally placed to bring the two cultures together, and for his current production he introduces further elements—“Odissi”, the oldest surviving dance form from India plus performers of avant garde Japanese dance forms, “Butoh” and “Bodyweather”.
Together with previous collaborators including local Australian Butoh and Bodyweather dancers Helen Smith and Peter Fraser, Odissi dancer Lillian Warrum, and Indian-Australian actors Ezekiel Day and Cherian Jacob, the group uses the appropriation of Shakespeare’s text as common ground, fusing it with Asian art forms to create a post-colonial commentary on contemporary events through the playful subversion of an English icon. In the process a rich multicultural theatre has been created which will in turn amaze, amuse, stimulate and move audiences.
Arjun Raina’s previous work with Kathakali and Shakespeare has been performed at theatre festivals in Europe including Kampnagel—Hamburg, Germany, where it was curated along with the work of Pina Bausch and Sasha Waltz and has since been translated into Japanese, French and Russian.
Master Classes in Asian Dance will be taught by the performers in the lead up to The Magic Hour show. Kathakali and Odissi workshops will be held 22 August from 9am-5pm and Butoh and Bodyweather workshops on 23 August from 9am-5pm.
VENUE: Footscray Community Arts Centre, 45 Moreland Street, Footscray
DATES: Wednesday 24 August to Friday 26 August 2016
TIMES: 7pm (running time: 90mins)
TICKETS: Full $25 / Concession $20
BOOK AT: www.footscrayarts.com
PHONE: (03) 9362 8888
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