A Book About Words Adapted to an Art Form Without Words?
But I still sort of fancy it: if anyone else is interested I could try for tickets.
Black Maria The Ballet.
A multimedia dance production for all the family from Green Box Productions
Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones
Score: Tom Armstrong
Choreography: Susie Crow
Video: Zara Waldeback with Georgie Pinn
Costumes: Celia Perkins
Lighting: Scott Stewart
Thirteen year old Mig’s family head to Cranbury-on-Sea to visit ancient Aunt Maria, but as life deteriorates into domestic chores and crushingly dull tea parties they begin to suspect things are not what they seem, and to realise that Aunt Maria is not to be crossed… Who is the mysterious ghost buried in the mound, why are there wolves in the local woods, and what is the secret of the magic green box? As Aunt Maria wields her powers Mig alone must save her family…
BLACK MARIA will be premiered at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN during half term week 23rd -27th October 2007.
Performance times:
7.15pm Tuesday to Saturday
2.15pm Wednesday to Saturday
Tickets: £15 (concessions £12) Transaction fees apply
Ticket office: 0844 412 4300
Also available online at www.sadlerswells.com
Meet the Author: Diana Wynne Jones will be answering questions and signing books after the matinée performance on Wednesday 24th October (admission free).
Notes for editors:
Following successful collaboration on the National Youth Ballet’s Millennium Commission FIBBA in 2000, choreographer Susie Crow and composer Tom Armstrong decided to develop a full length narrative work for a family audience. Exploring the works of internationally acclaimed author Diana Wynne Jones (the Chrestomanci series, Howl’s Moving Castle - the basis for Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar nominated animated feature film) they were drawn to Black Maria’s combination of the funny and familiar with the sinister and magic. In 2003 they invited Whitstable based screenwriter and director Zara Waldeback to join them to bring a cinematic approach and filmic pace to theatrical dance narrative.
Initial ideas for combining dance, music and film in theatrical storytelling were explored with local children for an Oxford Playhouse summer school in 2004. Green Box Productions came into being in 2005 to produce a full length professional production of Black Maria. Further research with a team of experienced dancers led to the presentation of work in progress at In the Mix, Oxford’s annual professional dance platform at Pegasus Theatre in 2006.
In the complete Black Maria video projections and CGI special effects create an ever-changing fantasy world that interacts with the live performance in a unique and original way. Choreographer Susie Crow brings together an intergenerational cast to convey quirky characters and subtle relationships through an expressive dance language. Composer Tom Armstrong weaves an eclectic electro-accoustic score combining instrumental and electronic sounds, drawing on sonic delights from kitchen implements to pop grooves, by turns evocative, exciting and catchy. Award-winning film maker Zara Waldeback working with effects wizard Georgie Pinn opens up the stage by creating compelling imagery and magical visual effects. Characterful costuming by Celia Perkins and atmospheric lighting by Scott Stewart will bring the comical yet frightening world of Cranbury to life on stage. Funny, scary and moving, Black Maria offers ideal family entertainment.
Audience comments on work in progress: “entertaining” “poised” “haunting!”
“made me grin…”
Details of creative team and cast plus photographs on view at:
www.blackmaria.co.uk
For further information please contact
Green Box Productions:
Susie Crow on 01865 557098 or 07803 504286
Tom Armstrong on 07906 878619
enquiries@blackmaria.co.uk
Black Maria The Ballet.
A multimedia dance production for all the family from Green Box Productions
Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones
Score: Tom Armstrong
Choreography: Susie Crow
Video: Zara Waldeback with Georgie Pinn
Costumes: Celia Perkins
Lighting: Scott Stewart
Thirteen year old Mig’s family head to Cranbury-on-Sea to visit ancient Aunt Maria, but as life deteriorates into domestic chores and crushingly dull tea parties they begin to suspect things are not what they seem, and to realise that Aunt Maria is not to be crossed… Who is the mysterious ghost buried in the mound, why are there wolves in the local woods, and what is the secret of the magic green box? As Aunt Maria wields her powers Mig alone must save her family…
BLACK MARIA will be premiered at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN during half term week 23rd -27th October 2007.
Performance times:
7.15pm Tuesday to Saturday
2.15pm Wednesday to Saturday
Tickets: £15 (concessions £12) Transaction fees apply
Ticket office: 0844 412 4300
Also available online at www.sadlerswells.com
Meet the Author: Diana Wynne Jones will be answering questions and signing books after the matinée performance on Wednesday 24th October (admission free).
Notes for editors:
Following successful collaboration on the National Youth Ballet’s Millennium Commission FIBBA in 2000, choreographer Susie Crow and composer Tom Armstrong decided to develop a full length narrative work for a family audience. Exploring the works of internationally acclaimed author Diana Wynne Jones (the Chrestomanci series, Howl’s Moving Castle - the basis for Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar nominated animated feature film) they were drawn to Black Maria’s combination of the funny and familiar with the sinister and magic. In 2003 they invited Whitstable based screenwriter and director Zara Waldeback to join them to bring a cinematic approach and filmic pace to theatrical dance narrative.
Initial ideas for combining dance, music and film in theatrical storytelling were explored with local children for an Oxford Playhouse summer school in 2004. Green Box Productions came into being in 2005 to produce a full length professional production of Black Maria. Further research with a team of experienced dancers led to the presentation of work in progress at In the Mix, Oxford’s annual professional dance platform at Pegasus Theatre in 2006.
In the complete Black Maria video projections and CGI special effects create an ever-changing fantasy world that interacts with the live performance in a unique and original way. Choreographer Susie Crow brings together an intergenerational cast to convey quirky characters and subtle relationships through an expressive dance language. Composer Tom Armstrong weaves an eclectic electro-accoustic score combining instrumental and electronic sounds, drawing on sonic delights from kitchen implements to pop grooves, by turns evocative, exciting and catchy. Award-winning film maker Zara Waldeback working with effects wizard Georgie Pinn opens up the stage by creating compelling imagery and magical visual effects. Characterful costuming by Celia Perkins and atmospheric lighting by Scott Stewart will bring the comical yet frightening world of Cranbury to life on stage. Funny, scary and moving, Black Maria offers ideal family entertainment.
Audience comments on work in progress: “entertaining” “poised” “haunting!”
“made me grin…”
Details of creative team and cast plus photographs on view at:
www.blackmaria.co.uk
For further information please contact
Green Box Productions:
Susie Crow on 01865 557098 or 07803 504286
Tom Armstrong on 07906 878619
enquiries@blackmaria.co.uk