Mortal Engine
Part of the 2009 Next Wave Festival
Dec 9—12 at 7:30pm
Created by Chunky Move
"Utterly captivating and, that most illusive of theatrical goals, utterly unique." —The Scotsman
Working from the premise that the body has no limits, Mortal Engine uses a spectacular mix of space-slashing choreography and hyper technology to deconstruct the boundaries between the self and other. Conceived by the dynamic Australian troupe Chunky Move (which made its US debut at the 2001 Next Wave Festival), Mortal Engine portrays a shimmering, ever-shifting world as the human figure metamorphoses into light, image, and sound, and back again.
Every action incites a reaction: a lone dancer's gesture stirs a passage of music, another's washes the stage in shadow. Sparks fly. Acid green lasers perforate the darkness, transforming the space into a cosmic force field. As the dancers—performing on a tilted platform at once exhilarating and disorienting—create music and light, Mortal Engine reveals the energy that moves us, never predictable and always changing.
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
60min, no intermission
Tickets: $20, 30, 40
Direction and Choreography by Gideon Obarzanek
Interactive system design by Frieder Weiss
Laser and sound artist Robin Fox
Composed by Ben Frost
Costume design by Paula Levis
Lighting design by Damien Cooper
Set design by Richard Dinnen and Gideon Obarzanek
The Sydney Morning Herald on Chunky Move and Hybrid Arts
“…the Chunky Move dance company is at the cutting edge of ''hybrid arts'', where the latest technology mixes with creativity to cross boundaries and push art into uncharted territory.” More
The Age on Frieder Weiss
“Dance meets technology under the ground-breaking hand of Berlin's Frieder Weiss.” More
The Scotsman on Mortal Engine
There are many words you could use to describe Mortal Engine, but perhaps the most fitting is a simple "wow". More
The Metro (UK) on Mortal Engine
From the second the first whirlpool of light hits the surface of the unfeasibly steep set, the audience is at Mortal Engine's mercy. A darkness stalks the performers, and the growing pursuit breeds anxiety in the viewer. More
Chunky Move's Website