A piece of impressive puppet-theatre with powerful live music, Boulder follows the mythical struggle of one man, rolling a colossal stone. In this reimagining of the Greek myth of Sisyphus, an intricate puppet struggles and strains to move a giant, burdensome boulder. Doomed with the hopeless task of pushing the heavy weight up a hill, he is condemned to watch it roll back to the bottom each day. He pushes, strains, cheek-braced, trudging uphill, exasperating attempts to reach the top, and the relentless walks back down. Trapped in an endless cycle, we see the man wrestle with his pointless existence, and curse the futility of his life. Augmented by hand drawn, earthy animation Boulder fuses live action and digital. Within this intriguing blend emerges fluid transformations of set and scale as this trickster plays within the confines of his situation. There is violence, frustration and despair, all mocked by the unconquerable rock. But in the devastation of defeat, can he find solace in the task he so resents? Accompanied by live cello and atmospheric voices, with original music composed and performed by Avi Simmons. Boulder supported by the Marlowe Theatre and co-commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre & ACE. For touring enquires please email [email protected] |
'Imaginative, ingenious and visually stunning'
(UK Theatre Network, 2019) 'Masterful in their design and execution, Half A String have created something very special.'
(The Wee Review, 2019) 'Concocting a superb balance of animation styles, Half-A-String goes beyond puppetry.'
(The SKINNY, 2019) |
Creative TeamDirector/Designer: Peter Morton
Performer/Composer: Avi Simmons Cellist/Devisor: Mike Bacon Puppeteer/Devisor: Louisa Ashton Puppeteer/Devisor: Nick Halliwell Animator: Caleb Simmons Lighting Design: Claire Childs Outside Ears and Eyes: Matthew Sharp Dramaturg: Emma Willatts Initial Puppeteer/Devisor: Elaine Hartley Workshop Assistant: Jo Morton Welder: Lee Stapleton |
Funded & Supported By: