Tasmanian reguiem | GAP IN THE FENCE

A Tasmanian Requiem

A new work for voice, brass & percussion

PRODUCED BY GAP IN THE FENCE

How can we grieve?

How can we heal?

How can we move forward in the midst of denial?

A Tasmanian Requiem is an ambitious musical and visual conception that faces a past haunted

by the devastating legacy of the Black War of Van Diemen's Land.

This groundbreaking collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists

acknowledges the impact of frontier conflict, and the strength, beauty and resilience

of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture. In a necessary and redemptive journey,

this Requiem commemorates an irretrievable loss of innocence,

and the power of truth and spirit.

Based loosely on the Requiem Mass and performed in

English, Latin and Tasmanian Aboriginal languages,

this unique performance experience fuses film, language and live music.

Performed by Tasmania's leading brass ensemble - the Island Brass Quintet -

with an extraordinary classical and contemporary vocal mix,

and under the baton of maestro Gary Wain,

A Tasmanian Requiem is at once disturbing and uplifting,

a musical gift for a shared future.

WORLD PREMIERE SEASON

THEATRE ROYAL, HOBART

13 - 14 APRIL 2018

Composer: HELEN THOMSON

Writers: GREG LEHMAN, JIM EVERETT-puralia meenamatta & FRANCES BUTLER

Filmakers: JULIE GOUGH & MICHAEL GISSING

Music Director: GARY WAIN

Director: FRANCES BUTLER

VOCAL ENSEMBLE

Madelena Andersen-Ward (mezzo soprano), Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo soprano), Tom Buckmaster (tenor), Zoy Frangos (tenor), Stephen Grant (bass), Amelia Jones (soprano), Helen Thomson (soprano).

BRASS ENSEMBLE

Yoram Levy (trumpet), Glenn Schultz (trumpet), Mandy Parsons (French horn), David Robins (trombone), Tim Jones (tuba), Gary Wain (percussion)

Production Assistant: Cassandra Wunsch | Sound Design: Greg Gurr | Still Photography: Alastair Bett, Frances Butler, Michael Gissing, Julie Gough | Tintype Photography: Phillip England, Tasmanian Tintype | Additional Footage: Pawel Achtel, Dan Broun, Chris Fox, Troy Melville, Raef Sawford, Tom Waugh | Additional Musicians: Madeleine Dyer, Melfred Lijauco, Tom Misson, Maraika Smit

CREATIVE MENTORS: Judith Clingan, Annette Downs, Constantine Koukias

Audience comments ...

"A truly amazing experience on so many levels. Thanks to everyone involved. I feel so privileged! I hope there are many more performances ahead so many more can experience this beautiful work."

Andy

"Thank you for an outstanding, haunting, sublime experience. At times dissonant and unsettling and then moments of hair raising beauty and fragility. Particularly loved the palawa voices and the earth voice. An important part of the Tasmanian theatrical/musical canon. Congratulations all, your standing ovation was well deserved."

"Words fail me. Stupendous will have to suffice. We want to see it again."

Felicity

"A Tasmanian Requiem is a masterpiece, powerful and poignant, it should be performed all over Australia (and beyond) It has universal significance and could be seen as Requiem for the Planet as well. The performers were staggeringly good and the images of the land and loss made me weep. I was exhausted by the end and surely the performers must have been too. I will never forget A Tasmanian Requiem, thank you!"

Jennifer

Jane

"Warm congratulations .. for bringing such an ambitious and important work to fruition. The elements, particularly the musical performances, were extremely impressive, as were the staging and presentation. Such a huge amount of effort and dedication from so many skilled contributors to make it happen. A really courageous and significant achievement, of which you should be very proud."

"I love how the choice of music style allowed so many layers of sound, which made me think of so many layers in our shared story, and how the vision grounded me in that. And I loved the moments where one voice would call and be responded to by others. And I loved the moments where the music ended its tumult leaving only the voice to carry on. Most of all I appreciate how this made me cry at the beginning but move to feeling hopeful by the end of the performance. Can't ask for much more than that. What a special thing to create. Thank you to everyone who made this happen."

Peter

"What an extraordinary and courageous work."

Kika

"I was not alone in singing the production’s praises. Huge congratulations to you and all your collaborators including the musicians on the night and the cinematographer. Just stunning. I hope this sees further seasons not only in this state. It deserves to."

"Blown away. I was in tears at least three times, and on the edge of my seat for most of the rest. Wonderful, moving, elegaic, heart and gut wrenching, and a keening song of the spirit. I can only thank you."

Marta

John & Don

"Thank you for bringing us risky new Tasmanian work – it is a great thing to help stories that are made here, be told and shared here…"

Tim

"I am blown away by A Tasmanian Requiem. It is an extraordinary work and was performed so exquisitely that I am thinking about it constantly the morning after seeing it. Congratulations for producing a work that is groundbreaking and incredibly beautiful. Also, congratulations to the ensemble for giving a nuanced, intense and moving performance of the requiem. It is a concert I will always remember."

Carmen

"Congratulations to all involved (past and present) in delivering the incredibly powerful A Tasmanian Requiem. A beautiful voice to come out of Tasmania very much embedded in the people and land of today. Let's hope people listen."

Penny

"A brilliant, powerful and intense production. Powerful imagery and fabulous music! It MUST go national!"

Belinda

Steve

"Saw the world premiere of this last night .. they really have pulled off something very special in what appears to be true collaborative work. Every performer/contributor you spoke to promptly said, 'well, it was a group effort' or 'so-and-so's bit was so amazing'. Last night I spoke to participants across 2/3rds of the genres/tech roles involved, and this was a very striking and immediate response, which I've not seen so comprehensively demonstrated in most post-show debriefs."