Chants des Catacombes

Chants des Catacombes

Present Tense Collective

three murdered women
three untold stories
wandering the underground for the rest of time

The Old Castlemaine Gaol could not be a more perfect venue for Chants des Catacombes, a gripping story about three forgotten murder victims — a showgirl, a courtesan and a surgeon. In this macabre musical theatre performance, the innocence of each woman has been stripped away, leaving them as entombed creatures from a strange time. History has turned the page yet these women continue to restlessly walk up and down the dark corridors of the catacombs, intermittently remembering and forgetting.

Poignant and eerie, Chants des Catacombes is an immersive and multi-sensory, promenade theatre experience. The audience is led through the gaol by an unfolding narrative. Lyrics are like bent fairytales, whispered, commanded, serenaded, shouted. Contemporary songs by artists such as Portishead, Nirvana and Laura Marling are adapted and given enchanting or horrific twists, transformed into the unique and the timeless.

Brought to us by Present Tense Collective, the historic Old Castlemaine Gaol will once again breathe and heave to a strangely familiar theme.

Chants des Catacombescomes to Castlemaine in 2013 after winning the 2010 Short+Sweet Cabaret Festival and sell-out seasons in Melbourne, and at the 2012 Adelaide Fringe.

Directed by Bryce Ives and Nathan Gilkes
Performed by Anna Boulic, Laura Burzacott and Zoe McDonald
Music performed by Nate Gilkes, with collaborating artists Xani Kolac of The Twoks and Mark Leahy
Choreography by David Harford
Design team led by lighting and space designer Nicola Andrews

 

 

‘…a powerful emotional catharsis. This highly original and dramatic production is not for the faint-hearted, but it promises a truly memorable theatrical experience’
ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, 5 stars

VENUE
Old Castlemaine Gaol
Bowden Street, Castlemaine

DATE & TIMES
Updated times from Printed Program Friday 15 March, 9pm SOLD OUT and 11pm Saturday 16 March, 8.30pm and 11pm SOLD OUT Sunday 17 March, 7.30pm and 9.30pm SOLD OUT Thursday 21 March, 11.30pm SOLD OUT Friday 22 March, 11.30pm SOLD OUT Saturday 23 March, 8.30pm SOLD OUT and 11pm SOLD OUT

ADMISSION
$30 / $25

DURATION
70 minutes

ACCESS
Adult

DISABILITY
No Disabled Access

FOOD & BEVERAGE
Pre-show wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks.

M T W T F S S
        15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24


Posted in Friday March 15th, Friday March 22nd, Saturday March 16th, Saturday March 23rd, Sunday March 17th, Theatre, Thursday March 21st