Hydra 2000
Hydra was a sensual work, concerned more with the landscape of emotion than the conventional choreographic notions of form and structure. Loosely inspired by the Greek myth of the same name, Hydra immersed its audience in a dual world of seduction and devastation. Hydra was like a slow act of drowning, both succumbing to and fighting off the sense of being lost to the watery depths.
The Greek myth of Hydra tells of Heracles battling the many-headed feminine water monster, offering an analogy for man’s desire to control Nature. This production was not a narrative retelling of the myth of Hydra, but rather a reflection of man’s conflict with Nature and the seductive and furious forces that haunt our imagination. In scale and execution Hydra was ambitious, as well as being physically demanding; the work was performed on a set that breaks down to reveal a dark water pool containing 2,600 litres of water.
Creative Team
Choreography Gideon Obarzanek in collaboration with the performers
Composition Darrin Verhagen, James Gordon-Anderson
Costume Design Mila Faranov
Costume Design (remount) Jane Summers-Eve
Production Design Bluebottle
Original Performers
Luke Smiles, Fiona Cameron, David Tyndall, Kathryn Dunn, Michelle Heaven, Luke George, Sarah-Jayne Howard, Nicole Johnston, Stephanie Lake (Understudy)
Musicians
Piano Michael Kieran Harvey
Violin Miwako Abe
Artistic Director Gideon Obarzanek
Executive Producer Jennifer Barry
World Premiere
31 July Melbourne
Touring Seasons
2000 Melbourne
2001 Adelaide, Geelong, Sydney, South Brisbane
“A trance-like scenario alternating between images of a violent drowning and passive capture” Herald Sun.
L-R: Michelle Heaven, Luke Smiles Image: Jeff Busby
