Daphne Oram's WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOUND Set for Mayfesto 2017
By: BWW News Desk Apr. 18, 2017
Focusing on the life, ideas and legacy of a hugely influential sound pioneer, the award-winning Blood of the Young ensemble team up with SAY Award-nominated musician Anneke Kampman to present their first touring stage production as part of Mayfesto 2017.
A live, original score evokes the wonder and discovery which ran through the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in its early days as the dynamic Glasgow-based theatre-makers bring to life the amazing story of Daphne Oram, directed by Paul Brotherston and written by Paul Brotherston and Isobel MacArthur.
One of the most distinctive composers of the 20th century, Daphne Oram (played by Isobel MacArthur) cut a trailblazing path through uncharted musical territory. In 1942 a seventeen-year-old Daphne attended a séance which inspired her to forge a career in music. This led to her co-founding and becoming the first director of the world-famous BBC Radiophonic Workshop, (birth-place of many of television's early Sci-Fi themes, such as Doctor Who.) In a career spanning more than 30 years, she worked with opera singers, classical composers and rock and roll stars.
A true innovator, Daphne's boldness and pioneering spirit created a legacy that remains important today to musicians. At the heart of this show sits the music of electronic sound artist, composer and performer Anneke Kampman (formerly of Scottish band Conquering Animal Sound), a longstanding admirer of Oram's work. Kampman's innovative, contemporary score draws parallels between past and present, combining aspects of Oram's oeuvre and influences with her own distinct sound.
Director Paul Brotherston said: "The nature of the experimentation taking place in 1950s sound studios continues to sound cutting-edge to this day. There is a constant sense of discovery and adventure - danger, even. I remember when I first heard Daphne's work I instantly started to imagine movement dynamics and theatrical images. She was a truly original personality - I just wanted to know more and more about her."
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