LOBSTERS Offers Dance Theatre with a Dali Twist

Salvador Dali is the inspiration behind the new dance-theatre work, Lobsters, coming to Wellington's Circa Theatre this October.

Presented by Borderline Arts Ensemble, created and choreographed by dance artist Lucy Marinkovich and under the dramaturgy of director/actor Miranda Manasiadis, Lobsterslaunches into the curious world of surrealism. The show explores the absurdity of human relationships and fuses contemporary choreography with the eccentric story of the lobster that was once Dali's muse.

Marinkovich found the backbone of the work in a trip to the Dali Museum in Figueres, Spain. "I found his obsession with lobsters, and his association of this creature with eroticism and femininity slightly absurd and yet strangely compelling," she says. "It set my imagination alight and what started as playing with surrealist imagery ended up as a whole narrative based around both our idealism and disappointments when experiencing love and romance."

With extensive experience in the arts nationally and internationally Marinkovich and Manasiadis bring universality to Lobsters' investigation into human dynamics, desires and disillusionment. Marinkovich began her career with Footnote New Zealand Dance and has since attended workshops with leading dance practitioners in Tel Aviv, Palestine, Spain, Germany, Austria and Ethiopia. Her own works have been performed at festivals, theatres and galleries in Singapore, Malaysia, Croatia and New Zealand.

Manasiadis has recently returned from Athens, working on a de-construction of 'Phaedra' for various European and South American Festivals. She also works closely with FingerSix Dance Company, where their work was recently programmed for the acclaimed Athens Festival of the Arts, and was subsequently programmed for The Megaron Musikis in Athens.

Lobsters' original soundtrack is created and will be performed live by music luminary Lucien Johnson (composer/saxophone). Johnson has had an extensive career which includes touring with his band Shogun Orchestra, The Black Seeds, Lord Echo, was a musical arranger for The Yoots, and a founding member of The Troubles. He has composed music for dance, film and television.

Joining Johnson and Marinkovich on stage are the dance talents of Matthew Moore (Out of the Box, Black Grace) and Emmanuel Reynaud (Footnote New Zealand Dance, World of Wearable Art). Playing the role of Dali's infamous lobster is award winning actress Carmel McGlone (Marching Girls, Send a Gorilla).

Lobsters is a wild and provocative ride with invigorating dance, surrealist imagery and a deeply compassionate narrative. It will leave audiences moved and exhilarated.

With special thanks to Creative New Zealand and Wellington City Council.

Lobsters
Circa Theatre, Wellington
20 October - 4 November
Tickets: $25-$35 from www.circa.co.nz or by calling 04 801 7992

 

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