For anyone who has caught a show by 1927, the mere mention of the English theatre company is enough to light up the eyes.
Theatre isn’t quite the word for it, though: fusing handcrafted animation, live music, the visual aesthetic of early cinema and a fondness for the fantastic, weird and darkly hilarious, 1927 exists in a realm of its own.
In 2008 the company left Melbourne audiences spellbound with Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, while 2010's The Animals and Children Took to the Streets won even more lifelong converts. Now, direct from its world premiere at Spoleto Festival USA and a season at the Edinburgh International Festival, 1927 brings its latest coup-de-theatre to our shores.
roots builds upon a series of rarely told folktales that offer a glimpse into imaginations from a pre-industrial age. Tyrannical ogres, magical birds, and very, very fat cats are brought to life with the company’s signature style, set to a live score involving Peruvian prayer boxes, donkey jaws, violins and musical saws.
This latest creation from 1927 considers the narratives of our forebears and how they might shape the stories of our future.
Get to know 1927
Sun 6 October 2—3pm
The Coopers Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre
Join the artists from roots on stage as they talk about their roles in bringing the show to life and what it’s like to be part of the 1927 team. You might even get to interact with the animation! Suitable for ages 10+. Registrations closed.
Warnings: Suitable for ages 10+ with parental guidance.
PHOTO | Leigh Webber
★★★★ Early 20th century silent-film aesthetic, combined with a touch of Berlin cabaret and European folk tale.
★★★★ Gloriously inventive.
★★★★ I marvelled at the stagecraft.
- Writer & Director
- Suzanne Andrade
- Animation & Design
- Paul Barritt
- Composer
- Lillian Henley
- Costume Design
- Sarah Munro
- Co-Director
- Esme Appleton
- Additional Material
- Francesca Simmons & David Insua-Cao
Partners
Presenting Partner
roots is a 1927, Edinburgh International Festival, HOME, Spoleto Festival USA & Theatre de la Ville Paris co-production.
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