Orpheus dismembered
Event information
2 Apr 2023
14.30–16.30
BP Lecture Theatre
Price
- £10
- £8 (Members)
- £8 (Concessions)
16+
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
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No remembering without forgetting...
No rebirth without death...
No ascent without descent...
These are the mysteries.
Storyteller Ben Haggarty and musician Jonah Brody are your guides to the dark places for the afternoon. Enter a subterranean dreamscape to meet: Dionysus, god of wine, born once from his mother and again from Zeus; Orpheus who can only find love through separation; Eurydice and Persephone, eternally bound to the land of the dead; and Aphrodite scattering seeds of chaos, through which we must wade to find sense.
Ben Haggarty reads between the lines of Greek mythology to restore them to their terrifying and truly awesome glory. This is world-class storytelling – dark, magical and provocative.
Whatever you do, don't look back...
This event is presented in collaboration with the Crick Crack Club, a UK-based storytelling programmer and promoter, working with spoken word storytellers, developing audiences, supporting artists and collaborating with venues and festivals across the UK.
Content warning: please be advised that this performance is based on raw Greek mythology and includes moments of violence, incest, rape, dismemberment, infanticide, alcoholic intoxication, cannibalism and death, alongside moments of beauty, magic, wonder, transformation and life.
Booking information
- Running time: 100 minutes + 20 interval
- Age guidance: 16+, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
- Please allow time to go through a security check which includes a bag check upon entry to the Museum.
- This event will be held at full capacity. Face coverings are recommended for the protection of yourself and others unless you're exempt.
Reviews
Ben Haggarty
Ben Haggarty trained in mime and theatre direction at East 15 Acting School and apprenticed as an image-maker with Welfare State International theatre. Today, he is a celebrated contemporary storyteller renowned for performances and channelling of Greek mythology. He tours widely, has been a guest artist in over 100 International Storytelling Festivals in 25 countries and was the official storyteller with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble for 10 years. Haggarty is Honorary Professor of Storytelling at the Arts University of Berlin (UDK). His graphic novel series MeZolith is published by Archaia.
Jonah Brody
Jonah Brody is an international, award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist, playing the bass, guitar, gamelan, Japanese koto and harmonium. He trained at SOAS, winning the 2010 Darmasiswa music Scholarship. He was a member of contemporary folk ensemble Sam Lee and Friends and heads Super Best Friends Club. Having studied the musical accompaniment of the Ramayana in Indonesia during his MA, he carries a deep knowledge of improvised Eastern traditions and is himself an accomplished improviser.
