Thursday, July 6, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center
— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —
The National Theatre production of Salomé is broadcast live to Orcas Center Thursday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are very scarce for the production at the Old Vic Theatre in London –so for many the only way to see it now is via the NT Live broadcast. Salomé features an international cast in a bold new interpretation.
The story has been told before, but never like this. An occupied desert nation—a radical from the wilderness on hunger strike—a girl whose mysterious dance will change the course of the world. This charged retelling turns the infamous biblical tale on its head, where one of the most often depicted scenes in western art, the beheading of John the Baptist, places the young woman we call Salomé at the centre of a revolution. In this production Salomé becomes a symbol of persecuted womanhood who acquires political agency instead of the femme fatale who danced naked before Herod and demanded the head of Iokanaan.
Internationally acclaimed theatre director Yaël Farber (Les Blancs) draws on multiple accounts to create her urgent, hypnotic production on the stage of the National Theatre. The Guardian proclaims Salomé, “Epic. A near-perfect production.” A visually compelling production, with staging that often looks like a living painting will appeal to lovers of art cinema. The Independent declares, “Yaël Farber proves that she does riveting ritual intensity better than anybody else.” The Daily Telegraph gives a rave review of Salomé: “It looks amazing – with restlessly rotating stages, slow-mo physicality, cinema-epic robes and tableaux vivants worthy of Caravaggio.”
The story features beautiful singing throughout from the acclaimed singers Yasmin Levy and Lubana Al Quintar who are integrated into the play. Salomé is an international production with a cast of actors from all over the world. This exceptional cast includes Olwen Fouéré as the aging Salomé, the young Salomé is played by Isabella Nefar and John the Baptist is played by the charismatic Ramzi Choukair. A must see for fans of opera and classical music, contemporary dance and performance arts, as well as fans of world cinema. (Rated R for Nudity)
Tickets for NT Live’s Salome are $20, $15 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-2 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017 season visit www.orcascenter.org.
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