September 2012
In Flintshire
Branches: The Nature of Crisis
The Nature of Crisis
Part of the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad.
A new commission from
CONSTANZA MACRAS/DORKYPARK
If you go down to the woods today... Join us for an adventure in a forest, where you'll come across things you might not expect. City streets and party animals are transported to the woods for a surreal experience inspired by the stories of the Mabinogion and tales of economic crisis from across the world.
Constanza Macras is known throughout the world as a creator of groundbreaking physical theatre work. Performers from her Berlin-based company DorkyPark are joined by a cast of Welsh performers along with the thrills and spills of nature itself.
About the Production
In September 2012, Argentinian choreographer Constanza Macras explored the influences of nature in a forest in north Wales. In her first UK commission, she worked with a group of Welsh and Wales-based performers, alongside members of her own company DorkyPark. Combining text, storytelling, live music and movement, Branches: The Nature of Crisis took the audience on a surreal walk through the woods of Wepre Park, Flintshire, entwining the stories of the Mabinogion and visions of the hen parties of Cardiff city centre.
On the final two evenings, a specially-created version of the show was also streamed live to a big screen in Cardiff city centre.
Revellers and passers by were invited to text their comments on the action, with the most interesting messages shown on the screen. 'The Missing Branch' was streamed live on thespace.org on Saturday 15th September.
Extra Content
View tweets and social media activity around the show on Storify.
See our Pinterest board of Instagr.am photos.
See inside the process on the Community.
Read Katherine's blog post about the digital show.
a technical masterpiece, all should be congratulated for their skills in dancing, acting and singing, a magical night... my walks through the trees will never be the same again
a tonic
comical and disturbing
an evening of striking imagery
in all my theatregoing life I’ve never seen anything that begins to resemble Branches beautiful madrigal singing... and some visual images worthy of a Turner Prize bizarrely addictive magic All the power and mystery of storytelling is there...
Media Gallery
Cast & Musicians
Cast
GARETH ALED
LOUIS BECKER
ROSALIND HAF BROOKS
CATRIONA JAMES
NILE KOETTING
ANA MONDINI
HANSEL NEZZA
ADANNA OJI
MIKI SHOJI
JEM TREAYS
LARA WARD
Musicians
SCOTT BAKER
SADIE FINCH
KRISTINA LÖSCHE-LÖWENSEN
ALMUT LUSTIG
Creative Team
Director/Choreographer
CONSTANZA MACRAS
Dramaturg
CARMEN MEHNERT
Assistant Designer
RUTH STRINGER
Lighting Designer
SERGIO PESSANHA
Sound Designer
MIKE BEER
Costume Designer
ALLIE SAUNDERS
Creative Technologist
LUIS BLACKALLER
Digital and AV Designer
JON STREET
Composer
ALMUT LUSTIG
Composer
KRISTINA LÖSCHE-LÖWENSEN
Emerging Director
BAMBO SOYINKA
Creative Associates
MIGRATIONS DANCE
Production Team
Associate Production Manager
JACOB GOUGH
Company Stage Manager
ADRIAN QUINN
Deputy Stage Manager
CASSANDRA BROOM
Video Assistant
GRACE GELDER
Costume Design Assistant
MAGDALENA EMMERIG
Wardrobe Assistant
LEIGH CONROY-HORSCRAFT
Wardrobe Assistant
UNDREIA CAPEWELL
Creative Associate
MATHILDE LOPEZ
RHIANNON WHITE
Notaiton Assistant / Assistant Stage Manager
Notation Assistant
CHRISTINA HANDKE
Promoter
LIAM ROBERTS
Documentary Film Maker
MARGARET CONSTANTAS
Documentary Cameraman
PHILIP COWAN
Documentary Sound
OWEN PETERS
Crew
CAMERON BALFOUR
THOMAS BURTON
NIK PALMER
TOM REILLY
TIM RICH
ALEX RUSSELL
SIMON WALL
Livestream Production Team
Digital and AV Designer
JON STREET
Designer
RUTH SKINNER
Costume Designer
ALLIE SAUNDERS
Floor Manager
JACOB GOUGH
Stage Manager
CASSANDRA BROOM
Audio-visual Mixer
CLARE WILKINS
Wardrobe and Make-up
CATHERINE EMBLETON
Camera Operators
GRACE GELDER
KIT JOHNSON
JON STREET
Access Team
TOM REILLY
TOM BURTON
LIAM JAMES
Power
ALEX RUSSELL
Lighting Engineers
NATHAN STEWART
GARYM ROBERTS
With thanks to:
GERALD TYLER, EARTHFALL
RIDDELTPS LTD
JONATHAN RIMMER OF CAE TECHNOLOGIES
NEIL SHELLEY OF OPUS 03
CHRIS KEARNS
