The collaboration of the municipalities of Voerendaal, Kerkrade and Brunssum with festival Cultura Nova has led to the Dutch street theatre company Theater Gajes performing no less than three times in Parkstad with their spectacle ‘Odyssee’.
A Greek story about a hero who is looking for home, translated to the streets and performed in 65 minutes. In the daring and compelling musical performance ‘Odyssey’ by Theater Gajes, the audience finds itself in the middle of the play. With an inventive moving set, actors on stilts and musicians at great height, the company tells the ancient adventure of Odysseus, the mythical hero from Homer’s epic.
Odyssey’ is a visual and musical performance that uses large-scale and innovative visual objects and machines. Ithaca, for example, is represented by a tower with looms, and Circe, the great temptress, rises 11 metres into the air on a pole. The ship on which Ulysses makes the journey home moves through the audience with all the crew members on it. The technical effects create a breathtaking spectacle.
Another important element in ‘Odyssey’ is the live music. The musicians also act and are driven around on bicycle constructions that sometimes rise above the audience. All the music has been specially composed for the performance. As a spectator, you are part of the performance and you literally move along with the spectacle, which takes place on two levels. At ground level, you see the technique, as if you were looking into the wings. And above your head, the theatrical reality unfolds in which you can lose yourself.
On Tuesday 30 August, ‘Odyssey’ can be seen in Voerendaal at Furenthela, the square in front of the Borenburg. On Thursday 1 September, as part of the Open Day Vie Kerkrade, the performance will be on Market Square in the town centre and on Saturday 3 September at Lindeplein in front of Brunssum Town Hall. The performance by Theater Gajes starts at 21.15 hours and admission is free. More information can be found on www.culturanova.nl