Chivaree Circus' BECOMING SHADES to Headline VAULT Festival 2018

Chivaree Circus return to VAULT Festival with a brand new and extended version of Becoming Shades, taking audiences on an immersive underworld journey in the long dark tunnels of Waterloo's Vaults.

Becoming Shades will run as part of the VAULT Festival at The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN, Wednesday 24th January - Sunday 18th March 2018. Press Night: Friday 26th January, 9.30pm.

Based on the classical myth of Persephone, Becoming Shades is a bold re-imagining that fuses together live music, physical theatre, aerial acrobatics, fire, dance and mime. Journey down the River Styx and join these lost souls in the underworld.

In the original myth Hades kidnapped Persephone but this radical re-telling will subvert the power structure placing Persephone in control, at the centre of the story, leading to her true realisation as The Queen of Shades. Told through contemporary circus, Becoming Shades is a story of empowerment, love and choice.

This dark immersive circus places emphasis on specially composed original music which features rich interplays of vocal harmonies and a combination of live acoustic instruments alongside darker electronic sounds.

Producers of Becoming Shades comment, In 2018, the modern form of circus will celebrate its 250th birthday. In order to survive and reach out to new audiences, circus became more fragmented and more specialised. Contemporary circus was born out of a paradigm shift and a burst of newfound energy. We want to push this further in Becoming Shades. A traditional circus audience sits in a circular space with the performers at the centre. In immersive theatre the audience is in the centre and the action all around them. But if this is to become a fully tangible, immersive and interactive experience, then the action must happen closer, and on a smaller scale.

The production is raw, exciting and full of energy. Emotionally charged performances coupled with highly skilled stunts and acrobatics result in a production that is true to the essence of the underlying myth (London Theatre 1).

This shifting, cyclical tale creates an emotional tapestry of ideas and impressions. Featuring big aerial drops and exceptional fire elements, audiences choose their own path through this dark and cerebral journey.

Watch a trailer for the show below!

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IF YOU GO:

BECOMING SHADES

Director - Laurane Marchive
Producer - Edward Gosling
Producer - Ilai Szpiezak
Composer - Sam West
Costume Designer - Black Lune
Lighting Designer - Jessica Hung Han Yung
Designer - Carlotta Cabrera

Cast/Acrobats: Rebecca Rennison, Jessica Pearce, Rosie Bartley and Isobel Midnight
The full cast of Becoming Shades will be announced soon.

Wednesday 24th January - Sunday 18th March 2018
Wednesday - Sunday, 9.30pm
Running Time: 90 minutes

At VAULT Festival, The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN

The Vaults are located underneath Waterloo station (on the Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee lines). Leave Waterloo Station via Exit 1. Turn right onto Station Road Approach and keep on the right hand side of the road. Walk all the way to the bottom of the road and go down the first set of stairs you come to and turn right at the bottom of the stairs. The entrance to the VAULT Festival is 10 meters down the graffiti tunnel on the right hand side.

Tickets are available priced £22.50 from www.vaultfestival.com.

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Chivaree are an award-winning Production Company that create fearless and exciting immersive circus journeys. Playing with physical movement, technical ability and aesthetic beauty, they aim to re-imagine stories and create worlds giving agency to characters that upend traditional narratives.

Upstage Creative is the international umbrella-Production Company lead by Creative Producer Ilai Szpiezak. The company focuses on creating bespoke entertainment for events as well as developing new work for theatrical productions.

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