by Die Wolke art group. 14-15 Oct 2017 at Vitruvian Thing
(vitruvianthing.com)
Eloise: Drosia Triantaki
Henrietta: Anna Kyriazi
Clementine: Olina Economidou
Bass clarinet: Thanos Sideris
Trumpet: Dimitris Dalezis
Voice of Thaddeus Rowley: Dani Joss
Choreography: Drosia Triantaki
Costumes: Maria Louvari
Music: Dimitris Dalezis, Dani Joss
Production: Die Wolke art group
Taking place in a universe inspired by early industrialism, steampunk, and the futurist works of the early 20th century, the story follows three characters, Henrietta, Clementine, and Eloise, and their relationship to a machine tied to their world's ecosystem. As control of the situation is gradually lost, the interactions between the three intensify… Their only clue is a radio transmission of unknown origin, fragments of which are received at critical plot points. Is it a whisper from the future, a message from another, parallel world, or something even stranger? Cascade feeds the viewer’s imagination and challenges him/her to immerse in the world of collision of the natural and the mechanical.
Thematically, Cascade is about climate change, cumulative phenomena, and points beyond which it is impossible to recover, supported by extensive use of sound art, diffused in quadraphonic surround sound. The music draws upon the traditions of musique concrète, while expanding its discourse to embrace instrumental arrangements, with live trumpet and bass clarinet, as well as cinematic sound design. Control and the loss thereof demarcate a condition that defines the kinetic “cascade” of the choreographic intent.
Having memorised the operations manuals, Eloise fulfils her daily maintenance routine. All the gauges read normally, all the levers set to the day’s predetermined positions. No exceptions. It wasn’t always like that. She can remember being outside when she was little. She could hear the grown-ups talking about their weather balloons, about trying to stop something that sounded really important. Still feels important for some reason. But that memory is so far away now, faded, like an etching that has become unreadable over time.
