The Epic of Gilgamesh
Perth Festival 2021
Produced by Injured Ninja and The Church of Belligerence
Performed at The Rechabite Hall, Perth
Development of a brand new version of the Epic of Gilgamesh - now being developed into an even bigger project.
THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
In the progenitor literary work The Epic of Gilgamesh , the death of the titular god-king’s companion Enkidu taught him that...
“...fighting the common fate of humans is futile and diminishes life’s joys.”
He learned that a life of war and endless libation was unsustainable, and he went on to become the 151 year king.
Returning to Perth Festival in 2021, the newest incarnation of live multi-percussive dance ensemble THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH. Against the red dust landscape of Australia, the body of Enkidu is burned in ritual offering to the gods - his tales of rage and celebration played with cathartic, mournful delight.
Featuring original music written and performed by West Australian ‘Noise-Punk’ act INJURED NINJA, a cacophonous orchestra, accompanied by multiple drum kits and a fleet of percussionists, surrounds and engulfs the audience with sound, filling spaces with raw energy, demanding movement and dance from it’s audience.
In collaboration with THE CHURCH OF BELLIGERENCE , the return of the epic will introduce newelements of lighting and pyrotechnics, incorporating dancers, projection mapping and sculpture as a large effigy is burned (simulated and real) on the celebratory funeral pyre in a storm of ecstatic red dust.
It’s a celebration of what has been gained, what has been lost, and a moment to reflect on how we will live our future.
THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH was first performed in 2009 at The Bakery as a fundraising event for INJURED NINJA. It was subsequently re-enforced and re-booted to appear at multiple events and festivals including the 2010 Perth International Arts Festival.
This new performance sees the return of the Epic for the first time in more than a decade, in its biggest production yet.
Press
X-Press Magazine
THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH @ The Rechabite gets 9/10
https://xpressmag.com.au/the-epic-of-gilgamesh-the-rechabite-gets-9-10/