BEOWULF
by Raventales Company
- a shadow puppetry show of this medieval tale for 8+ -
DATES
Friday 9 October 19.30 hrs
Saturday 10 October 15.00 hrs & 19.30 hrs
Sunday 11 October 15.00 hrs
Doors open 30 minutes before performance
LOCATION:
Nimbus Theatre
Willemstraat 7 (runs between Mauritskade and Kazernestraat),
2514 HJ The Hague
tickets:
Full price : € 15,00 (no discounts available)
Pillow seats for children : € 5,00
reservations:
Online in the Ticketshop of the English Theatre
T. 06 300 500 18
INFORMATION:
Michael's words are close to the original in sound and spirit, with flashes of Old English itself; while key scenes are illustrated by simple but powerful shadow theatre. Wendy's singing enhances these atmospheric shadow pictures; and so a fresh and unusual version will be presented of this powerful tale told by bards to our ancestors in their mead halls long before it was written down in the ninth century.
Beowulf – The Story:
Hrotgar, King of the Danes, and descendant of the famous Danish king Scyld (Shield),has built a great Hall, Heorot. For 12 years the monster Grendel has disturbed the peace of the hall by killing and eating some of the king’s warriors every night. Hrotgar calls in the help of Beowulf, a Swedish hero and nephew of Hygelac, King of the Geats.
Beowulf fights Grendel with his bare hands, since no weapon can pierce the monster’s skin and because Grendel does not use any weapons either, so God will have to decide who should win. In their struggle Beowulf tears off Grendel’s arm and the monster flees mortally wounded.
In several wars between the Geats, the Frisians, the Merovingians and the Franks (other Germanic tribes) Hygelac and his sons are slain so Beowulf becomes King of the Geats and rules for 50 years until a fire breathing dragon attacks his kingdom.
By now Beowulf is a very old man but since none of his followers dare to take on the dragon he once again has to face a terrible foe himself without support of his followers who dare not face the serpent. Shamed by the old king’s courage Wiglaf, his cousin, decides to help. Although they manage to kill the dragon Beowulf is mortally wounded. Before he dies Beowulf makes Wiglaf his heir since he was the only one brave enough to come to his aid.
The end of the poem describes Beowulf’s magnificent funeral.
'Beowulf' is suitable for 8 years upward. A show for adults and older children lasting one hour.
"A rich tapestry of words and image."
"I particularly liked the balance between the different elements - the modern and old English, the singing and speaking, the telling and the showing. How absolutely right that this story should be told again. The shadows were exquisite in their delicacy and power."
"Unforgettable - Imagine yourself at a feast in Hrothgar's great Mead Hall - you could have been entertained there by such tales and shadows as you will be enchanted by today a thousand years later - by Michael's inimitable thaumaturgy and Wendy's beautiful spell-weaving - pure magic - "
