“A bold new fusion of contemporary dance, spectacular stage combat and haunting filmscore soundscapes, bring Beowulf to life. Blending timeless tales of valour, vengeance and leadership into an immersive story.”
Development Workshop
Venue: Royal & Derngate Theatre
Date: TBC
Gallery
Our development workshop will take place over two days, at the Royal and Derngate Theatre Northampton. Day one will focus on the technical and artistic development of a movement and sound language and on day two we are inviting technically strong, experienced dancers and other combat practitioners to join us as we explore this dialogue further.
Reimagining an Epic Tale - Synopsis
In a brutal war-torn world, Beowulf, a legendary warrior, must show her worth as a valiant and courageous leader but will personal pride be her downfall when faced with a monstrous foe. By risking it all Beowulf must take one last stand knowing that she may have to pay the ultimate price. But will the people who she swears to protect stand with her one final time? And what happens when faced with a choice that puts herself and those she must protect most at risk. Will true leadership be her only legacy. Beowulf’s story will explore just that.
Cast & Creatives
Anton Lesser
Narrator
Adding gravitas to the project is Anton Lesser’s narration. Known for his role as Qyburn in Game of Thrones, Thomas More in BBC’s Wolf Hall and Chief Superintendent Bright in ITV’s Endeavour, Anton is also an associate of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has performed numerous Shakespearean roles on stage and on television. Lesser’s commanding voice and storytelling expertise provide the perfect anchor to this reimagined Beowulf, offering depth and power to the unfolding narrative.
Andy Cox
Production Creator & Composer
Drawing on this 6th-century legend, Production Creator and Composer Andy Cox places a hybridised orchestral score with haunting, soundscapes that will propel the narrative forward, creating an atmospheric experience that echoes the emotional weight of cinematic scores while immersing audiences in the intimacy of a live theatre space. Andy, whose critically acclaimed work on the Olivier Nominated production of Our Lady of Kibeho and the impressive exhibition, Spellbound at the Ashmolean, Oxford, brings his acute observation of sound, to his immersive and theatrical style that will delicately blend live sound and narrative text with his etherial orchestral scores.
Ed Gamester
Combat Director
The movement language of Beowulf will be developed and brought to life under the direction of renowned Combat Director Ed Gamster. Known primarily for his work on the international phenomenon Mythos Ragnarok, Ed along with a small company of multidisciplinary movement practitioners will explore the movement to sound connection, where the language of contemporary dance merges with stage combat to create a movement voice both breathtakingly beautiful but also raw and brutal. These dynamic confrontations are not just action but visceral expressions of the human spirit’s fight against darkness. Every gesture has a meaning and reflects the internal and external struggles Beowulf faces as she confronts herself, her people, and her adversaries.
Madeleine Willis
Project Manager
Madeleine trained in Technical Stage Management at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and worked in the West End before spending years touring the UK and Europe with opera, dance, and musicals. She then used her skills in production and technical management to home educate her two children through to A Levels! Now a freelance producer and project manager, she works in both theatre and corporate events.
Much like ‘Beowulf’, which blends history, mythology, and leadership, Madeleine’s career combines creativity, practical experience, and a passion for bringing ideas to life—values that are just as relevant today as they were centuries ago.
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