Shackleton's Endurance Premier Centenary Performance and launch of CD on Sun 26th Oct 2014...
At 8 p.m. in George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow.
This is a wonderful production which has been worked on by all tirelessly over the last year. The music, narration and images are breathtaking and emotionally gripping- an event not to be missed.
2014 marks the centenary of the Endurance expedition the greatest survival story ever told. In 1914, Ernest Shackleton and Endurance left Europe literally to the sounds of the outbreak of the First World War. Shackleton the County Kildare, born South Pole explorer and his crew hoped to achieve one of the last great challenges by crossing Antarctica from coast to coast. What followed was one of the most daring and adventurous escapes from the clutches of oblivion.
This is the first ever Multimedia Performance of original work celebrating the centenary of the Endurance Expedition, 1914. This unique and innovative Performance will, for the first time, tell Shackleton Endurance story through the evocative medium of words, music and vision. Recognition of the centenary is international and Ireland’s contribution to Polar exploration is an occasion of national pride, and this composition articulates this to the highest degree.
Under the auspices of Athy Heritage Centre-Museum and with support from Kildare County Council Arts Office, “Shackleton's Endurance” began to take shape.
Much work followed to analyse the story into its principal movements - the optimism of departure, the devastation of losing the ship, the hopelessness of drifting on an ice sheet lost to the world, through to the daring voyage of the James Caird and the rescue of the crew. From early on, it was clear that the music and narrative would translate dramatically to the stage. An astonishingly moving and beautiful work composed by Brian Hughes along with the emotionally written narration by John Mackenna, this performance will celebrate Shackleton’s achievement. Accompanying the performance on stage is the Co. Kildare Orchestra, the male section of the Monastervein Gospel Choir, and other musicians which include Shana Davey, Seamus Brett…
The visual element was created by Craig Blackwell and will add another intriguing element to the performance.
Alexandra Shackleton, the explorer’s grand-daughter will officially open this Premier Performance. The fact that Athy Heritage Centre Museum houses the only permanent exhibition to Ernest Shackleton, the composer Brian Hughes is from Athy, writer John MacKenna is from Castledermot, and the CD was recorded at Paul Moore’s studio in Grangemellon, a stone’s throw from Shackleton’s birthplace, brings a local empathy to the work – given that Ernest Shackleton was born and spent his early years in Kilkea, Co Kildare.
Shackleton’s Endurance is a powerful, evocative, and sublime piece of work and the world premiere on October 26th at the GBS is not to be missed.
Tickets are on sale from: the George Bernard Shaw Theatre Online Box office or Ph: (0599172400) or through Athy Heritage Centre at €15 and early booking is advisable.
