from the darkness of the theatre, subterranean landscapes unfold and erupt. you are invited upon an epic descent deep into the layers of the earth.
a perth festival commission 2022
video by sam fox
drawing on rituals around death, burial and honouring the body, the performance takes the form of an immersive rite - a voyage into realms beneath, or beyond, our own.
photos by peter cheng
“equal parts hypnotic and repellent, it speaks to a sense of temporality and frailty in the face of unstoppable forces.”
- the conversation
“a work of beauty and terror, which makes deeply rewarding demands on its audience.”
- the saturday paper
photos by emma fishwick
creative team
concept & direction rachel arianne ogle
choreography rachel arianne ogle in collaboration with the dancers
composers luke smiles, gabriella smart, alisdair macindoe
performers storm helmore, tyrone robinson, zee zunnur, imanuel dado, linton elethios, bethany reece
live piano gabriella smart
live production luke smiles
set & costume design bruce mckinven
lighting design bosco shaw
lighting associate peter young
costume technician sheridan savage
production manager mark haslam
producers rachel arianne ogle & sam fox
and the earth will swallow them whole had its commissioned premiere season in perth festival 2022
presented in the studio underground, state theatre centre of western australia
11th-14th February 2022
this project was assisted by perth festival; the australian government through the australia council for the arts, its arts funding and advisory body; the department of local government, sport and cultural industries, western australia; and STRUT dance.