MUSE
November 19th-23rd, 2019
Tristan Bates Theatre
"The urge to destroy is also a creative urge"
Mikhail Bakunin.
MUSE is a new play based on the life of surrealist photographer Dora Maar and her relationship with Pablo Picasso. As the enigmatic muse behind Picasso's 'Weeping Woman', she appears always fragmented, not quite there, forever refracted and distorted through his gaze. Taking place during WWII, the play explores the inherent violence of the relationship between artist and muse. MUSE takes us on a surreal journey through time, colours, tears, blood, and fragments, asking what is the price to pay for a place in the long halls of art history?
August 22nd-25th, 2019
Camden People's theatre
★★★★
★★★★
Fringe Review
★★★★
★★★★
Broadway World
★★★★
★★★★
“Visually evocative storytelling... [A] polished script that flows steadily in delicate progression and clever staging that lightly evokes canvases, engaging the audience's imagination to fill in the visual blanks of its neutral tones with colour.”
“Confident and adept… sterling performances”
“Both broad and subtle”
“There is enough good writing and direction to mark Georgieva as one to watch.”
“This is a great little play that shows how the lives of many women were sacrificed for the creation of Picasso’s art... A beautiful, moving production”
“With a talented cast of 6 and the very clever use of a small space, Antonia Georgieva succeeds in telling a story that feels both epic and personal.”
Production Images
From left to right: Sarah Kentish, Denitza Zafirova, Claire-Monique Martin, Harry Kingscott, and Zoe Lambrakis
Denitza Zafirova and Jahmai Maasai as Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso in MUSE.
Denitza Zafirova and Harry Kingscott in MUSE.
From left to right: Sarah Kentish, Denitza Zafirova, Claire-Monique Martin, Harry Kingscott, and Zoe Lambrakis
Production shots: Ali Wright
www.aliwrightphotography.com
CAST & TEAM
DORA MAAR: Denitza Zafirova
PABLO PICASSO: Jahmai Maasai
MARIE-THERESE WALTER / FRANÇOISE GILOT: Sarah Kentish
LISE DEHARME: Zoë Lambrakis
PAUL ELUARD: Harry Kingscott
NUSCH ELUARD: Claire-Monique Martin
DIRECTOR & PLAYWRIGHT: Antonia Georgieva
CO-DIRECTOR: Brad Welch
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER: Cara Evans
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR: Mandy Gordon
PRODUCER: Frederick Zennor
TRAINEE PRODUCER: Leone Kessel
STAGE MANAGER: Alex Holmes
COMPOSER: Timna Lugstein
ANTONIA GEORGIEVA
Director & Playwright
Antonia Georgieva is a London-based director and playwright specializing in new writing and adaptations of the classics. She is particularly passionate about telling women's stories tackling representation and equality. She has directed a wide range of productions for both theatrical and found spaces, including a site-specific production of Hamlet which performed in New York in 2018. Antonia graduated Cum Laude from Columbia University, where she was also awarded the Austin E. Quigley Award (2018) and the Seymour Brick Award for Playwriting (2017). She is currently completing her MFA at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and is also a member of the devising theatre company 'Punkt Collective.
BRAD WELCH
Co-Director
Brad Welch is a theatre maker and facilitator working as a performer, director and dramaturg with a diverse range of collaborators and audiences. He enjoys helping others to develop and share their creative practices and passions with new and exciting audiences. He is a teacher at The Ufton Drama Summer School since 2019 working with young people from across the globe, and works as a DM at the Battersea Arts Centre. He has recently completed an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
CARA EVANS
Set & Costume Designer
Cara Evans is a performance designer and theatre-maker based in London. They have particular interests in devising and new writing and are part of the Royal Court’s invitational Script Panel. They trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, The University for the Creative Arts and The National Youth Theatre in Design for Stage, Fine Art and Scenic Construction respectively. They have assisted a variety of designers including Fly Davis, Naomi Dawson and Sophie Jump. They are currently working on a cross arts performance with OPIA Collective at the Bunker Theatre.
https://www.caravansdesign.com/
MANDY GORDON
Movement Director
Mandy is a London based movement director, choreographer and teacher. Mandy contributes to theatre productions, animation, film and multi-disciplinary productions and training courses. Recent movement and choreography credits include; ’The Cherry Orchard’ directed by Janet Suzman at CSSD; ‘Beyond the Deepening Shadows’ the WW1 commemoration at the Tower of London, ‘About 500’ Directed by Simona Hughes, ‘Richard II’ directed by Jon Pashley and ‘Stoning Mary’ by debbie tucker green directed by Gareth White, both at CSSD. Mandy has a BA (hons) in Drama and Religious studies from Brunel and subsequently developed her choreographic and devising skills at The London Contemporary Dance School and has just completed her Masters in Movement Directing and Teaching at CSSD.
FREDERICK ZENNOR
Producer
Frederick Zennor is a theatre maker based in London and California. Specialising in surrealist horror and artpop, Zennor’s work varies from new writing to adaptations of classical texts. In 2018, Zennor directed a contemporary re-imagining of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure that opened in San Diego to rave reviews. Other projects include Awkward Conversations with Animals I’ve F*cked (National Tour), Inkwell Productions’ Waiting for Godot, Homos, or Everyone in America at The Finborough, and Invisible Light at the Tristan Bates Theatre.
LEONE KESSEL
Trainee Producer
Leone is a London-based gap year student who is currently focussed on gaining experience in the areas of theatre production and performance before starting at Bristol University in September. She has previously performed in adaptations of ‘The Deep Blue Sea’, ‘Orphans’, ‘Treasure Island’, and ‘Hedda Gabler’ amongst others, as well as helping to write and direct a modern adaptation of Leila Slimani’s best-selling book ‘Lullaby’ last year. She is excited to be involved with Aslant Theatre Company and for this opportunity to gain more hands-on experience in her role as Trainee Producer.
ALEX HOLMES
Stage Manager
TIMNA LUGSTEIN
Composer