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Little Dove Theatre Art is a contemporary theatre company that draws strongly on the traditions of physical theatre and Live Art to create performances and events renowned for their visual spectacle, physical dynamism, and emotional honesty. Strongly grounded in culturally diverse and inclusive philosophies and practices, Little Dove strives to build strong relationships with diverse artforms and to actively expose audiences and participants to cross-cultural possibilities.
Since the inception of the company in 2006, Little Dove has been fueled by an on-going exploration of the varying manifestations of love, and the stories and performative forms found within. In their debut show, Six Women Standing In Front Of A White Wall, Little Dove established their trademark style by weaving together Butoh dance and Live Art in an extraordinary performance installation that explored our physiological need for human touch. First performed for a select audience in the rehearsal space at La Boite, Brisbane, Six Women has since become a multi-award winning production both internationally and within Australia. After receiving the Gasworks Professional Development Award for Six Women at the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2009, Little Dove utilised the rehearsal space offered in-kind by Gasworks Art Park to begin the development of their next full-length company show, CORDELIA.
CORDELIA marks the departure from a body of performance and event work which has previously centred largely on the physical, to a new phase for the company in which text and song begin to find equal standing onstage. Inspired by the unapologetic collision of forms that characterise the work of theatre director Barrie Kosky, Artistic Director of Little Dove, Chenoeh Miller, has created a new performance work that incorporates elements of Japanese Butoh, 80s dance, traditional wailing chants, classical ballet, punk cabaret, prose and natural text to extend the lyrical and emotional experience for the audience. Supported by a richly diverse ensemble of performers, CORDELIA also marks the company's first foray in to the realm of classical theatre literature.
Taking its inspiration from the characters and events of Act 1 Scene 1 in William Shakespeare's King Lear, CORDELIA is a contemporary prelude to Shakespeare's existing narrative that focuses primarily on the three sisters, the nature of their individual characters and the catalysts behind the dramatic changes in their relationships both with each other and their parents.
"This bold, intelligent, physically dynamic and sensual work will delight all who encounter it" - Caroline Stacey, Artistic Director/CEO The Street Theatre
CORDELIA proposes a very human portrait of the King and his family by delving in to the source of domestic tragedy, and although none of Shakespeare's text remains, the first scene of King Lear is lightly incorporated in to the climactic scene of CORDELIA. The fable-like nature of this opening scene confers a kind of universal quality to the themes explored in the play - abuse of power, familial relationships, the responsibilities of parents and children, and the human capacity for enormous love and enormous cruelty.
Awards for Little Dove Theatre Art (Six Women Standing In Front Of A White Wall):
• Best Dance Award, Melbourne Fringe 2009
• Gasworks Award, Melbourne Fringe 2009
• Bank of Scotland Herald Angel Award, Edinburgh Fringe 2007
• Scotland on Sunday Best Direction Award, Edinburgh Fringe 2007
• Total Theatre Nominee (Experimental Theatre), Edinburgh Fringe 2007
• Fringe Sell Out Show, Edinburgh Fringe 2007
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