The Angelica Complex

The Angelica Complex

Three elements were the starting points for director Priscilla Jackman’s The Angelica Complex – sand, a cello, and an opera singer. From there the theme of postnatal depression was written through prose by co-creator Sunny Grace. Grace couldn’t connect with an opera singer, so Jackman sent her an aria, which inspired them.

“I found a really beautiful track from a Puccini opera so I sent it through to her… it turns out that song is the essential aria from a really rarely performed opera, which was written for all women,” she explained. “This opera from the 1700’s was about an illegitimate mother who lives in a convent and her name is Angelica.”

This production focuses on motherhood through the ages, and explores those themes through a number of mediums: humour, opera singing, video projections and poetic prose.

“This is a historical lineage of mothers and how we exist in this world,” Jackman explained. “Our heroine Angelica is offset by a beautiful opera singer, our classical music speaks more to the historical lineage of women. [There is a] theme of nature versus nurture throughout the process and it’s been exciting to explore creatively.”

Not only is the cast all female but the majority of the crew is too. Ten women and one man work together in this production, proving that girls really do run the world.

This performance will debut as part of Invisible Circus – a season of plays, performances and provocations written and directed by Australian women. (AMal)

Until Nov 27, varied performance times. Kings Cross Theatre, Lvl 2 Kings Cross Hotel, 244-248 William St, Kings Cross. $20-$30. Tickets, info & full festival program: www.kingsxtheatre.com

BY ATHINA MALLIS

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