Creating original new works and radical re-workings of classical texts. They fuse live music, visually arresting imagery, choreographic movement and poetic text into dynamic works capable of thrilling, challenging and sometimes infuriating its audience. Their most recent works seek to engage and involve the audience in the creation and meaning of the work.
the bettybooke is an ensemble of performers, directors and musicians who compose work collectively.
In both form and content their work is centred in the experience of relationships, meetings - ‘the space between’ actor, audience and space as a place, potentially, of conscience, intimacy and love. Works are shaped increasingly around the experience of the audience, seeking avenues for its audience to become ever more active observers, participants and collaborators in the work.
the bettybooke seemed compelled to seek for meaning through the chaos within and about us, and to wield these often disparate elements into a dynamic whole, intimate yet forceful, challenging yet engaging.
The Beast Banquet (2007) re-worked their previous show, the Belle, the Book, the Beast, into an invitation to join the performers at table to participate in a volatile pre-nuptial wedding party.
The Belle, the Book, the Beast (2005) is an original performance work blending text, image and movement, investigating the relationships between live presence and technology. The work blends text, choral movement and expressionistic lo-tech projection utilising performer-operated hand-held lighting.
2004’s All’s Well - remix fused a re-gendered Shakespeare text with a live techno DJ and harpsichordist in an immersive dance club scene.
The reinterpretation of the 1623 ‘tragedy of blood’ The Changeling (Green Room Award nomination for Outstanding Direction, 2003) assimilated classical text with a live Alice Cooper cover band, harmonic chant and '70s rock choreography.
