Menagerie in Dreams
23 - 28 January 2024
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre
23 - 28 January 2024
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre
Pass through a liminal space of lullabies and escape into dreamland. Serene then surreal - sometimes funny and sometimes dark - the 80+ voices of Menagerie will carry you through the twists and turns of a mind in slumber, with original choral arrangements of indie songs. Beginning with dusk and ending with dawn, featuring beautiful sky imagery throughout, this is a whimsical choral adventure in, out and between the bewitching, absurd and powerful places our minds can take us in the night. Surrender to Menagerie’s energetic choral sonorities, unique visual effects and evocative instrumental sounds.
THE SONGS
1. Counting Sheep by Safia
Written by Michael Bell, Harrison Sayers and Benjamin Woolner-Kirkham, 2015
Arranged by Ellie Podmore
Choir are wearing clothes in black, dark blues and dark purples, evoking a night sky. Most of the choir are in rows on low steps, and some form a circle around our Zookeeper (conductor) closer to the audience. During the song they circle around her forming a ticking clock. Partway through the song the clock starts glitching, with some steps going backwards, reflecting the disorderly nature of the subconscious realm as the audience descends into sleep. A video projected behind the choir shows a spiralling clock, fading into sunset imagery of slowly darkening moving clouds. Some sheep appear, fading in and out of the clouds.
2. They by Jem
Written by Gerard Young, Lamar Swingle Ward and Jemma Griffiths, 2004
Arranged by Stephen C. Beaver and Bec Ng
Choir rearranges, with some still on low steps and others forming a grid pattern in front. As the song progresses the singers in the grid move robotically through an interweaving pattern. The projection shows clouds that are mirrored top and bottom, as though another world sits above the normal skyscape.
3. Floaty Dream Medley
Dreaming, Swimming by Lisa Mitchell. Written by Lisa Mitchell
Caribbean Blue by Enya. Written by Roma Ryan, Nicholas Ryan and Eithne Brennan
Stars and Moons by Dizzy. Written by Katie Munshaw, Charles Spencer, Mackenzie Spencer and Alexander Spencer
Broken Sleep by Agnes Obel. Written by Agnes Obel
(Nice Dream) by Radiohead. Written by Edward O'Brien, Philip Selway, Thomas Yorke, Colin Greenwood and Jonathan Greenwood
Arranged by Sal Banyard
The grid singers melt into the larger choir group and all form a deep semicircle, with gentle movement and expressions evoking gentle, beautiful dreaminess. The projection starts with imagery of clouds over slowly rippling water during a bright orange sunset. Skies in this video match the gentle energy of the song, with clouds moving slowly overhead.
4. Mirrorage by Glasser
Written by Cameron Mesirow and Ariel Rechstaid, 2010
Arranged by Sal Banyard
The singers add some sparkly/shiny elements to their clothing (capes, headbands and so on) in a nod to the reflective nature of mirrors and dreams. They move into a triangle with the point towards the back of the stage. Shiny geometric animal masks are scattered through the choir. The projection shows fast-moving clouds over the skyline, with clouds moving towards the audience. The top and bottom are mirrored reflections, and as the video progresses the number of refractions increases, so at the most dramatic point of the song the projection looks like a moving kaleidoscope of coloured clouds. This simplifies gradually until we see a single image of the sky by song’s end.
5. Bury a Friend by Billie Eilish
Written by Finneas O'Connell and Billie O'Connell, 2019
Arranged by Casey Jenkins, Sal Banyard and Alexander Hill
The choir spreads out across most of the stage, lightly suggesting a graveyard of headstones. Movement and expressions are ominous, and projections feature lightning in clouds, giving a sense of the apprehension and fear that nightmares can carry. The choir advances on the audience a step at a time in some parts of the song. The projection is of the night-time sky during a storm, with illuminated buildings recognisable as Perth city. Flickers of stone angels appear in the clouds illuminated by lightning.
6. If You Keep Losing Sleep by Silverchair
Written by Daniel Johns, 2007
Arranged by Alexander Hill
Some clothing elements in strong reds, yellows and blues are added to choir clothing, including some more fanciful items (feathered headbands, waistcoats and so on). The choir is getting more rambunctious, and the song ends with the choir/mob pulling the Zookeeper offstage as she’s still trying to conduct through the chaos. The projection includes lots of layers of clouds moving in different directions and showing similar bright reds, yellows and blues. Changes between images are more sudden, and tombstones rise out of the background as though moving through a graveyard. Colours intensify towards the end of the song.
7. Mowgli's Road by Marina
Written by Marina Diamandis and Liam Howe, 2010
Arranged by Sal Banyard
The mob flings the Zookeeper back on stage and follow her back on, pulling on a kaleidoscope of brightly coloured, weird and animal-themed costume pieces as they rush back into place, scrambling to continue the performance in a feverish ‘am I ready enough?’ stress dream, that settles into ‘definitely ready!’ exuberance. The projection includes bright colours mirroring the costumes, rapidly moving clouds and animals that move in and out and blend with the clouds, such as viewers might see when looking for shapes in the clouds. This all produces a fast-paced surreal, psychedelic dream landscape. Reflective cutout objects (including clouds, a monkey, a seahorse and a fish) from the show’s poster are held on long poles by singers in the back row. These cast shadows into the projection, joining our world with the dream world.
8. Ride This Feeling by Kate Miller-Heidke
Written by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttal, 2012
Arranged by Casey Jenkins
During a brief blackout between this and the previous song, many of the weirder and wilder costume elements have been pulled off and thrown onto the floor, so when the lights come up the choir is still colourful and buoyant, but not quite so chaotic. Projections return to a more normal world without added bright colours, showing fast-moving water in a bay with boats. The projection shows clouds over land, and linger on each location before smoothly changing to the next.
9. Dreams by Beck
Written by Beck Hansen, Gregory Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt, 2017
Arranged by Andrew Russell
The vibe is of an evening coming to a close - relaxed but celebratory. There is no set choir movement, but singers are individually moving to the music and enjoying their performance. Two choir members come to the front and dance as they sweep discarded clothing off stage, returning to the choir when finished. Projections include some natural skies and some with added colour. They blend into each other at a medium pace, and include a setting crescent moon.
10. Sweet Dreams / Seven Nation Army. Mashup by Pamplamoose featuring Sarah Dugas
Written by Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart and Jack White
Mashup by Pamplamoose and Sarah Dugas, 2019
Arranged by Tahnee Thompson
This mashup of two well known songs - Sweet Dreams and Seven Nation Army - serves as a joyous finishing song that the audience can join in on. Choir layout and clothing remain the same as the previous song.
THE CHOIR
Abby O'Rourke, Adele Leahy, Alex Castle, Alexander Hill, Alice Trend, Amanda Comi, Andrew Russell, Angela Kowald, Ann Curran, Anne Finch, Bec Ng, Beck Wiltshire, Blakey Mulraney, Carley Morrell, Casey Jenkins, Casey Thomas, Cath Colvin, Chiara Acciano, Chris Coman, Cindy Chandler , Claire Stewart, Clare McLaren , Courtney Rattenbury, Dani Everett Stotzer, Danielle Radford, David Joske, Doug McKay, Elena Dawson, Ellen Kang, Ellie Podmore, Gabby Vogl, Gayle Richards-Miitel, Georgie Gee, Gerri Berry, Gillian Stack, Guinevere Hall, Helen Corker, Helen Gloyne, Helen McFarlane, Helena Parker , Izzy Wilson, James Miitel, Jeannette Geesmann, Jess Theunissen , Jess Holmes, Jesse Paterson, Jill Gale, Jo Manning, Jo McInnes, Joanne Eggleston , Joanne Burgess, John O'Rourke, Jonathan Anderson, Judd Millner , Kacy Mateljan, Kara Spradbury, Karen Barlow , Karen McKenna, Kate Ballard, Kath Norcross, Katherine Bonds, Kelly Hamilton, Krista Bingham, Kylie Hosking, Lanny Hoskin, Laura Thomas, Lauren Gleeson , Lisa Gleeson, Liz Bowman, Liz Connor, Lynda Hastings-Smith, Maria Belakova , Maria Strataki, Mark Podmore, Marnie Rowan, Mel Holst, Melanie Baumanis, Michele Nugent , MJ Birkett, Naomi Christensen, Narelle Harvey , Neil Francis, Nicole Oeij , Olly Berry, Paddy Louden, Penny Graziotti, Pia Duxbury , Rebekah Barnett, Rob Murray , Rowena Davies, Sally Banyard, Sally Hutchinson , Sarah Janali, Sarah McLean, Sophie Feore, Steph Rush , Steph Jenkins, Stephanie Cleeve, Sven Colic , Tahnee Thompson, Tilly Gorce, Tracey Cross, Trish Gaunt, Vanessa Lombardo, Yen Mascarenhas
Zookeeper
Sal Banyard
Creative Panel
Courtney Rattenbury, Ellie Podmore, Kacy Mateljan, Paddy Louden, Penny Graziotti, Steph Rush, Tahnee Thompson
Control Panel
Alex Castle, Bec Ng, Gillian Stack, Kate Ballard, Mark Podmore, Pia Duxbury, Rob Murray
Choralography
Stephanie Cleeve, Sal Banyard
Projections
Tahnee Thompson, with Sky Footage Captured by Choristers
Artwork
Tahnee Thompson, Vanessa Lombardo
Instrumentalists
Violin - Bec Hooper
Cello - Emma Vanderwal
Horn - Wendy Tait
Keys - Joshua James Webb
Drums - Martha Bird
Vibraphone/percussion - Maddie Colvin
Auslan Interpreter (25 Jan Show)
Dianne Prior
Thank you for dreaming with us