Macnas: Gilgamesh Film
01.09.2021Macnas present
GILGAMESH
A Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture Commission
Macnas, master storytellers in spectacle, present Gilgamesh, a film which will premiere on Sunday 12 September at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway.
A 22-minute film shot on location in the west of Ireland, Gilgamesh will be screened in front of a live, socially distanced, in-person audience, followed by a live ‘In Conversation’ with director Noeline Kavanagh and playwright Marina Carr. There will be three screenings throughout the day, with a limited in-person audience per government guidelines. Tickets are free and will be available to book online via the Town Hall Box Office from 10am on Thursday 2 September. Visit https://tht.ie/
On Thursday 16 September the film will receive its UK premiere at the London Irish Centre. For tickets and information, visit https://londonirishcentre.org/
Gilgamesh will also be available to View On Demand for 48 hours only on 18 and 19 September 2021 via Eventive. Visit Macnas.com for more information.
Filmed on location around Ireland earlier this year, the film completes a series of stunning shorts inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh – the oldest surviving work of world literature; an epic poem with themes of love, power and death that are relevant to the present day. Firmly rooted in the landscapes of Ireland, this is a beautiful Macnas-infused interpretation of an ancient story, the first ever hero’s journey written over 3,000 years ago.
Gilgamesh brings the magical large-scale images and stunning artistry of the internationally acclaimed spectacle theatre company Macnas to the big screen for the very first time to reveal a story which explores the fundamental themes of why we exist and how we exist as human beings – leadership, love, power, death and environmental crisis – to an international audience. Join Macnas to be immersed in another world, from the majestic city of Uruk and the bogs and deserts of earth, to the realm of the Gods. All represented by spectacular landscape of Ireland.
The award-winning creative team includes playwright Marina Carr, cinematographer Colm Hogan, co- designers Julian Crouch and Orla Clogher, costume designer Cherie White, music and sound design Nick Powell, joined by a stellar team of local artists and makers who all collaborated to shapeshift and translate this mythical story for a whole new audience.
Gilgamesh is directed by Noeline Kavanagh with a cast that includes Curtis-Lee Ashqar as Gilgamesh, Aaron Edo as Enkidu, Maeve Fitzgerald as Ninsun, Ella-Lily Hyland as Shamhat, Úna Kavanagh as Ishtar, San Shella as Enlil and Sean McGinley as Uta.
Photo credit: Julia Dunin
