Dave in the Underworld

DISTILLED THEATRE: North Yorkshire writer/storyteller/performer Alexander Flanagan-Wright (pictured) and musician Phil Grainger bring their multi award-winning show Orpheus to the Dome next week. Picture supplied

The story of abandoned children Hansel and Gretel might be worth considering for Alexander Flanagan-Wright and Phil Grainger’s next off-the-wall production.

Wherever the two UK performers go with their show Orpheus they leave in their wake a paper trail of awards. During their New Zealand tour various fringe festivals have confettied them with Most Promising Emerging Artist award, and Wellington’s George Webby Most Promising Newcomer award.

On Sunday, the North Yorkshire duo’s retelling of the 5000- year-old story Orpheus won them Dunedin’s coveted Best in Fringe award. And now they are coming here.

No prior knowledge of the ancient Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice is required, says Flanagan-Wright. The hero of his and Grainger’s tragedy is a bloke called Dave who is at a karaoke bar when his life changes.

“It takes place in modern day and starts with a bloke called Dave who has always seen the world in greyscale. He’s at a bar on his 30th birthday, karaoke singing a Bruce Springsteen song when a woman made of colour walks in.”

Flanagan-Wright is the story-teller, Grainger plays the musicThat woman is Eurydice. In the Greek tale Orpheus is a musician — which is where Grainger comes in. Flanagan-Wright is the story-teller, Grainger plays the music. Orpheus’s music could charm even stones which meant both humans and gods were deeply touched by his sorrow when his beloved Eurydice was fatally bitten by a snake.

When Orpheus descended into the underworld to find her, Hades told him he could take Eurydice back with him but he should not look at her before they got out into the light or he would lose her forever.

In the North Yorkshire story-teller and musician’s production Dave must make his case to free Eurydice from the clasp of Hades, from where no one has ever returned alive.

“When we start the story it’s very rooted in this world,” says Flanagan-Wright.

“Because of the sad ending of the story we end with it in the underworld.”

Flanagan-Wright and Grainger’s intimate performance transported viewers through dive bars and late-night karaoke and left some of the audience in tears, Dunedin Fringe Festival director Gareth McMillan told the Otago Daily Times.

“It was really moving, they had people singing along to Bruce Springsteen.”

Prefer to perform in non-theatre environmentsHaving taken the main centres Flanagan-Wright and Grainger are stepping outside fringe festivals to tour towns and communities which seems to be where they are most comfortable. They also prefer to perform in non-theatre environments such as houses, pubs, halls, shops, tunnels, libraries, foyers, bars and empty lofts.

“We grew up in the middle of nowhere in the UK,” says Flanagan-Wright.

“We find it’s nicer to go to places where we can have a conversation with audiences and get rid of that traditional separation from the audience; having a drink with everyone then getting on with the show.

“Everyone is in the same moment.”

Orpheus, the Greek myth, is a story Flanagan-Wright has loved since he was a kid. He thinks he and his classmates must have staged a pint-sized version of it.

“It’s been a story I’ve been enamoured with for a long time.”

The idea for his and Grainger’s production came about three years ago during a two week break from the stage. Flanagan-Wright booked a tour around the Scottish Highlands. He asked Grainger if they should do a version of Orpheus or The Odyssey.

Orpheus it was.

“We put the show together in a week. I’m the writer, Phil’s the musician. The show focuses on one person talking and one person singing.”

This is theatre stripped back to its original function — to make a story come to life for a gathering of people, but the pair take their audience to another place.

“Such are Wright’s poetic powers of transcendent language, rhythmically interwoven with the soaring singing of Grainger’s soulful songs, that Dave must stand a better chance than anyone of securing her release,” enthuses Charles Hutchinson in York’s The Press.

“Hell, yeah, this Orpheus is a hymn to love wrapped in a beautiful, magical, heart-pounding piece of high-stakes theatre, Bruce Springsteen singalong and all.”

Orpheus, the Dome, April 12, 8.30pm. Tickets $20 + bf eventfinda, $20 from the Aviary or $25 cash- only door sales.