An exciting collaboration will take place for this year's Brisbane Festival, when visual theatre masterminds Dead Puppet Society (DPS) and leading physical theatre company Legs On The Wall present 'Holding Achilles’.
It's an epic, explosive re-telling of Homer's 'Iliad', reclaiming its queer elements. Set against the intense violence of the Trojan War, it blends heightened physicality and visual storytelling to weave a legend of mythic proportions.
Thanks to this collaboration, the physical potentials of humans and the possibilities of man-made creatures are both showcased throughout 'Holding Achilles'.
The cast is led by Stephen Madsen and Karl Richmond as lovers Achilles and Patroclus, and a haunting live score performed by Montaigne and composed with Tony Buchen and Chris Bear completes the picture.
Here, Karl Richmond (Patroclus) answers some questions about the production.
Image © Joel Devereux
Firstly, describe ‘Holding Achilles’ for us.
'Holding Achilles' takes the original story from the 'Iliad' but focuses on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. The story is told through scenes, flying, epic battles, puppets and kissing.
What main themes in this show do you think are the most important to communicate?
It might be our ethics around war. The realisation that this ‘other side’ you’re fighting is no different than you, and the ethical quandary that follows. Either that or that queers are good fighters.
Talk a bit about your character Patroclus.
We call him Paddy in the rehearsal room. He is a very delicate boy, with wisdom beyond his years. The kind of child you’d want to protect from the world. One of those impossibly kind people, who even when faced with terrible circumstances, somehow blossoms into a good person. He is a modern day hero.
Image © Carlita Sari
What’s the main thing about Patroclus you can relate to or understand?
In many respects, nothing. So much of who Paddy is, is about fighting for the greater good, he is a true hero, like a light Batman type. I feel too messy to relate to someone so good. But I do get pissed off when I see someone else bullying another, and even though I’ll avoid even the smallest conflict, I’d rather burn the world down than let someone with power hold another down, something we see grow in Paddy as the Trojan war rages over ten years. The difference is Paddy is able to yield to authority to serve the greater good, whereas I’d probably get myself killed. The biggest thing we have in common is we both date men taller than us.
What’s your favourite part about this collaboration between Dead Puppet Society and Legs On The Wall?
I’m not sure how to explain it, but I think it’s the visual expertise of Dead Puppets in flow with Legs. Joshua from Legs will have us flying around the space, stretching our bodies in every way imaginable, which allows David and the DPS team to capture the most amazing moments. It never feels like any of it is dull, everything is exciting and new.
Image © Carlita Sari
Why do you think it’s a good fit for Brisbane Festival’s programming?
I think it’s perfect because it's bloody incredible. It’s ambition meets execution. It also showcases a lot of Brisbane’s talent, some known and some new which is really exciting.
And what are you most excited for audiences to witness in this show?
Super excited to show them the flying scenes with the poles and the centaur. Not sure how else to explain that.
Image © Carlita Sari
How are you hoping people respond – deeper than just being entertained by the work?
To be honest, I don’t know if I can ask more from people than that. The show is laced with meaning and thought, but what you take from it is up to you. At the very least I hope you’re going to be amazed by the sheer beauty of it. If you get some meaning from this lil Indigenous gay boy flying around on stage that’s great too, I know people seem to love that identity stuff nowadays, but personally I just want people to have fun.
'Holding Achilles' plays Queensland Performing Arts Centre as part of Brisbane Festival from 29 August-10 September.
