Gaudete is OBRA’s stage version of Ted Hughes’ poetic novel of the same name, performed by an international ensemble of 8 performers.

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The life of a Yorkshire village is shattered when elemental spirits replace the parish priest with his double. Alternative realities collide as this changeling interprets the gospel of love in his own alarming fashion. What goes on at the Women’s Institute?

OBRA’s eight strong international ensemble interweave the visceral language of Hughes’ seminal work with intimate physicality and dynamic choreography, accompanied by a cinematic soundscape and live junkyard percussion. This is theatre that embraces the transformative power of language and the body; dark, complex and touching, Gaudete is a physical and lyrical feast of ensemble theatre.

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In 2017 Gaudete was performed at The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (UK), The Lowry, Salford (UK), Barnsley Civic Theatre, Barnsley (UK) and at the Theatre Sorano (FR. It was developed in residence at the HUB, Leeds (UK) CIRCa, Auch (FR) the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (UK), Theatre Sorano (FR) and the Au Brana Centre (FR). It was developed in partnership with the Ted Hughes estate, the Ted Hughes foundation with funding from the Arts Council England, the Occitane Region and the DRAC and the Gers Department (FR)

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Gaudete Act I The prologue won the Jury prize for best dramaturgy at the BE festival Birmingham 2012

 

ARTISTIC TEAM

Director: Kate Hannah Papi

Dramaturgy: Kate Hannah Papi and Oliviero Papi

Performers: Rachel Alexander, Ixchel Rubio Martinez, Eilon Morris, Oliviero Papi, Ed Richards, Gemma Rowan, Caitlin Rose Smith and Fabian Wixe

Original music: Eilon Morris

Lighting Design; Yves-Marie Corfa