SHEATH AND KNIFE
The young siblings and lovers Ciara and Henry Dochtery dream of a life in the city, far away from the claustrophobia and violence of the rural Scottish community they grew up in. In silence, they prepare their escape, but when Ciara becomes pregnant, she starts to ask herself whether her idea of freedom matches that of her lover. Eventually, after unexpected oppression and multiple attempts to find a way out, an ultimatum emerges: love or emancipation? Both is impossible.
Inspired by Scots-Irish murder ballads and musical styles including as folk, drone and doom, SHEATH AND KNIFE is a worker’s fable that portrays the trinity of the victim, the perpetrator and the observer, and how those roles constantly overlap and switch. In short encounters, memories, visions and live drone-folk ballads, the dark depths of a life scarred by endless misery and woe unfold; borne of darkness, scarred before birth and gasping for freedom, she is prepared to go as far as is necessary.
Premièred on the 21st October 2021 at Frascati Theatre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
CONCEPT, DIRECTION, TEXT, SCENOGRAPY AND LIGHTING DESIGN Erasmus Mackenna
PERFORMANCE AND LIVE MUSIC Teun Donders, Marit Hooijschuur and Erasmus Mackenna
MUSICAL DIRECTION Simme Wouters
PRODUCTION MANGEMENT Emma van Zandvoort
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION AND OPERATION Attila Nèmeth
SCENIC PHOTOGRAPHY Bart Grietens
PRODUCED BY Frascati Productions