‘Extraordinary: A Celebration Of The Life And Music Of George Butterworth’ is a unique, hybrid performance work that combines vocal recital, dramatization, projection, spoken text, symphonic recordings and biography. This piece was previewed at the Kings Head Theatre in London in August 2016 to commemorate the centenary of Butterworth’s death in WWI at the Somme. This intimate and powerful work explores the context of the relatively short life of this seminal, early 20th century composer.
Butterworth was a musical master in the making to many, a brave leader to others, a cypher to some and a tender friend to a few. Throughout his life, he appears to have been torn between his inner desires and his outward projection of seamlessly fitting into Edwardian morality, which was not an easy feat for the time. This production uses his complete Shropshire Lad song cycle, which is set to A. E. Housman’s sexually and powerfully charged poetry, as well as other selections of Butterworth’s iconic music alongside memories and comments by those that knew him. This dramatization seeks to explore the demons that pursued Butterworth and the elegiac love for fellow man that consumed him, giving context to why he chose to do what he chose to do with the time that he had.
Butterworth was a musical master in the making to many, a brave leader to others, a cypher to some and a tender friend to a few. Throughout his life, he appears to have been torn between his inner desires and his outward projection of seamlessly fitting into Edwardian morality, which was not an easy feat for the time. This production uses his complete Shropshire Lad song cycle, which is set to A. E. Housman’s sexually and powerfully charged poetry, as well as other selections of Butterworth’s iconic music alongside memories and comments by those that knew him. This dramatization seeks to explore the demons that pursued Butterworth and the elegiac love for fellow man that consumed him, giving context to why he chose to do what he chose to do with the time that he had.
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Creative Team
|
Richard Court
Baritone/Actor |
Mark Packwood
Accompanist/Actor |
Duncan Macfarland
Director/Concept |
Chris Dudgeon
Production Design |
|
WGP Sandy Strallen
& Will Edelsten Sound Design |
WGP & Charlie Thorne
Projection Design |
Richard Court as George Butterworth
Richard had an early training in dance, theatre and music. Initially choosing to focus on dance he graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School. Since that time he has worked as a multi disciplined performing artist touring nationally and internationally in varied works ranging from contemporary dance to live art, theatre and music theatre. Amongst the directors, choreographers and companies he has worked with are Mark Baldwin, Kim Brandstrup, Michael Clark, Sarah Fahie, Richard Jones, Duncan Macfarland, Wayne McGregor, Hanbury & Groves and Gestalt Arts.
As an assistant director, Richard has worked with choreographer and director Duncan Macfarland on Francesca Zambello’s production of “Carmen” at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing and in Taiyuan as associate director with Macfarland’s Wild Geese Productions for the Taiyuan Dance Troupe, creating the full-scale dance concert, “Wild Geese”. While in Beijing, Richard also studied at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, learning Chinese Folk Dances and Jingju (Peking Opera) styles.
Richard studies vocally with Quentin Hayes (RNCM) with coaching from Mark Packwood (ROH). Notable appearances include "Tracing Gestures" 1, 2 and 3 for Stephanie Schober and Dance Company, the role of Publio in Giornata Operas “La clemenza di Tito”, as a participant in Tino Seghal’s These Associations at the Tate Modern, London, "The Unsung Heroes of the Planet" and "Liquid History" with Gestalt Arts, dancing the vocal role of the Mechanical Nightingale in John Barber’s "The Nightingale" and singing the title role in "EXTRAORDINARY: A Celebration of the Life and Music of George Butterworth".
Future plans include new work with Hanbury & Groves and further productions with Gestalt Arts. http://www.richardcourt.org/
Richard had an early training in dance, theatre and music. Initially choosing to focus on dance he graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School. Since that time he has worked as a multi disciplined performing artist touring nationally and internationally in varied works ranging from contemporary dance to live art, theatre and music theatre. Amongst the directors, choreographers and companies he has worked with are Mark Baldwin, Kim Brandstrup, Michael Clark, Sarah Fahie, Richard Jones, Duncan Macfarland, Wayne McGregor, Hanbury & Groves and Gestalt Arts.
As an assistant director, Richard has worked with choreographer and director Duncan Macfarland on Francesca Zambello’s production of “Carmen” at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing and in Taiyuan as associate director with Macfarland’s Wild Geese Productions for the Taiyuan Dance Troupe, creating the full-scale dance concert, “Wild Geese”. While in Beijing, Richard also studied at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, learning Chinese Folk Dances and Jingju (Peking Opera) styles.
Richard studies vocally with Quentin Hayes (RNCM) with coaching from Mark Packwood (ROH). Notable appearances include "Tracing Gestures" 1, 2 and 3 for Stephanie Schober and Dance Company, the role of Publio in Giornata Operas “La clemenza di Tito”, as a participant in Tino Seghal’s These Associations at the Tate Modern, London, "The Unsung Heroes of the Planet" and "Liquid History" with Gestalt Arts, dancing the vocal role of the Mechanical Nightingale in John Barber’s "The Nightingale" and singing the title role in "EXTRAORDINARY: A Celebration of the Life and Music of George Butterworth".
Future plans include new work with Hanbury & Groves and further productions with Gestalt Arts. http://www.richardcourt.org/
Mark Packwood as Ralph Vaughan Williams
British répétiteur Mark Packwood is on the music staff of The Royal Opera. He has played continuo for many Royal Opera productions, including Don Giovanni, La finta giardiniera, Die Zauberflöte, Artaxerxes, Semele, Matilde di Shabran, Il turco in Italia and La Cenerentola, in addition to playing in rehearsals.
Mark was educated in Worcestershire and North Wales and studied composition with William Mathias. He trained at the National Opera Studio before joining the music staff of The Royal Opera.
Mark has worked as a répétiteur for opera companies around the UK.
British répétiteur Mark Packwood is on the music staff of The Royal Opera. He has played continuo for many Royal Opera productions, including Don Giovanni, La finta giardiniera, Die Zauberflöte, Artaxerxes, Semele, Matilde di Shabran, Il turco in Italia and La Cenerentola, in addition to playing in rehearsals.
Mark was educated in Worcestershire and North Wales and studied composition with William Mathias. He trained at the National Opera Studio before joining the music staff of The Royal Opera.
Mark has worked as a répétiteur for opera companies around the UK.
Duncan Macfarland Director/Concept
Duncan Macfarland studied at the University of California at Berkeley, MUDRA Performing Arts Centre, Belgium and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Brussels and holds degrees in Dance/Theatre/Music, Computer Science, Psychology and Philosophy. He has directed and choreographed over 100 works for the stage for dance, theatre and opera companies throughout the world. In opera, his work as a director, choreographer, associate director and revival director has been seen at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala Milan, Teatro Real Madrid, China's National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing and Opera de Lyon, among many others. Recent projects include directing a new Theatre/Music/Multi-media work based on the music, life and writings of George Butterworth, developing a new opera with a libretto by Marcus Reichert. Future plans include new productions in France and the United Kingdom http://www.duncanmacfarland.com/
Duncan Macfarland studied at the University of California at Berkeley, MUDRA Performing Arts Centre, Belgium and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Brussels and holds degrees in Dance/Theatre/Music, Computer Science, Psychology and Philosophy. He has directed and choreographed over 100 works for the stage for dance, theatre and opera companies throughout the world. In opera, his work as a director, choreographer, associate director and revival director has been seen at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala Milan, Teatro Real Madrid, China's National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing and Opera de Lyon, among many others. Recent projects include directing a new Theatre/Music/Multi-media work based on the music, life and writings of George Butterworth, developing a new opera with a libretto by Marcus Reichert. Future plans include new productions in France and the United Kingdom http://www.duncanmacfarland.com/
Chris Dudgeon Production Designer
Prior to retraining in Theatre Design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Christopher was a principal dancer with Northern Ballet for many years. He also danced for Scottish Ballet, Ballet du Nord and the Royal Ballet of Flanders. His first design collaboration with Northern Ballet was for David Nixon’s Nutcracker in 2007 followed by his set and costume designs for Hamlet in 2008, Glass Canon in 2010, Cleopatra in 2011 and The Architect in 2014 (Chor. Kenneth Tindall, S&A Burton Theatre & Linbury Theatre Royal Opera House). Christopher was awarded ‘Best Art Direction’ on his short film Beware of What You Wish For at the Barcelona International Film Festival 2010. His work was exhibited as part of the National Design Exhibition ‘Collaborators: UK Design for Performance 2003-2007’ at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2008 as well as the National Design Exhibition exhibition in 2011. Christopher is also a Painter, Graphic designer and Photographer http://www.chrisdudgeonstudio.com/
Prior to retraining in Theatre Design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Christopher was a principal dancer with Northern Ballet for many years. He also danced for Scottish Ballet, Ballet du Nord and the Royal Ballet of Flanders. His first design collaboration with Northern Ballet was for David Nixon’s Nutcracker in 2007 followed by his set and costume designs for Hamlet in 2008, Glass Canon in 2010, Cleopatra in 2011 and The Architect in 2014 (Chor. Kenneth Tindall, S&A Burton Theatre & Linbury Theatre Royal Opera House). Christopher was awarded ‘Best Art Direction’ on his short film Beware of What You Wish For at the Barcelona International Film Festival 2010. His work was exhibited as part of the National Design Exhibition ‘Collaborators: UK Design for Performance 2003-2007’ at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2008 as well as the National Design Exhibition exhibition in 2011. Christopher is also a Painter, Graphic designer and Photographer http://www.chrisdudgeonstudio.com/
With many thanks for the support offered by Michael Barlow, Julie Bowles, Central School of Ballet, Patrice Regnier/Mas Plantat, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Laura Smyth/English Folk Dance & Song Society and Jane-Eve Straughton/English Touring Opera and all the generous people who have offered their time, resources and support in the creation of this production.