The journey to Broadway will bring an acclaimed international theatre company to the State University of New York at Fredonia.
Visible Fictions will begin the North American leg of its tour for “Jason and the Argonauts” in Rockefeller Arts Center’s Marvel Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.
This family theatre production is a special Friends of Rockefeller Arts Center event that is open to the public.
Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Visible Fictions has been heralded for creating shows geared toward younger theatre-goers. The company returns to the United States to present its popular production of “Jason and the Argonauts.” The fall tour, which culminates with a long run at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway in February, will include the milestone 200th performance of the show.
"This particular show is an extremely well done production," said Jefferson Westwood, director of Rockefeller Arts Center. “I saw a performance of it last winter at the annual Showcase of International Performing Arts for Youth in Tampa and was very taken with it. The show was totally captivating and has some of the most creative and inventive theater-making I have seen in a long time. Not only did I appreciate the top-notch and very versatile acting, but the company's use of set pieces and props was breathtakingly clever.”
“Jason and the Argonauts” is based on an ancient Greek myth that tells the tale of Jason, the son of a king. As a baby, Jason is banished when his father is murdered by his own brother. Jason is determined to regain his rightful throne and make some big changes.
To do so, Jason and his loyal crew must journey across the world on his ship, The Argo, to find the Golden Fleece. Obstacles including an odd monster, a sleeping dragon and clashing rocks attempt to throw Jason off his path.
Douglas Irvine, Visible Fictions’ artistic producer and the director of “Jason and the Argonauts,” said, “I’ve never forgotten the thrill of seeing the Harryhausen film version for the first time as a child. The purity, inventiveness, thrills and scares the film ─ and the original story ─ offer are something I want to pass onto new audiences.”
The stage production is brought to life by actors Simon Donaldson and Tim Settle, who take on multiple – and interchangeable – roles.
Donaldson won the Carleton Hobbs Award 2002 for BBC Radio drama. His BBC Radio 4 credits include “Almost Blue,” “McLevy,” “The Great Escape,” “The Gowk Storm,” “Dr Korczak’s Example,” “His Dark Materials,” “The Old Curiosity Shop,” “Maigret” and “Belonging” (Book At Bedtime).
He is also involved in BBC7’s award-winning The Poetry Pod. His theatre credits include “Don Quixote” (Theatre Modo), “Big Baby, Into The Dark” (Visible Fictions), “Use Once & Destroy” (Squidge Productions), “Zlata’s Diary” (Communicado), “Fly” (Liverpool Everyman) and “The Tempest” (Creation Theatre Co).
Settle has worked for Visible Fictions on its productions “Where The Wild Things Are,” playing the role of Max, and “The Pearl,” where he played the role of Kino.
His other theatre work includes the role of Mr. Farthing in “Kes” for Perth Theatre, Touchstone and Adam in “As You Like It” for the Oxford Shakespeare Festival and Angelo and Pinch in “Comedy Of Errors” for the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. He has also worked with Scottish Opera on its production of “Twelve Days Of Christmas” and the BBC on its production of “The Home Front.”
“Jason and the Argonauts” is approximately 65 minutes and is intended for audiences age 9 and up.
Westwood noted the appeal of this show crosses the generations.
“The kids in the audience loved the show for sure, but even adults with no kids in tow got a charge out of it ─ and that's why I'm telling grownups they don't have to bring children with them to enjoy the show.”
Tickets to “Jason and the Argonauts” are available through the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office at 716-673-3501 (1-866-441-4928) or www.fredonia.edu/tickets .
