ROOTS
Stories from a simpler time.
In the night, a thick tangled root had grown from the boys navel,
and a tough fleshy root had grown from the girls navel, and these roots were connected to their mothers navel, rooting the three of them together.
They tried to cut the roots. But they could not….
Sitting on a shelf in the British library is an unassuming red book. “The Aarne index” has categorised thousands of folktales, offering a glimpse in to the imaginations of pre industrialised people. 1927’s ROOTS is a medley of these rarely told stories.
Tales of tyrannical ogres, magic bird's hearts and very, very fat cats will be brought to life with 1927's signature fusion of handcrafted animation and storytelling, with a live score involving Peruvian prayer boxes, donkeys jaws, violins and musical saws.
ROOTS had its world premiere at Spoleto Festival USA on 24 May 2019
CREDITS
A 1927, Edinburgh International Festival, HOME Manchester, Spoleto Festival USA & Théâtre de la Ville Paris co-production
Development supported by The Tolmen Centre Cornwall & Roundhouse
Roots has been supported by funding from Arts Council England through National Lottery & Kent County Council
Created by 1927
Directed & Written by Suzanne Andrade
Film, Animation & Design by Paul Barritt
Co-Direction: Esme Appleton
Music by Lillian Henley
Associate Direction & Design Esme Appleton
Costume by Sarah Munro
Assistant Director: Dominic Biddle
Animation Assistant: Anne Rotzek
Composers Assistant: Max Gallagher
Production Manager: Nathan Johnson
Producer: Jo Crowley
Performed by David Insua-Cao, Francesca Simmons, Philippa Hambly, Genevieve Dunne & Hannah Miller
Storytellers: Carmel McNeil-O’Connor, Daksha Scaramagli, David Appleton, Joan Brooks, Karl Mengs, Kazuko Hohki, Lesley Ewen, MJ James, Nigel Hunt, Pete Brooks, Phil Shaw, Rocky Shahan & Wendy Barritt
Photography Credit: Leigh Webber
QUOTES
‘ROOTS will ground you in amazement and delight’ Charleston City paper
‘Music, animation, narration, performance all comes together to forge a unique theatrical experience.’ Post & Courier, Charleston
'ROOTS takes you back, and forward, and all around, animating storytelling with old-timey innovation … enchants on all levels — visually, musically, imaginatively. Its artistic barebones is part of its power, proof that Hollywood technical wizardry is more frosting than cake, and in the end, the fat cat will eat the cake regardless.’ Charleston City paper
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
9-12 November 2023: Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou, China
5 November 2023: Shanghai International Arts Festival, Shanghai, China
2 November 2023: Tianran Theatre, Ningbo, China
5-30 October 2021: Wilton’s Music Hall, London, United Kingdom
11 October 2020: Kunstfestspiele Herrenhausen, Hannover, Germany
22-25 January 2020: Centro De Las Artes, Santiago Chile
3-19 January 2020: The Old Market, Brighton, UK
11-28 December 2019: HOME Manchester, UK
8 December 2019: Carthage Theatre Days Festival, Tunis, Tunisia
3-6 October 2019: Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne, Australia
27 September 2019: Theatre Royal Margate, Margate, UK
9 - 25 August 2019: Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh, UK
24 - 28 May 2019: Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, South Carolina, USA (WORLD PREMIERE)
Education pack
An education pack to accompany the production of ROOTS is available in Behind The Screens.