The Planet – A Lament (Asia TOPA)
Experience the world premiere from visionary director Garin Nugroho.
Indonesian playwright, theatre and film director Garin Nugroho’s The Planet — A Lament is an extraordinary new work featuring wild dance and striking film, set to an evocative song cycle from a 14-voice choir.
In collaboration with Australian theatre luminaries Michael Kantor (Artistic Director 2005-10, Malthouse Theatre) and Helpmann Award winning designer Anna Tregloan, Planet tells the story of the world being created anew in the Indonesian archipelago following a devastating environmental disaster.
The composition, rooted in elements of traditional Melanesian music, is based on research by the Papuan composer and soloist Septina Rosalina Layan. Nugroho collaborates with composers, visual artists and choreographers from Indonesian and Australia to concoct a new myth that speaks to our complex times.
"There has been so much change we have not had a chance to rethink … A loss brings not only sadness but also a new beginning." Garin Nugroho.
RRP listed is for a double pass
Feedback/Comments
Mesmerizing show : ) Be sure to read the synopsis first or else would be confused
We really enjoyed this beautiful production. It was a very moving and powerful experience.
Beautiful
Wonderful production and sensational talent.
Did not understand An introductory background should have been give
Great performances. Thought provoking.
Beautiful performance. Reading the synopsis first allowed us to understand more of the symbolisms and characters.
Totally mesmerizing show.
Read the program first!
Great show!!
Innovative and interesting work - beautiful voices and great dancers brilliantly performed.
The choir had beautiful voices the backdrop curtain impressive enjoyed.
Okay, a bit slow in some sections
fantastic show loved it
Amazing performance. Very captivated.
Thought provoking. Beautiful singing. Love the curtain of clothes. Interview with director at the end was very informative, helped to really understand deeply about his message with the performance.
great seats to enjoy a beautiful production, beautiful and stirring voices in the choir singing the laments and great dancing
I enjoyed the beautiful singing but was left a little confused
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
My seats at The Planet – A Lament were amazing – front row. It was an extraordinary show; quite moving and visually stunning, with wonderful, mournful lament songs. Set design was also impressive, with a massive curtain of discarded clothes, and another of plastic film. The In Conversation with the Director, Garin Nughuro at the end was also fascinating but a bit disappointing that the Oz deputy ambassador, who was asking the questions, allowed none from the audience. I wanted to know what the West Papuans thought of the show…
The singing was like nothing I had heard before. It was very powerful, you could feel the sadness in the songs.
Great production combining elements of film, sets, dance and song to tell the story. Recommended.
Wonderful singing.
Thought provoking and beautiful
Good theatre, but next time I'll read the synopsis first ! Doing that would have made it excellent theatre
Pure voices. Laments deep with sorrow & wounds slow to heal. Hard work and great talent on show.
Beautiful voices and great use of movement. However it was a little slow for us.
A magical moving performance about one of the most important issues of our time.
A very mesmerising and moving performance. The bird dance was heartbreaking and totally amazing. One almost forgot that it was a human doing it. I think I would have given it 5 stars had I been a bit more aware of the actual background and myths. I should have done more preparation beforehand. Its power lingers on.
Enjoyable. Some more commentary would have helped. Singing was very good.
Outstanding set and staging, good choir and great dancing. I found the story a bit hard to follow. Overall it was interesting but a little slow in parts.
Beautiful!
Beautiful voices and great use of movement. The show was captivating.
Celebration of movement and singing in the wonderful story of survival
Amazing voices . Was expecting more dance but certainly found it mesmerising. A little repetitive and slow in parts but also very creative. Loved the simple sets.
The voices and song was memorising. But i lost the translation of the story
This work uses all the elements that make up modern theatre to create a very moving story.
Great voices and a very special set design.
This challenged me in a very good way, using forms that were unfamiliar. The singing was beautiful. The mesmerising slowness of movement of the dancers enchanted me. The use of filmed segments added to the impact.
Despite the foreignness of it all, there was much that was clear, too, about the pain and suffering of the planet and those upon it.
I particularly enjoyed the lengthy piece featuring the bird with its exquisite song and dance.
Very beautiful mesmerizing production which transported us to another world at the same time knowing it was one world we need to protect.