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Acknowledgment of COUNTRY
Acknowledgment of COUNTRY
In the heart of Nipaluna, where the Muwinina people once thrived, we gather. Their land, rich with shellfish and wallabies, now bears the scars of colonisation. The Muwinina, part of the Palawa people, were the traditional custodians of this land. Their resilience endures, their stories whispered in the winds of kunanyi. We acknowledge their enduring connection to this place, their culture, and their rights as the first peoples of this land.
At Second Echo Ensemble, we are inspired by this land, its history, and its people. Our mission—radical equity, diversity, and justice—drives us to amplify voices that have been silenced. We create art that sparks change, that disrupts, that gives space for the stories of all communities to be heard. Through our work, we aim to dismantle the legacies of colonisation and build a more inclusive future where every voice is valued.
what
what
The world is on fire and Second Echo Ensemble think the world needs cheering up. So we are going to give you a black and white ball!
It's a wake, an illegal gathering
and we are being cancelled.
Come to the ball, in memory of Dada
and the possibility of being anywhere else.
A daring revival of Erik Satie's Dadaist masterpiece, Relâche is inspired by the 1924 ballet by Francis Picabia and Erik Satie. This contemporary reimagining pushes boundaries with a genre-blending fusion of dance, Dadaist performance art, and experimental film. The show delves into themes of cancel culture, personal agency, and absurdity, creating an unpredictable, avant-garde experience.
In a nod to Truman Capote’s iconic 1966 Black and White Ball, audience members are required to dress for the black and white ball and invited to don their own masks to become part of the performance, turning the evening into a mesmerising masquerade where you’ll be both spectator and spectacle. Expect a night of voyeuristic thrills, chaotic beauty, and a sensory experience unlike any other.
how
how
Expect the Unimaginable.
A pre-show warm-up to fashion tragedy—Sabio will accessorise your existence, turning you into walking art, or perhaps artifice. Swap your metro ticket for mystery at Dave’s Prawn Shop—who knows what treasures you’ll find? Collaborate with the Queen of Dada Poetry, writing a letter to the Eiffel Tower Post Office because who’s to say it isn’t a message for the world? Become a model for the exquisite guest and watch the Le Chat Noir Bar performers stir your senses. Miette will tease your reality. And, who knows what else?
At 8pm, the official meeting begins—order will rise from chaos.
Act 1 and Act 2 each run 35-45 minutes—though, the bar is always open to quench your thirst.
7 minutes. An interval, of course—enough time to rethink all you’ve just experienced.
Then, the film, infused with live music, 4 hands, one piano, and a soundscape that will have you questioning time.
Act 2? Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Agonising.
After the curtain, kick on, dance, and dissolve into the madness.
WHO
WHO
Creative Director: Kelly Drummond Cawthon
Music Director: Michael Fortescue, Matthew Fargher
Poetry: Uncle Jim Everett- puralia meenamatta, Elise Romaszko
Assistant Choreographer: Aidan Chick
Production and Technical Manager: Jason James
Visual and Audio Design: Alex Moss
Surveillance and Antarctica Visual Design: K Verell
Lighting Design: Jason James
Costume Design: Elise Romaszko, Roz Wren, Julia Drouhin, Kelly Drummond Cawthon
Set Design: Kelly Drummond Cawthon, Maggie Jefferies, Natalie Holtsbaum, Nick Cummins, Jason James
Stage Manager: Alexandra Chatwin-Dalgleish
Assistant Stage Manager: Angela Barnard
Performance: Second Echo Ensemble, Tasmania Youth Classical Ballet Company, Mature Artist Dance Experience
Guest Artist: Anna-Maria Väisänen
Emergency Sewing Circle: Sabio
Exquisite Corpse Installation and Life Drawing: Maggie Jefferies
Poparazzi: Laura Purcell
Film: Ursula Woods, Sandi Sissel ASC, K Verell, Jack Thomas Cawthon
Conductor: Alexander Rodrigues
Piano Performance: Hans Eduard-Kooij , Thomas Misson
Orchestration: Thomas Misson
Original Song Composition and Performance: Nicole Farrow
Le Chat Noir Performers: Miettes
Relâche Artist Support Crew: Astrid Wells, Rodrigo Diaz-Icasuriaga, Samson Clark
AUSLAN Interpretation: Ben Richardson
Administration: Karyn Rendall, Sophie Berry
Marketing and Communications: Laura Purcell
Board: Jen Murnaghan, Simon Wellington, Christopher Long, Tim Butcher, Caine Chennatt, Carolyn Coates, Ed Gurry, Luke John Campbell
Seating
Seating
Audiences will have the opportunity to choose from three unique seating options, each offering a distinct perspective of the performance.
The Players
Embrace the inner Dadaist spirit that Erik Satie would be proud of as you step into the scene and become part of the soirée. As a Player, you'll take your seat at a table in the heart of the masquerade, where every glance, gesture, and laugh blurs the lines between performer and audience. This isn’t just a seat; it's an invitation to immerse yourself in the night's surreal and chaotic beauty. Choose to fully embody the absurdity of the evening from the tactical positions of either sur l'échiquie or sous surveillance.
Marginal Seat
Take your place as the curious observer of the Dadaist soirée spectacle. As a Marginal Seat, you’ll sit on the sidelines beside a great road to nowhere, close enough to feel the pulse of the absurdity yet detached enough to simply watch it all unfold. Perhaps you’re intrigued, perhaps amused - either way, your vantage point offers a front-row seat to the chaos without becoming involved.
Voyeur
Channel your inner Statler and Waldorf as you take your place in the upstairs balcony. With this elevated perspective, you'll become the sharp-eyed observer of the night's absurdity, offering a knowing nod or whispered critique. Like the iconic duo, you’ll have the perfect vantage point to watch the spectacle unfold from a distance while still feeling the buzz of the masquerade.
For assistance with access seating or companion card bookings please email: info@odeontheatre.com.au
Second Echo Ensemble is proudly supported by Creative Australia, Arts Tasmania, the Department of Social Services, and our generous donors and volunteers. Our internet partner, Aussie Broadband, keeps us connected, while GoTransit Media Group supports the marketing of our 20th Anniversary season.
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