Premiering in September, Terrapins new show, The Gatekeeper, is a whole heap of horse-play in a play about a horse, and the man that wants to be one. Confused? So is Jeff. Unfortunately Jeff wants to be something he can’t.
Terrapin’s new show is about chasing your dreams. Puppetry, acrobatics, magic tricks and things you should not do at home with elastic, weave a spell-binding journey for young and old. Digital projections in places you would not normally expect; saddles and oscilloscopes, balloons and hay; these are but bits of the world with which Jeff must do battle.
Sit back and watch as a wise cracking character called Bumface leads you through Jeff's experiments. Will Jeff break free to run to the hills? Or settle for what might be best for him? The Gatekeeper is about that most beautiful of all adventures: the adventure of learning to be you.
Delegates to the Junction Regional Arts Festival in Launceston received a sneak preview when Terrapin held an open rehearsal on Saturday 28 August.
The Gatekeeper has preview performances in Triabunna on September 8 and Bruny Island on September 9, before opening at the Theatre Royal on September 15 and 16.
The show then starts a six week tour of Tasmanian schools on September 20.
Creative cast:
Director: Frank Newman
Performed by: Sam McMahon and Jeff Michel
Production Designer: Hanna Pärssinen
Composer: Matthew Fargher
Animators: Stefan Le Mottee and Matt van Rooijen
Dramaturg: Ryk Goddard
Lighting Designer: Jason James