Eurydice Fragments is a contemporary version of the Greek Orphean myth that fuses powerful vocal performances, dance, extended reality, motion capture and interactive technologies. Through an immersive exploration of our digital and carbon existences, the performance dissolves the binaries we are bound to from birth until death, and strums the threads between heaven and hell, male and female, maker and muse, performer and audience.
Co-created by Luke Hathaway and Teiya Kasahara, the story follows O, a trans person whose sense of gender and identity is expansive — yet who has lived a fractured life. Haunted by past experiences and personhoods that have been suppressed, repressed, or condemned, O journeys to the Styx, a queer bar, where they find the opportunity to express themself through avatars in extended reality.
As O navigates the fluid landscapes of identity and technology, Eurydice Fragments challenges us to question: how do we navigate the vastness of our identities in spaces that resist our multiplicity?
Company
re:Naissance Opera is a cutting-edge company that pushes the boundaries of opera, fusing the old with the new to create immersive experiences for modern audiences. Founded in 2017 by Debi Wong and located on the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations, the company aims to redefine the future of storytelling.
re:Naissance Opera blends technology, culture, and social conscience to take opera from the stage to the digital world and back again. Its team asks: what would opera look like if it were invented today? The result is an interdisciplinary mix of music, text, design, and technology that defies genres and expectations.
The company believes in putting people first, which is why they prioritize processes that empower creators with the tools and platforms they need to truly express themselves. They are proud to be a leader in artist advocacy and are committed to making room for emerging and marginalized creators, working closely with those in the IBPOC, Queer, and Deaf communities. By celebrating and empowering artists across all art forms, re:Naissance Opera co-creates performances that defy genres, rewrite cultural narratives, and challenge cultural norms. Their focus on hopeful world-views sets them apart, creating immersive experiences that transport audiences to a new era of storytelling.
Creative team
- Creative Team Luke Hathaway,Teiya Kasahara, Debi Wong, Benton Roark, Brian Topp, Bob Kreut, Stephanie Wong, Omari Newton, Brandon Thornhill, Alexis Fletcher, Leo D.E. Johnson, Toddy (Emily Bilton), Sara Vickruck, Alyssa Samson, Asitha Tennekoon, Kunji Ikeda, Dorothy Yang, Keagan Elrich, Noah Miller, Jen Lewin, Perri Lo, Alex Chen, Nico Dicceco, Maria Zarillo, Anna Brew, Alexa Fraser and Scribbly Doodle
- Cast Teiya Kasahara as O Brandon Thornill as Hope Toddy as Plusephone Leo D.E Johnson as Charon Sarah Vickruck, Chorus Alyssa Samson, Chorus Asitha Tennekoon, Chorus Kunji Ikeda as Shadow
National Creation Fund investment
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $150,000 makes it possible for the full cast and creative team to come together for three workshops, with dedicated time to create roles for trans voices and non-binary singers, integrate the immersive theatrical design and technical elements into the live performance, and further testing of audience interaction.
Credits
Eurydice Fragments has evolved out of many workshops and explorations, including OrpheusVR, Live From The Underworld and Tap Ex: Augmented Opera, that have been supported by: the Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Canada, City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, CreativeBC, British Columbia Arts Council, Vancouver Civic Theatres, MITACS, Reallusion, Movella, the Sawmill Studios, Tapestry Opera and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
