A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
WILDWORKS and Kneehigh Theatre
During the summer of 2005 I worked with WILDWORKS and Kneehigh Theatre on the production of their third and final incarnation of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, staged at Hayle Quay, Cornwall.
Adapted from a short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the theme of community identity is explored in this site-specific promenade production.
The story focus is the arrival of an ambiguous angel-like figure in the small fishing village of Maha-Le, and shows how the small community respond to both his presence and the changes that follow. The mysterious winged figure attracts much outside interest, and the visits by pilgrims and the money they bring has a dramatic effect upon the previously close-nit and simple community.
In its essence this adaptation of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings is a powerful and heart-rending account of change, and shows that what may initially appear to be good fortune may not always be the case.
My role was to work as Production Manager alongside WILDWORKS Director Bill Mitchell, Creative Director Sue Hill, and the very broad and talented team to help realise this wonderfully ambitious and complex production.
