Coming next week, Surrey Civic Theatres presents Metamorphosis, a unique piece of puppet theatre. An imaginative and poignant series of vignettes that range from the trivial to the metaphysical, the multi-faceted work created and performed by Iceland’s famed master puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik is a poetic — and often hilarious — exploration of the nature of our existence, inviting audience members to change how they perceive the objects of their everyday lives.
“There is a surreal quality inherent in puppetry,” says Ogrodnik, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Iceland-based Worlds of Puppets. “When the audience actively contributes to the process of bringing puppets to life, breathing these fragile figures into existence, they have the capacity to express our deepest emotions, joys, and fears; thereby, creating magic and provoking thought.
Metamorphosis brings a delightfully eclectic cast of characters to life, ranging from intricate, hand-carved marionettes and rod puppets to unusual characters created simply from silk scarves or Ogrodnik’s own hands and feet. Set on a minimalistic black stage, the 10 vignettes effortlessly journey from one story to the next, captivating audiences through a deeply meditative atmosphere. The presentation, which includes some mature content, offers a contemplative reflection on the varied aspects of the human experience.
Neil Scott, Cultural Production Coordinator for Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall adds, “Metamorphosis is a delight for the senses. Bernd Ogrodnik’s series of original short stories is poetry in motion — a theatrical expression of the nuances of our lives from the ordinary to the sublime. It encourages us to question not just what we see, but how we see it.”
Originally commissioned in 2006 by the National Theatre of Iceland for adult audiences, the 90-minute presentation of Metamorphosis has toured the world extensively and comes to Canada for the first time. Featuring original stories ranging in length from just a few minutes to nearly 20 minutes. Mostly presented in silence, three stories are set to an eclectic mix of musical accompaniment including instrumental melodies composed and performed live by the German born, Ogrodnik.
Metamorphosis plays at Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall on March 13, 2019 at 7:30pm. Visit surrey.ca/theatre for more show information and to purchase tickets.
Audience advisory: One of the vignettes contains some mature content. This performance is intended for audience members ages 16+.