The Morphea
“I don’t want to end up treading the land.
I want to tread the water…
So I need what the swan has!
I need my rights on the water ”
what audiences said….
insightful and contemporary
The play, the venue, the location. Great ambience
it’s for people who are curious
bold, exhilarating … serious
Excellent artistic production and it related personally to my experience
really original
crazy, frantic, intense
we live in a hierarchical society … there’s no mercy there and I think that’s what the show was showing
We want The Morphea to grow bigger and bigger and bigger…
The Morphea started life as a 20 minute monologue as part of a bigger piece ‘Place to be: The Canal’ for Anima Theatre Company. From there she was taken into an adventure of 60 mins and presented last year at The Greenhouse Theatre, Canary Wharf. The play was then produced in partnership with Bloomsbury Festival after selection for their New Wave Programme.
Now, we aim to upscale the play and production and step into an even bigger size.
For the next episode of The Morphea’s journey, we’re collaborating with a Costume Designer and a Puppet Designer on a short scoping exercise in preparation for a longer creative research & development process.
Alongside this we ran a script development workshop on ‘The Morphea’ play text on Saturday February 22nd. We’re planning to run more acting workshops in the future. Like to take part? Visit the Hullo page to register your interest.
This was just one of the first steps in our process of deepening and expanding the text itself – adding new characters, new voices, and having them responded to by an eclectic bunch – who themselves got the chance to test out their acting skills.
On Saturday February 22nd, 13 lucky participants gathered at Number Seven at the O2 centre to take part as actors in a script development workshop for the playtext of ‘The Morphea’.
Lots of energy around and the work produced from all involved was inspiring and thoughtful, both in the interpretations given to the scenes and the questions it raised or answered for the writing. Just a pity we didn’t have more time.
Well, next time…
The Morphea by Rowenna Mortimer
Morphea’s home is the canal, but her peace is being disturbed – rents are rising, people are losing their homes, her friends are mysteriously disappearing. So she sets off on a journey to get help from the highest authority in the land. But how will she get what she wants, when what she finds, of course, is not what she expects?
Sometimes a fairytale, sometimes a harsh realistic story, this physical theatre production explores ideas of transformation, metamorphosis and change, as the canal is embodied in the central character Morphea.
Morphea dialogues her way through her fairytale-esque, but all too real world – taking us with her on the journey.
An allegory for the power and possibilities of change.
Who’s who on The Morphea
Ella McCormack – Morphea
“always animated and engaging”
Ella trained as an actor at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Fourth Monkey Actor Training Company before making her professional debut as Morphea at The Greenhouse Theatre in July 2023. Ella is excited by stories that move people and female-led work as well as physical and political theatre. She loves working on The Morphea as it encompasses many of her theatrical passions as well as offering a new and exciting challenge of performing solo alongside a supportive and creative team.
Micah Baker – Percussionist
“a live percussive score, performed with flair ”
Micah is a drummer, percussionist and composer, recently completing a Bmus degree in percussion and drum kit at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. He is a percussionist and drummer for several commercial ensembles and a rock band, brass ensemble Beyond The Bell and London-based Afro band the Amalgam, and a founder in award winning duo Cymbiosis. Working on The Morphea has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience because of how unique the rehearsal process has been, and is definitely unlike any other project Micah has been part of!
Ferdy Emmet – Lighting Designer
“creates a lighting design that literally becomes a character in the drama”
Ferdy is a lighting designer and theatre maker based between London and Dublin. His design credits include OffComm Winner “Outlier” (Jack Studio Theatre), “Just a Minute” (Dublin Fringe), Next Door’s Baby (Tabard Theatre), Where Are You From (Peacock Stage, Abbey Theatre), and The Epiphany of Eileen O’Keefe (Irish Tour). He has also worked as lighting crew on United Queendom (Les Enfants Terribles), as production manager of Painkiller (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and as a Venue Manager at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Sally Marie – Movement Director
“movement elements were inspiring”
Sally Marie has loved working on the movement direction of this show; it’s been a constant collaboration and very fulfilling. She also directs her own company Sweetshop Revolution, which produces theatre production with movement at its heart. Current full length touring works for the company include a children’s production entitled ‘I am 8′, as well as a piece called ‘Your Heart is Too Loud’ about the end of our lives. There have been numerous awards and nominations, including Best Independent Company and Best Female Performance from the National Dance Awards. Her current interest is in the creation of work, where physicality and feeling exist in tight hug.
If you’re interested in being involved on this project then please get in touch via the Hullo page.