FORCE MAJEURE

Force Majeure is a Sydney based dance-theatre company led by Kate Champion as artistic director, with Geoff Cobham and Roz Hervey as artistic associates. Force Majeure was formed in 2002 and is based around a collective of artists from varying disciplines who are committed to creating stimulating movement-based theatre. Company artists include actors, dancers, designers, writers, visual artists, composers and filmmakers. Since 2002, the company has created three major works, two collaborative works, a short film series and has received four major national awards. The company premiered in Europe at the prestigious Lyon Biennele de la Danse in 2006 and presented The Age I’m In at Sydney Festival and Adelaide International Festival with a return season at CarriageWorks in 2008.

Force Majeure makes work that communicates clearly and inventively on contemporary life, breaking down boundaries between art forms using highly skilled physicality as the creative conduit and philosophical meeting point. Whether its work is defined as dance, theatre or performance is secondary to its relevance and impact.

FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT WORK

One Love
An extract from Same, same But Different
Giraffes’ mating ritual juxtaposes a co-dependant human relationship.

Fidgeting
An extract from Already Elsewhere
Environmental paranoia or a justifiable reality?
Writer - Brendan Cowell
Composer – Paul Charlier

Altered State
An extract from The Age I’m In
The pros and cons of drug taking.
Audio Visual Design – Neil Jensen
Audio Visual Producer – Tony Melov

Performed by Kirstie McCracken and Byron Perry
Original Lighting Design – Geoff Cobham
Costume Design – Bruce McKinven
Production Manager – Martin Langthorne

CHOREOGRAPHER
 Kate Champion

Kate has worked and studied around Australia and internationally, including spending time in Munich, New York and London.

In 1996, she was the recipient of the NSW Ministry's Robert Helpmann Scholarship for choreographic excellence. That same year, she created and performed her solo work Face Value, which toured Australia two years later and earned her a 1998 Green Room Award and a MO Award.

In 1997, she choreographed Neil Armfield’s internationally acclaimed production of Cloudstreet, and directed and devised Under the Influence for Legs on the Wall. Kate  worked as rehearsal director on a European tour of Enter Achilles as well as collaborator and performer on The Happiest Day Of My Life. She also worked on the DV8/Olympic Arts Festival production of The Cost of Living.

In 2001, Kate won the Helpmann Award for Best Female Dancer for About Face and in 2003, she performed her two solo shows About Face and Face Value together in a combined program called face 2 face, which toured to Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.

In 2004, she choreographed the world premiere of Dirty Dancing, the stage show based on the popular film, and her choreography has been included in the European,  West-End  and North American versions of this production.

In 2005 she directed Force Majeure’s second major work Already Elsewhere for Sydney Festival as well as Tenebrae - Part 1 and 2 in collaboration with the Song Company.

Already Elsewhere was invited to tour to the prestigious Biennale de la Danse in Lyon in September ’06.

Force Majeure’s new work The Age I’m In premiered at the Sydney and Adelaide Festivals and performed a return season at CarriageWorks in 2008.

Force Majeure Staff
Artistic Director  - Kate Champion
Artistic Associate - Geoff Cobham
Artistic Associate -  Roz Hervey
Producer -  Karen Rodgers
Business Manager - Will Sheehan

Force Majeure will soon announce details of an upcoming tour. Visit http://www.forcemajeure.com.au/ for the latest news or email karen@forcemajeure.com.au for more information.