The Birth and Death of Stars
- About the Work
- Touring & Tech
- Marketing & Engagement
A world music spectacular that will take you to the stars.
Synopsis
World music favourites MZAZA have created a theatrical musical experience like no other – The Birth and Death of Stars. After successful national and international tours, these warm and consummate performers return with a show that invites audiences to leave the daily world behind to contemplate our magical place in the universe.
Based on the album of the same name, The Birth and Death of Stars draws inspiration from history’s philosophers and astronomers, leading us on a surreal voyage through the ether to explore what links us to each other and the world around us in ways that are poetic, moving and at times funny.
Sitting comfortably between music and theatre, the show is brought to the stage by a powerful collaboration of creative minds featuring director Benjamin Knapton, Finnish animator Laura Matikainen, writer Pauline Maudy and design consultant Alison Ross.
Led by enchanting French vocalist Pauline Maudy, this group of outstanding musicians and songwriters from around the world will mesmerise you with inspired performances on accordion, violin, shah kaman, percussion, double-bass and guitar.
Take a step away from the everyday and contemplate our place in the universe to the sounds of some of Australia’s most uniquely diverse musicians and composers.
Short Reviews
Courier Mail
SBS Radio
Weekend Notes
Video
Technical Information
Lighting
his production is designed to fit into most venue standard lighting rigs with only minor changes and additions of specials.
At minimum The Birth and Death of Stars requires an open white overhead and face light wash of the entire stage, RGBW LED backlight or overhead, seven FOH profile specials for musicians (see diagram above), one haze machine. 4-8 moving lights are an excellent addition if the venue has moving lights.
Consideration should be taken so as not to wash out the projected image on the upstage projection Cyc or screen.
Control
TBC – venue’s lighting operator and lighting desk preferable. LX cue sheet will be provided.
Presenter to Supply:
- All lanterns. Venue stock adaptations can be made in consultation with MZAZA.
- Gels
- Control of all fixtures from the standard venue lighting console
- One hazer capable of supplying a controlled amount of haze. DMX control preferable
- House Light control from control position, control through lighting console preferable
- Suitable blue work light in side wings and upstage crossover (must not spill onto stage)
- All venue lighting equipment to be rigged, coloured and flashed prior to company’s arrival unless negotiated otherwise.
View a low res video of the lighting design for The Birth and Death of Stars at the Tivoli:
Audio
Company to Supply:
- 6 x wireless in-ear monitoring belt packs and associated antennae etc.
- Small digital console for FOH and monitors along with a stage rack.
- 5 x mics for VOX
Company to Supply for Instruments:
- Cajon – Mic supplied
- Darabuka – Mic supplied
- Tapan – Wireless instrument clip on mic preferable, or we supply a mic and venue supplies 1x Short stand
- Cymbals – Mic supplied (no stand required)
- Accordion – Mic Supplied (Requires DI)
- Guitar – Mic supplied
- Violin – Mic supplied
- Shah Kaman – DPA 4099 Shure 98 (MZAZA has alterative if no wireless required)
- Double Bass – Mic supplied
Presenter to Supply:
- 1 x Short Boom Stand (or 2 stands if the mic for the Tapan is supplied by Company)
- 5 x Tall Boom Stand
- DPA 4099 Shure 98 – alternative available if no wireless required
8 WAY DROP BOX PATCH
Staging
Minimum 6m wide x 5m deep.
Ideally 8.5m wide x 7m deep.
- Bare clean stage with black legs and borders.
- 6 x musicians positioned on stage with accompanying sound equipment
- White Cyc upstage of musicians for front or rear projection. Optimally this will fill the entire back wall with masking to the projected image.
- House Curtain (downstage) – optional
- Scrim (scrim directly behind of the house curtain) – optional
- 1 x chair with no arms for accordion player
- 3 x small step risers supplied by MZAZA
Audience & Marketing Notes
Primary ticket buyers are women 35+
Attendees often come to the show with friends or a partner.
The show appeals to audiences who:
• Have attended world music events in the past
• Enjoy folk music
• Travel
• Are curious about other cultures
• Come from CaLD backgrounds
• Have an interest in French language and culture
• Enjoy theatrical shows
• Have an interest in new music
It also appeals to schools with language and music programs.
Selling Points
- This is an excellent work to generate new audiences, with over 35% of previous ticket holders from the last tour being new to a world music event.
- Great alignment with multi-cultural and French culture festivals.
- Excellent music education links, plus a very experience music education team that can deliver programs from young people through to professionals seeking development.
Community Engagement
- Workshop: World music singing for all levels (can include French, Ladino and Bulgarian material)
- Workshop: World music for instrumentalists
- Workshop: Musical collaboration and song development
- Workshop: Storytelling: explore your ancestry with MZAZA
- Schools: Interactive performances for large audiences - involve the whole school!
- Schools: Vocal or instrumental workshop (can include performance outcomes)
- Professional Development: workshops for emerging artists and cultural workers
- Professional Development: One on one mentoring (music, performance, community engagement or arts career coaching)
- Education Kit
Details
Contact
Carly
Pickard
02 8098 0325
Genre
Audience
Venue Format
Theatre, Civic/Cultural Centre, Black Box, Arena, Outdoor Stages at Night
Duration
70 Minutes
Available Until (from - to)
30/11/2024
Budget & Fees
What are these? Find out more.In Development - work which will be produced and premiered in time for touring during 2022/2023. Please contact the Producer directly for Budgets and Fees.
Remount: $43,265
Weekly Sell Off: $25,900
Per Performance: $12,000 - 17,000
