June 10 – 14, 2014
2014 Luminato Festival
Paradisiacal Rites is artistic provocateur Derrick Ryan Claude Mitchell’s most ambitious piece to date. A non-narrative exploration of American hysteria, nationalistic vanity and utopian fervour, Paradisiacal Rites examines the delirious final moments of The Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, the madness attached to the Charles Manson murder trials, and manic derangement, through an obsessive commitment to the Oscars. It transforms elements of ballet, symphony, opera and installation into hypnotic and visceral performance. Everything and nothing is sacred.
Each performance of Paradisiacal Rites will be preceded by an exhausting procession that begins at dawn, with Mitchell evoking transgressive images starting from a secret location and ending in the theatre. More information about how to join the walk will be available here in the coming weeks.
Paradisiacal Rites begins at dawn with Mitchell evoking transgressive images in a secret location and leading an exhausting procession to the theatre. Doors open at 6:25 upon his arrival.
“Actors, ballet dancers, choreographers, musicians, visual artists and filmmakers each set their skills on a solemn and somber performance, an intoxicating exhibition at the service of our existential pain… a stunner.” —Der Standard (Austria)
Conceived, Written & Directed by Derrick Ryan Claude Mitchell
Co-commissioned by donaufestival (Austria) and Luminato Festival
Co-presented by Luminato Festival and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art
Schedule of Performances
Tuesday June 10, 7:30 pm
Wednesday June 11, 7:30 pm
Thursday June 12, 7:30 pm
Friday June 13, 7:30 pm
Saturday June 14, 7:30 pm
Cost
$35
Running time
Approx. 160 minutes
Suitable for audiences 18+
This production includes nudity, strobe lights, smoke and fog.
Partners
