• Performer, Stevie, wearing a beanie under purple light and holding a ball of smoke
  • Performer, Ralph, holding a "Property of Granny" cardboard box. He is balancing a mug on top and is sticking his tongue out to focus
  • Performer, Paul, blowing smoke over a lit table
  • Two performers, Elle and Stevie, operating a puppet of a small child wearing matching clothes to Stevie. The child is gasping.
  • Performer, Elle, blows large amounts of smoke across a lit table. There are colourful lights behind her in blue, purple and turquoise
  • The child puppet lies on the ground under a blanket. Behind them is a silhouette of a person in a matching beanie, projected onto a turquoise screen with watercolour effects

The Griegol

— An eerie, elegant tale without words about death, love, and monsters.

 

After their grandmother passes away, a child suspects they are being pursued by the smoke demon shapeshifter of the old woman’s stories. The Griegol is a gorgeously rendered dark fantasy for older children and adults. Drawing from the techniques of silent film, it combines silhouettes, smoke, puppetry, live music, and live animation. With the operation kept in sight, audiences see both the stage effects and how they are made. Combining hi-fi with lo-fi technology, and the mythic with the everyday, The Griegol is a charming, moving, and wildly inventive new work from Trick of the Light Theatre.

 

Premiered March 2021

Q Theatre
Tāmaki-makaurau (Auckland), NZ.

Commissioned by
Auckland Arts Festival

  • "A beautiful, evocative, and meaningful work."

    Wellington Regional News

  • "As savvy and powerful a piece of theatre as I have ever seen."

    Theatreview

  • "50 minutes of dynamism, cleverness and beauty… A touching, delightful and exciting theatrical experience."

    — Theatreview

  • "Charming, poignant, and expertly performed by a multi-talented cast,"

    — Theatrescenes

Composer of Music - Tane Upjohn-Beatson
Director of the Year - Hannah Smith
Production of the Year

Wellington Theatre Awards 2022

Cast

Stevie Hancox-Monk headshot

Child

Stevie Hancox-Monk

Paul Waggott headshot

Dad

Paul Waggott

Ralph McCubbin Howell headshot

Nurse, Gentleman Caller

Ralph McCubbin Howell

Elle Wootton headshot

Funeral Home Director, Granny

Elle Wootton

Tristan Carter headshot playing a violin

Live Musician

Tristan Carter

 
 
 

Crew

Hannah Smith headshot

Director

Hannah Smith

Tane Upjohn Beatson headshot

Composition & Sound Design

Tane Upjohn Beatson

Marcus McShane headshot

Lighting Design

Marcus McShane

Brad Gledhill headshot

Technical Operator

Brad Gledhill

Jon Coddington headshot

Puppet Design

Jon Coddington

Sylvie McCreanor headshot

Set and Costume Design
Stage Manager

Sylvie McCreanor

Rose Kirkup headshot

Set and Costume Design

Rose Kirkup

Dean Hewison headshot

Video trailer

Dean Hewison

 
 

Technical Support

Filament 11 Eleven

Story
Ralph McCubbin Howell and Hannah Smith

Lyrics
Ralph McCubbin Howell

Stop-motion
Ralph McCubbin Howell

Illustration
Hannah Smith

Photo description
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EC000E70-85EC-4F45-9E8D-0D031B15A755.jpg
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Previous seasons

  • Frostburg, MD

    F. Perry Smith Studio Theatre at Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center

    29-30 Mar, 2023

  • MCLEAN, VA

    Alden Theatre, McLean Community Center

    25 Mar, 2023

  • Muncy, PA

    Muncy School District Auditorium, USA

    16 Mar, 2023

  • Lewisburg, PA

    Weis Center for the Performing Arts, Bucknell University
, USA

    7 Mar, 2023

  • Te whanganui-a-tara

    Te Auaha, Te Whanganui-a-tara, (Wellington), NZ

    16-19 Nov, 2022

  • Festival of Colour

    Hawea Flat Hall, NZ

    14-15 Apr, 2021

  • Auckland Arts Festival

    Q Theatre - Rangatira,
    Tāmaki-makaurau, NZ

    21-26 Mar, 2021

The Griegol Poster

Image: Edward Watson

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