A music-dance collaboration between award-winning Australian director/choreographer Shaun Parker, internationally renowned Bulgarian-born vocalist Ivo Dimchev, and nine outstanding dancers, KING will be presented at the Seymour Centre, as part of Sydney WorldPride from 28 February 2023.
Set in a fantastical realm that is part elite cocktail bar and part jungle, KING interrogates the power systems that oppress and hinder the natural development of male sexuality and identity in a biting, yet humorous theatrical experience.
Parker’s highly physical and articulate choreographic world intertwines with the scorching live sung narration of Dimchev’s deconstructed operatic and cabaret-esque vocals.
Featuring an exclusive Australian live performance by globally celebrated Bulgarian singer/songwriter [and Queer performance artist], Ivo Dimchev – whose seductive original score drives the narrative for this inspired choreographic work.
In a bitingly provocative interrogation of male power, control, and group dynamics guaranteed, KING will “keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end.” – Dance Australia Magazine.
Lauded as the runaway hit success of the 2019 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival, KING was hailed by critics from Sydney to Linz, Ramallah and Beirut.
Tragically shut down by the pandemic, this stunning production is set to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of COVID-19, officially re-launching at Sydney WorldPride, ahead of a European tour.
“A tantalising feast of lightning-fast gesture, lyrical storytelling, and flock like synchronicity, beautifully and tightly held by Dimchev’s seductive musicianship and mesmerising voice.” – Sydney Arts Guide
Director & Choreographer: Shaun Parker | Dancers: Toby Derrick, Libby Montilla, Joel Fenton, Samuel Beazley, Imanuel Dado, Robert Tinning, Alex Warren, Harrison Hall, Max Burgess, Damian Meredith | Vocalist & Composer: Ivo Dimchev | Orchestration: Duane Morrison | Dramaturgs: Veronica Neave, Felicity Nicol| Lighting Designer: Benjamin Brockman| Horticulturalist and Set Designer: Penny Hunstead
KING
Everest Theatre – Seymour Centre, Corner City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale (Sydney)
Season: 28 February – 4 March 2023
Bookings: www.seymourcentre.com
For more information, visit: www.shaunparkercompany.com for details.
Image: Shaun Parker & Company presents KING – photo by Prudence Upton