Macnas, the masters of storytelling and spectacle, and Galway 2020 have released the second in a series of stunning short films depicting the ancient and exhilarating legend of Gilgamesh.
Firmly rooted in the city and landscape of Galway, this is a beautiful Macnas-infused interpretation of an EPIC story, the first ever hero’s journey, written over 1,000 BC.
The project was originally conceived as a creative programme of large scale public performances in celebration of Galway 2020, however Covid-19 has seen Macnas go back to the drawing board to deliver a remarkable reimagined vision in the form of a digital storybook, the Gilgamesh Experience.
Macnas will bring new life to the legend of Gilgamesh, with 3 short films rolling out between September and December 2020 and an extraordinary finale early next year.
A stellar team of local and international talent have collaborated to shapeshift and translate this mythical story for a whole new audience online.
Director Noeline Kavanagh and playwright Marina Carr are joined by cinematographer Colm Hogan, Tony Award-nominated designer Julian Crouch, co-designer Orla Clogher and costume designer Cherie White, with music and soundscapes from composer and sound designer Nick Powell. Executive Producer is Artichoke.
The story explores contemporary themes of human relationships, power, corruption, friendship, loss, revenge, and death.
It centres on Gilgamesh, a tyrannical young king who rules the city of Uruk (Galway). Two thirds god, one third man, Gilgamesh is bored, beautiful and obsessed with fame.
A cruel and unjust king, he wants to find the secret to immortality, become a God and live forever. The citizens of Uruk cry out to the Gods for help.
The Gods listen and create Enkidu, a wild young warrior sent down from the heavens to rival Gilgamesh and challenge his quest to live forever. Join Macnas to see Gilgamesh forge battles, wreak havoc on his citizens and meet his match in the wild warrior Enkidu.
The first film, Legend Of Gilgamesh: Ep. 1 (released in September), features Enlil, father of the Gods and an enemy of Gilgamesh, observe from the heavens a city and people living under the repressive rule of the young Gilgamesh as he wreaks havoc and chaos on all around him in his quest for immortality.
The latest film, Legend Of Gilgamesh: Ep. 2, is again narrated by Seán McGinley as Enlil, as he looks down on the majestic city of Uruk (Galway), a “city of canals and palaces, libraries and temples. Jewel of jewels.”
Here we are introduced for the first time to the imposing and majestic 12ft tall Gilgamesh on his throne at the Palace of Ishtar, as Enlil hauntingly reminds us of the young king’s tyrannical ways “You will gorge on your savage crimes… to the last rotting morsel.”
The third short film is due for release in early December with the much anticipated concluding finale to follow in 2021.
