The curtain has set on yet another production on our Eccles Fine Arts stage. Across February and March, Kneehigh’s Tristan & Yseult took the stage in an ambitious performance. This show is a retelling of a dark Romeo and Juliet-esque Celtic myth featuring titular characters, Tristan and Yseult. Tristan is sent by his uncle, the king, to collect the king’s bride, Yseult. On the journey back, the two fall in love and carry on a secretive affair, even after their arrival to the king’s court. Full of desire, betrayal, and a magic potion that only complicates matters further, the show tells the tragic, violent tale.
A collaboration across departments, director and professor John Terry explained how this production came to be and its success. “The Utah Tech Season Selection Committee chose Tristan & Yseult for the boundless opportunities the play afforded the students to collaborate with artists of other disciplines and to develop new skills. As one of the directors, my job was to provide a space for all the artistic dreams to come to life and flourish. The play was a massive undertaking utilizing the skills of two directors, two dance choreographers, one aerial dance choreographer, a music director, a fight choreographer, an intimacy choreographer, three very capable stage managers, and a fantastic design team. At the heart of the show lay eighteen performers whose dedication, fortitude, and poetic courage brought the imaginations of the faculty led production team to reality.
“I wish I could take credit for the beauty and awe of the play, but it was the diversity of the cast that bore such fruit. The cast was made up of diverse thought, identity, and life experience, and no one cast member was greater than another. That form of equity includes a platform for the individual to present a creative idea, experiment with the idea, and inspire others to do the same.
“I fell in love with the show. I had to witness each performance. The collaboration was the reason. The Utah Tech Theatre Program values exploration and process above product. Performances will come and go. The applause of an audience will fade. The process is where the artist is challenged by the pain and seduction of creation. The process is where the artist grows and discovers themselves. Tristan & Yseult presented the students with such challenges and moments to rise, fall, and rise again. My only point of sadness is that more people did not witness the exquisiteness of what these artists created.”
A few students shared their experiences with the show. “Being a part of Utah Tech’s production on Tristan & Yseult was an unforgettable experience. It wasn’t about just putting on a show; it was about teamwork, creativity, and bringing a timeless story to life,” stated Ari DeGraff, a Theatre student who played Brangia in the show. “Being in charge of social media meant I got the opportunity to film behind the scenes of the show, capturing giggles and pure chaos with everyone involved. It helped me realize that the most important thing is having fun and that alone will help bring in audiences and make people excited to see what we’ve been working on. It was an honor to get to work with the Dance Department and learn new tricks such as aerial silks and grow my appreciation for all art departments. I’m so sad the show is over, but I’m so excited to see what the department has in store next!”
Ken McBride, a Theatre student specializing in Technical Design, said, “This was the first courtly romance I had ever worked on. This was also my first time working with silks. I feel like I got to learn so many new skills that I can apply to my career through this show.”
“Tristan and Yseult was an amazing experience that I’ll always cherish because it was a lot of fun working with such talented people and exploring a new skill like aerial [dance] was so rewarding. It taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to,” said Sophie Price, Theatre student, having played in the ensemble as a Lovespotter.
While this show is over, those experiences live on in those who participated. It will be exciting to see what’s onstage next!
By Allyson Twitchell, Marketing Coordinator for the College of the Arts