By Glenda Cloughley
Musical Director – Johanna McBride

The Museum of Australian Democracy is proud to present A Chorus of Women’s production of The Gifts of the Furies.

A Chorus of Women are a Canberra-based group with a history of giving voice to community concerns. During Floriade, they will be joined by some of the city’s most accomplished soloists, and instrumentalists and a large Chorus of Citizens that includes the ABC 666 Community Choir, for three special performances of this remarkable work.

The Gifts of the Furies is inspired by the Tom Bass sculpture Ethos which stands at the front of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and The Oresteian Trilogy written by the classical Greek playwright Aeschylus in 458BC.

The Gifts of the Furies is a mythic story-song about relations between people and Earth. This dramatic and moving retelling of the ancient story of the Oresteia, reset to span present-day Canberra and the ancient world, provides an artistic response to the pressing contemporary issue of climate change.

The performances complement the Museum of Australian Democracy exhibition Beyond Reasonable Drought. This exhibition, created in partnership with the Many Australian Photographers Group, documents the impact of drought on the people, land and psyche of rural and urban Australia. The exhibition will be on display throughout Floriade and will be open during the interval of the performances.

Date: Saturday 11(sold out), 18(sold out) and 25 September(sold out)
Time: 7.00pm, duration 2 hours plus interval
Venue: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
Cost: Free
Bookings: furies@moadoph.gov.au or 02 6270 8102

Please provide your name, contact details, the date of the performance you would like to attend and the number of tickets you require (maximum 6 per person).

For more information about A Chorus of Women www.chorusofwomen.org.

For more information about Beyond Reasonable Drought www.moadoph.gov.au/brd.

Post Performance Forum

Following the three performances of The Gifts of the Furies, a public forum will reflect on the work and explore Western lawsongs and the role of the citizen’s chorus in 21st century democracy.

The forum provides an opportunity for audience members to join Glenda Cloughley (composer), Johanna McBride (musical director) and members of the cast to talk about their response to the performance of The Gifts of the Furies. Participants in the conversation will also include members of the science and arts communities, and other commentators on climate change.

The conversation will be facilitated by Dr Janet Salisbury.

Date: Sunday 26 September
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Venue: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
Cost: Free after entry
Bookings: furies@moadoph.gov.au or 02 6270 8102