

Back to Back Theatre
Australia | Theatre
The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes
The internationally acclaimed Back to Back Theatre from Australia is a leading voice in inclusive and virtuoso theatre performances. It was recently awarded the much sought-after International Ibsen Award. In «The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes», three people inquisitively and controversially discuss pressing societal issues at a public meeting. This is a play about human rights, sexual politics and artificial intelligence – and about our individual and collective responsibility. A humorous and sensitive theatrical exploration!
«An extraordinary play!»
(New York Times)
Tour in cooperation with Internationales Sommerfestival Kampnagel, Noorderzon Festival Groningen, Zürcher Theater Spektakel and La Bâtie-Festival de Genève
Back to Back Theatre creates new forms of contemporary performance devised by a unique ensemble of actors with a disability to give voice to social and political issues that affect all people. Based in the regional centre of Geelong, the company is one of Australia's most globally recognised and respected contemporary theatre companies. Since 1999, under the artistic direction of Bruce Gladwin, the company has developed a unique artistic language, with an emphasis on the company's own commentary on broad social and cultural dialogue. Back to Back Theatre has received 20 national and international awards in recent years, including the 2022 International Ibsen Award. Back to Back Theatre's website: https://backtobacktheatre.com
An interesting video documentary on the work of Back to Back Theatre can be found here.
A video portrait of the group on the occasion of the awarding of the Ibsen Prize can be found here.
Team & Credits
Authors: Michael Chan, Mark Deans, Bruce Gladwin, Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, Scott Price, Sonia TeubenDirector: Bruce Gladwin
Performers: Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, Scott Price
Composition: Luke Howard Trio – Daniel Farrugia, Luke Howard, Jonathon Zion
Sound Design: Lachlan Carrick
Lighting Design: Andrew Livingston, bluebottle
Screen Design: Rhian Hinkley, lowercase
Costume Design: Shio Otani
AI Voice Over: Belinda McClory
Script Consultant: Melissa Reeves
Translation: Jennifer Ma
Creative Development: Michael Chan, Mark Cuthbertson, Mark Deans, Rhian Hinkley, Bruce Gladwin, Simon Laherty, Pippin Latham, Andrew Livingston, Sarah Mainwaring, Victoria Marshall, Scott Price, Brian Tilley, Sonia Teuben
German Translation: Almut Maria Mölk, Caro Sidel
Surtitle operation: Caro Sidel, Alana Hoggart
Touring Director: Daniel Schlusser
Stage Manager: Alana Hoggart
Sound Engineer: Paul Hitchens
Company Manager: Erin Watson
Production Manager: Bao Ngouansavanh
Touring Producer: Pippa Wright
Senior Producer: Tanya Bennett
Executive Producer: Tim Stitz
THE SHADOW WHOSE PREY THE HUNTER BECOMES has been co-commissioned by Carriageworks, Theater der Welt, Düsseldorf 2020, the Keir Foundation, the Thyne Reid Foundation and TheAnthony Costa Foundation, supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through Plus 1, with development support from the Geelong Arts Centre, Arts CentreMelbourne, Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Une Parkinson Foundation,The Public Theater (New York City) and ArtsEmerson (Boston).
THE SHADOW WHOSE PREY THE HUNTER BECOMES was developed, in part, at the 2019 Sundance Theatre Lab at MASS MoCA.
Back to Back Theatre is supported by Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, City of Greater Geelong and acknowledges the support of the Department of Education & Training, Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships Program.
Pictures: Jeff Busby