The Story behind the making of Odysseus Unwound

Odysseus Unwound is a collaboration between Tete a Tete, a pioneering opera company, chamber ensemble Chroma and a group of knitters and spinners from the Shetland Isles. It is an intriguing combination - how did it all come to be?

It all began back in 2003, when Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen set up the "On the Edge" project exploring new avenues for the visual arts in remote rural areas. One of its core projects is to work with knitters from the Shetlands.

Early in 2004, Bill Bankes-Jones, the Artistic Director of Tete a Tete was invited to the Shetlands to assess the possibility of entwining the arts of knitting and opera. This led to a larger group visit, when members of Tete a Tete met with over fifty knitters and spinners, whilst touring the Shetlands and getting to know more about the knitting industry; which for hundreds of years, has developed the most sophisticated kinds of knitting - both indigenous and "Fair Isle" type jumpers, and also the very distinctive and beautiful "Shetland lace".

Before the advent of oil and other economic developments in Shetland in the early 70's, knitting was central to the economy and social structure of the islands. Practically every woman and many men had been used to knitting many hours a day to supplement their income from other sources (crofting, fishing) or working full time in the knitting industry. For some, this was a miserable experience and carries negative associations. For others, it was a wonderful way of life. People knitted for many reasons other than commercial, making family garments of all kinds for all generations. Many, mostly now over 50, pursue this way of life to this day.

The market for knitting continues to flourish, and there is no shortage of demand. One knitter told us that as soon as she makes something, it sells. The bulk of the market is in Asia. Many knitters travel the world selling their goods and imparting their craft. Shetland knitting is also taught in all primary schools, to all children. Yet many knitters fear that younger people do not see knitting as for them. It was felt that both opera and knitting suffer from the same negative response from the wider public, that people think they hate it until they do it, and then can't get enough of it.

Remarkably, Tete a Tete had already commissioned a work that had knitting written into it before any involvement with Shetland was ever dreamed of. Discussions had been held with Julian Grant, Tete a Tete's Associate Composer, for over a year, about the prospect of a new full length opera. The idea was to adapt Homer's Odyssey with playwright Hattie Naylor. Hattie has written for many plays and films including BBC Radio. The original stage adaptation they had been working on included the 'fates' knitting on stage! The outcome has been a new opera sung in English, involving Shetlanders as professional performers with the craft as inspiration.

Throughout October 2005, Tete a Tete undertook workshops with singers, Shetland knitters and spinners and the company's own production team both in London and in Fair Isle. This enabled the company to explore the possibilities of this collaboration and to work with the local population in Shetland to shape and develop the work, involving six singers, seven instrumentalists and five Shetland knitters and spinners.

The knitters and spinners involved in the workshops were asked to apply if they wished to be part of the actual touring production. One knitter who was chosen is Anne Sinclair, who is also a teacher, a singer, a knitting historian and apparently, also wardrobe mistress to the touring company.

Anne has spread the word about knitting, travelling all over the world, for many years. Her enthusiasm for the project seems boundless, even though she has been away from home since the first week of September.

She described how the knitters sit on stage knitting with rope and long, sharpened broom handles. Anne also carries a pair of sheep shearing scissors but refused to reveal their purpose in the story.

Anne explained that knitting is still popular in Shetland, but that younger knitters are going in new directions, taking experimental paths with knitting and textile art, creating their own identity and keeping the craft alive.

Tete a Tete and the Shetland knitters are doing the same thing. They have created a new platform for both knitting and opera, presenting them in unusual, innovative and imaginative ways, to capture even the most uninterested imagination.

Odysseus Unwound can be seen at the following venues during November

Tues 21 8pm: LIVERPOOL Unity Theatre, www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
0151 709 4988 / £8, £6 concessions

Thu 23rd 8pm: NOTTINGHAM Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre www.lakesidearts.org.uk
0115 846 7777 / £12, £9

Fri 24 & Sat 25 5.30pm: HARROGATE Harrogate International Conference Centre (Knitting & Stitching Show), www.twistedthread.com
01473 320407 / £15, £10 concessions. £5 for ticket holders to the Knitting and Stitching Show.

Mon 27: LERWICK, SHETLAND, Clikimin Centre
01595 741000 / ticket prices tbc

COMPANY

Composer: Julian Grant

Librettist: Hattie Naylor

Singers: Sadhbh Dennedy (Soprano), Louise Mott (Mezzo Soprano), Monica Brett-Crowther (Mezzo Soprano), Phyllis Cannan (Mezzo Soprano), Kim-Marie Woodhouse (Mezzo Soprano), Daniel Broad (Baritone)

Knitters and Spinners: Elizabeth Johnston (Scousburgh), Margaret Milligan (Callendar), Margaret Peterson (Unst), Janice Sawford (Fetlar), Anne Sinclair (Fair Isle).

Orchestra: Chroma

Production Team: Bill Bankes-Jones (Director), Tim Murray (Music Director), Tim Meacock (Designer), Mark Doubleday (Lighting Designer).

Players:
Marcus Barcham-Stevens - violin
Chris Allan / Clare O'Connell - cello
Lucy Shaw - double bass
Emma Feilding - oboe
Stuart King - clarinet
Celine Saout - harp
Steve Gibson - percussion

Useful websites: