Bluebeard: Chambers Scent

Payne Productions was awarded a Creative Residency at Wilton’s Music Hall for 5 days to work on scenes of a new narrative dance theatre production Bluebeard: The Chambers Scent. Which was supported by Arts Council England and the kind supporters of a kickstarter crowdfunder.

It is the Spring of 1934 and Anton Le Bleu who was once at the height of his success with his unique range of scents ‘Les Parfums de la Chambre Bleue’ is seeking new inspiration. As his dark closet shows, Bleu is a collector at heart. Perfume, keys, The Mills Brothers music and soon to be corpses.

Mourning the departure of his first love and muse he is searching for the next poster girl for his latest creation, he discovers Annabelle Lee. But Annabelle is not like those that Le Bleu has met before.The inner predatory force represented by Bluebeard attempts to “turn all crossroads into closed roads” by severing our intuitive nature. It is a malignant force at odds with the instinct of the natural self. Our task on the way to maturity is to recognise this predator and protect ourselves from it. Women Who Run With the Wolves - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

The Cast

Anton Le Bleu - Danny Collins Wright

The Photographer - Christopher Thomas

Annabelle Lee - Tasha Chu

Josella - Gemma Payne

Le Bleu’s victims/Beauty Pageant Contestants:

Corey Annand

Katerina Chaida

Carina Howard

Sharia Johnson

Alice Laidler

Choreographer: Gemma Payne

Assistant Choreographer: Michael Barnes

Dramaturg: Tania Holland Williams

Videographer: Pierre Tappon

Sound Design: Jonathan Everett, Seb Frost,

Concept by Gemma Payne

Music

Keaton Henson - Josella

Julia Kent - Ebb/Ground/Ailanthus/Tempelhof

Duke Ellington - Echoes of Harlem/Diga Diga Do

The Mills Brothers - Diga Diga Do/You Always Hurt the Ones You Love

Whispering Jack Smith - Annabelle Lee

Johann Johannsson - Flight from the City