The Turn of the Screw
Conception, Direction, and Video & Projection Design for Live Cinema Theatre
The Turn of the Screw is a new environmental and multimedia theatrical adaptation of the celebrated Gothic ghost novella by Henry James. In Victorian England, a young governess journeys to the isolated country estate of Bly to caretake two orphaned children. In time, she begins to witness mysterious apparitions of human figures on the estate grounds and startling and troubling changes in the behaviors of her young charges.
The Turn of the Screw combines 360 degree environmental staging, toy theatre, puppetry, a four-camera live cinema mix, and a haunting musical soundscape into a meditation on the tipping point between artifice and reality.
Production History
The Catastrophic Theatre | Houston, TX | 2023
Creative Team
Conceived by Adam J. Thompson
Co-Directed by Adam J. Thompson & Afsaneh Aayani
Written by Bradley Michalakis
Music Composed, Directed & Performed by Hessam Dianpour
Scenic Design: Afsaneh Aayani
Props Design: Lauren Davis
Puppetry Design: Afsaneh Aayani
Costume Design: Afsaneh Aayani
Lighting Design: Andrew Archer
Sound Design: Gage Baker
Video & Projection Design: Adam J. Thompson
Production Stage Manager: Vera Conrad
Co-Produced by Adam J. Thompson
Video & Projection Team
Video & Projection Design: Adam J. Thompson
Associate Video & Projection Design: Đạt Peter Tôn
Live Camera Crew: Đạt Peter Tôn, Meagan Smallwood, Clarity Welch
Performed By
John Dunn: Barduc, Miles, Peter Quint
Brittny Bush: Eva C, Flora, Ms. Jessel
Karina Pal-Montaño Bowers: Dr. Lovell-Smith, Mrs. Grose
Annie Wild: Ms. Fox, the Governess
Press
"...you have never seen it done like this before. It's a thrill to witness, and unlike anything out there...Never have I seen cinema and stage collide quite so brilliantly...a masterstroke...immaculately executed." - BroadwayWorld
"...the coolest thing I've ever seen in a theatre. I've never seen it done this well...the multimedia is off the charts. A singular event, there is nothing like it anywhere, it begs to be seen. The thumbs are through the roof." - Houston Car Takes
"A magnificent doll house...rules over the detritus, each detailed room perfectly lit by tiny lights. A large transparent scrim is framed behind the doll house, upon which is projected impressionistic visuals...the production looks great..., sounds as good...and even leaves us with a touch of its own ambiguity." - Houston Press
"The show that stood out for me so far was...a world premiere adaptation of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. With immersive staging, video projections, puppets, fantastic spooky performances and creepy dolls everywhere, this Turn haunts these darkest, longest nights of the year." - Arts & Culture Houston