ATLANTIS THEATRE

Atlantis Theatre was active in 2008-2009, and was dedicated to the performance of plays in the Western canon that best exemplified the occult ideas of Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty, a Gnostic form of drama from the early 20th century that influenced different currents in Western Theatre. It is based on the Western concept of Tragedy, of the individual breaking free from social constrictions, bringing about catastrophe. Tragedy is the spiritual preoccupation with death.

“It is impossible- now at this point in the long journey of human culture- to avoid the sense that pain is necessity, that it is neither accident, nor malformation, nor malice, nor misunderstanding, that it is integral to the human character both in its inflicting and its suffering. This terrible sense tragedy alone has articulated, and will continue to articulate, and in doing so make beautiful.’ - Howard Barker.

“Judith: A Parting from the Body” by Howard Barker.

British playwright Howard Barker’s 1990 drama “Judith: A Parting from the Body” best examples his modern form of Tragedy called “the Theatre of Catastrophe.” This form of drama questions all morals, and has a heightened sense of language that is a poetic expression of human pain. This play is the retelling of the story of Judith and Holofernes from the Hebrew Apocrypha. Judith, a Jewish noblewoman, along with her Servant, sneak into Assyrian General Holofernes’ tent on the night before battle to get him drunk and assassinate him. In Barker’s version of the story, Holofernes does not drink, so Judith and her Servant must seduce him with tragic results.

Starring Emily Ruebl, Jonny Barrett, and Kyra Gardner.

Directed by Joshua Ruebl.

Stage design by Joshua Ruebl.

Costumes and lighting by Emily Ruebl.

Tech by Genevieve Angle.

Performed at the Studio Theatre in Arcata CA, 2009.

“The Serpent: A Ceremony” by Jean-Claude Van Italie and Joseph Chaikin.

French playwright Jean-Claude Van Italie and American director Joseph Chaikin’s 1969 collaborative piece “The Serpent” is an example of Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty, with heightened acting that shows humanity rebelling against the social restrictions that inhibit higher consciousness. “The Serpent” is a gnostic exploration of the concept that the Serpent in the Garden of Eden is the gateway to the feminine mysteries and self-knowledge. This piece is also a ritual for women to find themselves in the modern world.

Starring Genevieve Angle, Ali Beltramo, Jacqueline Bookstein, Lanelle Chavez, Mackenzie Cox, Sarah Dwyer, Omari Howard, Matt Kirchberg, Joshua Ruebl, Suzy Sciancalepore, Jessi Walters, Brittany Williams, and Norah Zaharakis.

Directed by Emily Ruebl.

Costumes by Emily and Joshua Ruebl.

Lighting by Emily Ruebl

Set design by Joshua Ruebl

Tech by Stephanie Rotelli.

Performed at the Studio Theatre in Arcata, CA, in 2009.

“The Lover” by Harold Pinter.

British playwright Harold Pinter’s 1962 play “The Lover” is about a couple named Richard and Sarah who live in a bucolic London suburb. It is clear at the beginning of the play that Richard and Sarah are childless and that Sarah has a lover and Richard is fine with it.. A ritual of power games unfolds, where the animalistic nature of humanity simmers beneath the facade of middle-class existence.

Starring Joshua Ruebl, Emily Ruebl, and Colin Trevino Odell.

Directed by Craig Slayton Smith.

Set design by Craig Slayton Smith.

Lighting by Emily Ruebl

Costumes by Joshua and Emily Ruebl.

Tech by Ali Beltramo.

Performed at the Studio Theatre in Arcata, CA, 2009.