His Dark Materials Daemons

One of the biggest challenges facing a Director of His Dark Materials is how to stage the Daemons.  These are animal, bird or reptilian depictions of a human’s soul.  A brilliant creation of Philip Pullman’s, each one of us, according to him, has a daemon.  In Lyra’s world they are visible, in parallel worlds they are invisible.  In Lyra’s world, to be separated from one’s daemon is death, and an injury done to human or daemon is done to both.  Lord Asriel’s and The Church’s experimentations in cutting daemons from children are central to the first part of His Dark Materials.

Daemons talk and empathise with their owners, reflect their moods, their hopes, fears and innermost thoughts.  In the National Theatre’s original production the central daemons were depicted by lifelike puppets with actors/puppeteers moving them and speaking the lines.  Director Ann Garner has chosen a different approach for Next Stage’s ground-breaking summer production of this epic play.  Working in conjunction with Ian Woods and Jo West, talented local artists and mask-makers, Ann’s actors are using lifelike masks to depict Pullman’s daemons.  Having studied their creatures’ movements and characteristics in the wild, actors Chris Sparkes (Pantalaimon), Alan Casse (The Golden Monkey), Eleanor Bennett (Stelmaria), Anna Fleur (Salcilia), Georgina Bassil (Hester and Perpetua) and Becky Sharp (Fox Daemon), all dressed completely in black, embody their daemon masks to great effect. A further challenge for Ian and Jo was not only to make the daemons realistically lifelike but also to create masks that would be seen on the large arena that is The Minack Theatre in Cornwall. There, to 800 people seated up a Cornish cliff, His Dark Materials will unfold during August 20-24^th.  

With just over a month to go to the Bath premiere of His Dark Materials Parts 1 and 2 at The Mission Theatre, tickets are selling fast.  Word has got out that with over 100 stunning costumes, the beautiful masks, an original musical score, choreographed fights and stunning lighting and special effects, this production, with 27 of Bath’s leading actors, is not to be missed.  The plays are suitable for all the family, each part stands alone but, if you wish to see both parts, a reduced-price ticket is available.  For further information, or to book tickets call the Next Stage Box Office on 01225 428600, email nextstagebath@aol.com, call Bath Festivals Box Office on 01225 463362.