No Man’s Land
Past Tour: Tour-Makers presented No Man's Land in Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Whanganui and Tauranga in 2016. John Psathas and a team of filmmakers have turned No Man's Land into a standalone film that can be viewed here.
Acclaimed New Zealand composer John Psathas (ONZM) is leading the creation of a ground breaking new cinematic performance in commemoration of the First World War. Musicians descended from opposing forces of the Great War will be brought together on the battlefields of WWI in an original composition. These musical collaborations are fused into a unique 70 minute film, which is projected alongside live musicians on-stage. All musicians, live and virtual, will perform as one epic global orchestra.
The intention is to communicate a simple idea. No Man’s Land presents a powerful opportunity to reflect on the similarities and differences in ourselves between then and now. The way of expressing this idea is by taking musicians to the exact places where, a century ago, soldiers from these same countries were fighting and dying.
No Man’s Land combines intense musical and visual expression, filmed on-location at the Western, Eastern and Mediterranean fronts, to communicate the idea that such collaborations would have been unthinkable by the warring nations at the time of the conflict. Thus, perhaps, we can hope that nations currently at war will find themselves friends and collaborators in the years ahead.
When a Turkish musician collaborates with a New Zealand, American or Indian counterpart; when Russian, Brazilian, Japanese and German musicians perform together; when French, Austrian and Liberian musicians collaborate; they are bearing witness - often unawares - that those who once fought are no longer enemies. By celebrating positive human connections through music in this unique way, No Man’s Land is an unashamed commitment to optimism.
A concert-length filmed mega-symphony performed by celebrated musicians from around the world on location on the former battlefields of World War I.
This global on-screen ensemble is joined live on stage by a stunning 7-piece international ensemble in a powerful, multilayered musical exchange.
Credits/Support:
Principal supporters (as at July 2015):
New Zealand Lottery World War One Commemorations Environment and Heritage Committee
Victoria University of Wellington
Adrian Durham
British High Commission
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
NZ France Friendship Fund
Radio New Zealand Concert
