The Works PR

Arthur Pita presents

An Open Heart Production:

‘God’s Garden’

Left to right: Diana Payne-Myers, Nuno Silva, Lorena Randi

Photo by Philip Conrad

The award-winning choreographer ARTHUR PITA has just completed touring ‘GOD’S GARDEN’, for his own company, Open Heart Productions. Pita has worked with Candoco, Theatre-Rites, Phoenix, Bare Bones, National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Albert Hall, LA Opera, Den Norske Opera, Opera Zuid, Isreali Opera, Lithuanian State Opera and mostly recently with Dançando com a Diferença in Madeira. 'GOD'S GARDEN' will tour again autumn 2010/spring 2011.

The volcanic paradise island of Madeira provides the setting for ‘God’s Garden’ based on the parable of the Prodigal Son – in this case the golden boy of the Costa family, under pressure to commit to a marriage he knows he can’t face because he knows he can’t constrain his true urges, flees on his wedding day to sow his wild oats. He leaves behind his faithful bride to cry buckets of tears…enough to water a hungry garden… When the Prodigal Son eventually returns to his family, it is to discover that forgiveness and celebration may be all very well, but a jilted bride must have her revenge...

‘God’s Garden’ was performed by a multi-talented, international cast of six: Jose Manuel Figueira, Valentina Golfieri, Phil King, Diana Payne-Meyers, Lorena Randi, Nuno Silva.

Arthur's choreographic work includes works for Johannesburg's Dance Umbrella, Resolution! and Spring Loaded at The Place, MAPPA MUNDI for the Royal National Theatre, CALEDONIAN ROAD for the Almeida Theatre, LA BOHEME and SHOW BOAT both directed by Francesca Zambello at The Royal Albert Hall directed by Francesca Zambello, IDOMENEO with Placido Domingo for Los Angeles Opera, FRANKENSTEIN for Derby Playhouse, LA FORZA DEL DESTINO for the Lithuanian State Opera, Israeli Opera Tel Aviv, THE GAMBLER for Opera Zuid, CARMEN for The Royal Opera House, Den Norske Opera, WEST SIDE STORY for Municipal Festival of Larnaca /Cyprus, STREET SCENE (Evening Standard Award Best Musical) for The Opera Group, Young Vic and THE WINTER'S TALE for Royal Shakespeare Company. Commissions include SNOW WHITE IN BLACK (National Dance Award Modern Repertoire) for Phoenix Dance Theatre, performed at Sadler’s Wells, AND THEN GONE for Bare Bones performed at the Linbury ROH, and THE STEPFATHER for CandoCo Dance Company, MISCHIEF (TMA Award Achievement in Dance) a collaboration with Theatre Rites commissioned by Sadler's Wells and Dance Touring Partnership and DANCING IN THE DARK for Images of Dance.