Dan Giovannoni on devising DARKNESS
The past haunts the present, and the present is a kaleidoscope of infinite possibilities.
Set in the near future of wild storms and oppressive social controls, Darkness transports audiences into overlapping worlds of mystery, transformation, fantasy and wonder. A site-responsive theatrical experience like no other; rich and seductive, gothic and resonant.
Amid thunder and lightning, five deeply-curious and combative friends defy orders to take refuge in an abandoned house, now an eerie mansion of lost things. At its centre is the infamous poet Byron who, confronted by nature’s wrath, turmoil and plague, is caught in a tug of war of life and death.
Inspired by an extraordinary gathering in 1816, Darkness is created by artists Andrew Bovell, Zoey Dawson, Dino Dimitriadis, Dan Giovannoni and Megan Wilding. It comes alive with potent and entertaining stories as the cohorts trade brilliant tales, conjure spirits and look to the past to contemplate the future. It is a colliding landscape of rich imagery, startling transformation, flashbacks and forebodings.
Dan Giovannoni writes plays for families, young people, and adults. Recent plays include The Great Un-Wondering of Wilbur Whittaker, HOUSE and Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories (Barking Gecko Theatre Company), SLAP. BANG. KISS. (Melbourne Theatre Company), Loaded (with Christos Tsiolkas, Malthouse Theatre), Air Race (Arena Theatre Company), Merciless Gods (Little Ones Theatre), Jurassica (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre), and Cut Snake and Mad as a Cute Snake (both with Amelia Chandos Evans.) Awards include Helpmann Award for Best Presentation for Children (Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories) and three Green Room Association awards for Writing (Loaded, Merciless Gods and Jurassica).
Can you tell me a bit about the process of devising Darkness?
Dan: After Dino approached me about working on the project, we gathered as a team for a writer’s lab, where we spent some time working up the concept around the table. The true story of what happened at Villa Diodati in 1816 inspired our conversations but we wanted to create a new world for that story. We kept meeting in this way every few months and every time we met we’d bring new material to the table, revise, refine. It’s been an ongoing conversation between all five of us since the very start.
How is Darkness different to your previous works?
Dan: My writing on Darkness is a little more twisted than most of my other work. Someone described it as untethered, and I think that’s how I felt when I was writing it – Dino really encouraged us to let loose. I’ve loved getting to explore the strange, the dark, the gothic.
What has been the most challenging part of working on the show?
Dan: We had a lot of the same post-pandemic challenges that I think a lot of teams are having right now – plus we spent a lot of time talking about the end of the world! It was challenging to be in that apocalyptic headspace, at least as we were conceiving the work. The show itself is dark too but without being gloomy – so it was actually pretty fun to write, even if it is all happening in this apocalyptic whirlpool.
And the most exciting?
Dan: Working with the writing team – we have had so many great conversations, and it’s been a real gift getting to work alongside and learn from some of our best writers.
Can you describe Darkness in 5 words?
Dan: Gothic. Haunted. Untethered. Strange. Delicious.
Darkness plays at The Library, Newtown from Jan 14th.
For tickets and more information, visit experiencedarkness.com.au.
