Icarus had a sister.
She flew too close to the sun and fell into the sea.
She survived.
This is her story.
Nominated for BEST DIRECTION,BEST CHOREOGRAPHY,AND BEST SCENIC DESIGN
STAGE RAW 2017-2018
“Daedalus’ Daughter,” an original movement theatre piece written and directed by Carol Katz, is a retelling of the Icarus myth from the point of view of his imagined sister. Both intimate and epic, this poetic performance piece weaves original and found text with rich visual imagery and an expressive physicality to create a poignant meditation on a secret family history. Half bird/half girl, this mythical creature becomes a metaphor for the madness and suicide that can afflict generations of families. While a deeply personal story about one woman’s family, it speaks to countless others who struggle with the pain and sorrow of mental illness in their own. It uncovers the cost of keeping things hidden – in silence and in shame – yet ultimately, it shows that hope and redemption are possible when these secrets are acknowledged and claimed. There is a powerful and healing magic that emerges when this daughter/sister confronts her truth and realizes that she – and we – are not alone. This piece conjures a dreamlike journey through myth and memory to address the very real, very deep suffering of those with mental illness, and of those of us who love them.