“Eloquent, emotional narration by Kiri Bell, soulful and smoky vocals by Vebka, and accompanying evocative music by composer/director Pete Stewart… The Iris Project engages the audience with haunting songs and poetry, amid backdrops of archival film and photography… An excellent multimedia performance” ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL REVIEW
RipItUp.com.au
‘A man who travels with his dream travels with a dark torch; A man who fights for his given word may lean on a stick cut when he was very young; But a man who makes peace because of compromise has found the enemy who comes with soft feet and a noose’ (Robin Hyde) Painting by Jean Stewart
Vebka was privileged to be part of the Iris Project: a 2016 multimedia performance celebrating the life and works of New Zealand writer Robin Hyde. The Iris Project showcased a selection of her poems set to music by Pete Stewart, narrated by Kiri Bell and sung by Vebka. The primary aim of the project was to offer audiences an innovative audiovisual experience that will honour Robin Hyde as a major figure in twentieth-century literature and culture. The expression of her poetry through song and narrative, complemented by archival film and photography demonstrates Robin Hyde’s continuing relevance to contemporary New Zealand life. The Iris Project performed during the Adelaide Fringe Festival, in Melbourne, as well as the Wellington and Dunedin Fringe Festivals to rave reviews. A few songs are included below as well as film clips (see under ‘Videos’).
Rain in the Night
The Grey Lodge
The Birthright
Fish
Still Life