THE STORY OF THE OARS
(work in progress)
In May 2020, Nigel’s first full-length play with spoken-word songs, The Story of the Oars, underwent an extensive creative development at The Street Theatre through its First Seen program in 2020. Thanks to support, from both Create NSW and The Street Theatre, from 2021 to 2023 this work was further developed, especially in terms of the score, which is being arranged by composer Jay Cameron, based in part on song sketches written by Nigel. Having secured generous funding from artsACT, The Story of the Oars underwent a final creative development at The Street Theatre in late 2024. More about this project can be found in the Canberra Times, RiotACT, and on The Street Theatre’s blog. Demo recordings of a selection of songs can be found on the project’s SoundCloud page.
THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT
(2018)
Having completed his latest tour of Afghanistan, an Australian soldier is on leave and taking the opportunity to return to his family’s farm in regional New South Wales – he is looking forward to resting. However, as he makes his way home he is confronted by news that is both life-affirming and devastating, which pushes him to reveal a dark secret that clings like a ghost. Ultimately he must question everything he knows. What sort of man is he? What does it mean to be brave? And what future might be waiting for his family?
The Weight of Light is an original, full-length song cycle that was commissioned by the Hume Conservatorium in 2014. Story concept and libretto by Nigel. Music composed by James Humberstone of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The work was developed by The Street Theatre, ACT, where it had its world premiere on 3 March 2018. It has also been performed at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Hume Conservatorium. See below for the original production cast and creatives.
PRAISE
‘The Weight of Light is a gem of a piece, combining the performance rhythms of a song cycle with the force of theatre. Much of its power comes from the delicate way the combination of Nigel Featherstone’s spare text and James Humberstone’s dark and carefully mournful music touches on issues of masculinity and trauma. Michael Lampard finds even the smallest scrap of light and uses it to the advantage of the performance. The Weight of Light will certainly have a life beyond the two Canberra performances’ ~ Canberra Times
‘Spellbinding, spine-tingling, heartbreaking and gloriously uplifting. Extraordinary performances by operatic baritone Michael Lampard and pianist Alan Hicks. This was a stunningly moving, beautiful, haunting and inventive production from the very first breath to the last’ ~ award-winning poet Anne Casey
‘The Weight of Light is a richly crafted production with universal themes of grief, despair, hope and fear’ ~ Australian Stage
‘An enthralling visual and aural experience’ ~ Australian Arts Review
‘Seamless, exquisite, mesmeric poetry of text, music, drama and the conversation of light and shadow on a spare, evocative set that had me ‘falling / in my (own) chest / my guts / my legs / my head’, but then carried me as I fell, lifted me until I became the weight of light’ ~ award-winning poet, performer and novelist Merlinda Bobis
‘The Weight of Light fearlessly takes on some big issues. Featherstone’s libretto impressively balances narrative and contemplation’ - ArtsHub
‘A beautiful show. The whole package – words, music, performance, set and lighting. Highly moving’ ~ Whispering Gums
‘A truly stunning piece of work. Bravo’ ~ Sydney Voice Project
‘Composer James Humberstone, librettist Nigel Featherstone, director Caroline Stacey, baritone Michael Lampard and pianist Alan Hicks have put together a dark and spellbinding tale of a soldier who has returned from his latest tour of Afghanistan. As they move through the songs, a sense of a person lost and wondering emanates through the music, the lyrics, and the strongly effective staging and lighting, all in a well thought-out story that is touching and dramatic in every aspect. What this song cycle shows is that if there is anything good to come out of war, it is the beauty of creations such as The Weight of Light’ ~ Canberra City News
‘Daringly avant-garde. Intrigue throughout’ ~ Yolk
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION CAST & CREATIVES:
Michael Lampard as The Soldier
Pianist: Alan Hicks
Composition: James Humberstone
Libretto: Nigel Featherstone
Direction: Caroline Stacey
Production Design: Imogen Keen
Lighting Design: Linda Buck
Artwork: Katy Mutton
Images: Shelly Higgs