Cygnet & Swan presents RavenMad

A melodic poem of ringing and resounding, tolling and rolling, pealing and knelling bells. These clamouring sounds build and personify bell sounds as symbols of four milestones of human experience—childhood, youth, maturity, and death.
Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘The Bells’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed and edited by Alexandra Meerbach with Elizabeth Bradford and sound design by Michael Groth. Our theme is by composer, Matt Shaw.
This episode features the voices of the Mad Swan Harmonics choral speaking choir: Gabriel Blake, Alexandra Meerbach, Emma Hampson, Amber Jones, Skye Wilkins, Zoe James, Eloise McGifford, Lilly Jones and Georgia Marshall.
RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.
Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Attributions for this production can be found here.

As a plague ravages the country, an arrogant young prince retreats to his secluded abbey to host a series of lavish parties for his wealthy noble friends. But the pestilence cannot be shut out and the Red Death stalks the richly gilded halls.

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed by Olivia French with sound design and musical direction by Marli van der Bijl, editing by Elizabeth Bradford, music composition by Marais ven den Berg and script adaptation by Alexandra Meerbach. Our theme is by composer, Matt Shaw.

This episode features the voices of Alexandra Meerbach as the Narrator, James Wait as Prince Prospero and Clare Hamer, Paul Robers, Zoe James, James Wait, Olivia French, Alexandra Meerbach and Marli Van Der Bijl as the revellers.

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of Australia and the Khoi-San people of Southern Africa, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Visit the RavenMad website to read more about our production or follow us on Instagram or Facebook for the latest updates.

If you love our podcast, you can support us by purchasing from the Cygnet & Swan RedBubble store. You can also sign up to the Cygnet & Swan mailing list to find out about our other projects in development.

Join our creative directors, Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach, as they discuss their motivations behind entering the world of Poe and gothic literature, as well as unravelling their chaotic creativity in the first four adaptations of our RavenMad project.
If you enjoyed this bonus episode and would like us to do more, let us know! Leave a review or a rating on your podcast streaming platform or connect with us on social media.
This episode was produced by Olivia French with Elizabeth Bradford. Our theme is by composer, Matt Shaw.
This episode features soundbites from our adaptations of The Oval Portrait, Eldorado, The Cask of Amontillado and The City in the Sea with actors Jack Emond, Clare Hamer, Barry Kay, Sebastiano Pitruzello, Jagaraj, Lana Lunacy, Ebony McClain and Marli van der Bijl.
RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced and this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Attributions for this production can be found here.

Creative directors Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach return to the mic by popular demand (read: one person). They delve into Edgar Allan Poe’s dark, grief-filled personal history and consider the events that likely had significant impacts upon his writing. They also discuss the literary devices masterfully employed by Poe and analyse the most recently released poetry and prose adaptations.

What would you like to hear in another episode of Ravin’ and Ramblin’? As accomplished theatre makers and literary nerds, Alex and Olivia need little encouragement, so please ask away!

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced and this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

A poem that describes a city of sin, ruled by Death, which sinks to the bottom of the sea. This piece will be performed in choral by our skilled sirens of the sea.
Watch our film adaptation of this poem on Cygnet & Swan's YouTube channel now!
CREATIVE TEAM
Director . . . Alexandra Meerbach
Sound Editor . . . Elizabeth Bradford
Composer . . . Matt Shaw
CAST
Sirens . . . Lana Lunacy, Ebony McClain and Marli van der Bijl
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producer . . . Cygnet & Swan Productions
Co-Creators & Creative Directors . . . Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach
Production Managers . . . Alexandra Meerbach and Elizabeth Bradford
Musical Consultant . . . Marli van der Bijl
Theme Composer . . . Matt Shaw
Marketing Coordinator . . . Elizabeth Bradford
RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation, as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.
We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced and recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples.
Visit the RavenMad website to read more about our production or follow us on Instagram or Facebook for the latest updates.
You can also sign up to our mailing list to find out about our other projects in development.

If you love our podcast, you can support us by purchasing from our RedBubble store.