Bruce Ackley puts the A in Rova:Arts. As a founding member, he’s been playing with the group since their inception in 1978! We love the wisdom and experience that he brings to this project. Here are some of his thoughts about our production of BEOWULF.

Why BEOWULF now?

Bruce Ackley: The current political and social milieu lends itself to a story of epic proportions, for we are living in a time of epic challenges with high stakes, and what feels like odds against our humanity prevailing. And, from a personal perspective, this has been a time of enormous loss—loss of fellow artists, friends and family members, heroes, and loss of innocence and hope. The people of the Beowulf saga endured tremendous suffering as their communities are devastated, and their loved ones are murdered; Grendel, his mother and the dragon slayed in the final section of the story seem to represent the loss of something not quite tangible, but primordial and mysterious.

Describe your experience of this collaborative process. How is it similar or different from past projects/ experiences?

Bruce Ackley: The closest past collaborative experience was Rova’s project with inkBoat, The Glass Head (2006). We had the incredible luxury of taking the time necessary to create an imaginative dance-music-video performance from raw materials we created together. The difference with Beowulf is that we get to do the show 22 times; The Glass Head was performed once. So, we’ll have the opportunity to adjust, edit and refine Beowulf over the next month.

Describe Beowulf in four words.

Bruce Ackley: Brother, Other, Mother, Slave.

Check back to learn more about our other collaborators and see Bruce live in our upcoming production of BEOWULF March 18-April 16. Tickets on sale now!