Banished

Opera poster & promotional material

Banished is a contemporary opera composed by Stephen McNeff and presented by The Royal Irish Academy of Music and IADT. Set during the late eighteenth century, the opera tells the story of British female prisoners sent to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) on convict ships where squalid living conditions were endured with equally horrific abuse from the ship's crew.
 The aggressive tension between the prisoners and crew aboard the vessel has been interpreted through the use of textiles with contrasting colours and textures. When animated, the opera poster shows the frayed nautical rope pulling infinitely tight. The rope is also used as an event wristband for each audience member to experience for themselves.

This poster was shortlisted for the irish premiere of Banished by RIAM.