Northern Lights

In this theatrical adaptation of Phillip Pullman’s first novel Northern Lights, from his trilogy His Dark Materials, we enter a universe not too different to our own, with a male dominated governing authority and a threat of global warming from their industrial ideals. The most noticeable difference being that each human is spiritually connected to an animal form called a daemon. However in the depths of the arctic circle, the General Oblation Board are conducting experiments to break this bond whilst the humans are still children, and their daemons still able to change their animal form, in the aim to understand particles known as ‘dust’ or ‘sin’ as they see it.

The story follows a young girl (around 11) on a forbidden journey away from Jordan College in Oxford, to save her friend from the capture of the ‘Gobblers’. On her travels she discovers her true destiny and key role in the destruction of the controlling, all male governing authority called the Magisterium, with the use of an Alethiometer.

Operating from one nation, the magisterium have control over the whole world with their development of mechanical creations, leading society into a male led Industrial Age to retain their domination.

Though throughout the world there are factions of people who condemn the magisterium’s authority e.g.: the Gyptians, who wish to fight against their industrial power. Especially when their children begin to disappear. And through similar morals, other groups such as witch clans begin to join the revolt against their oppression as well.

With Lyra’s special ability of reading the alethiometer, she aids the revolt attempt to save the captured children as well as bids to reunify her protector, an armoured bear called Iorek Byrnison, to his kingdom. Female power at its finest.

Though even after all this, the magisterium may still be in control unless she helps Asriel.

 

This new take on the fantastic world Lyra lives in will take the audience on a journey of growing up and the empowerment that comes from denying oppressors. These themes and other hard hitting ones surrounding this story, makes this retelling more suited to a mature audience (16 and above).

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Construction final photos taken by Ian Reynolds.