Pre-show: As the audience enter the venue a quiet sound loop plays the sounds of gentle winds, chirping crickets, etc. The gauze on the stage has the title card projected onto it: 
The Epic of Gilgamesh
or
“He who saw the deep”
The house lights go down as ANCIENT VOICES begins to play (pre-recorded), the title card projected onto the gauze changes to:
Tablet I – Two parts god, one part man
Behind the gauze, the cast are taking their starting positions on stage. Subdued over-head stage lighting flashes in sync as thunder rolls across the stage. THE OVERTURE builds, allowing the audience to catch glimpses of the band in silhouette, fully costumed, some sporting strange headgear, through the gauze.
As THE OVERTURE concludes, the projection on the gauze ceases and the gauze parts, revealing a dark stage. THE CHANT begins, spotlights picking out each member of the cast as they sing…
THE CAST: (chanting)
"He who saw the deep….
After THE CHANT, the sky backdrop slowly begins edging towards sunrise, and with it lights begin to come up reveal the full band on stage. Front of stage and to the right is a LARGE FLAT ROCK. The gods are identifiable by their elaborate oversized heads.
ENLIL: (as a disembodied voice, perhaps over a megaphone)
"People of the City of Uruk-Haven…..
The sun reaches it’s apex as a pyrotechnic explosion accompanies Gilgamesh’s burst to the front of the stage...
GILGAMESH:
"Here I am!....

The ill treated PEOPLE OF URUK-HAVEN move about centre stage, imploring the gods for help. The gods on the mothership platform upstage left can be seen to react to the people’s entreaties.  
PEOPLE OF URUK-HAVEN:
"O gods above, you’ve got to save us…
ENLIL AND SHAMASH: 
"It’s up to you, Anu…
As ARURU begins work on creating the Wild Man ENKIDU, a spotlight homes in on her, projections of whirling wind and sand fill the stage gradually taking human form until ENKIDU appears running wild across the stage. 
TRAPPER:
"King Gilgamesh, I tell you, I saw this creature…
Shamhat stands by the LARGE FLAT ROCK with her back to the audience, and opens her robe, revealing herself to Enkidu, who is still running about in his wilderness. He stops dead in his tracks when he see's her and then slowly draws near, taking her behind the rock out of view of the audience. As  ENKIDU'S THEME plays, he whoops and hollers (like he does), and occasionally a leg or head peeps above the rock as they make wild love for six nights and seven days. The frantic lovemaking grinds to a halt out as ENKIDU'S THEME slows down, the sun setting into night... 
SHAMHAT:
"Yeah, G?...
ENKIDU stops dead in his tracks with eye's wide in amazement when he see's her open robe and slowly draws nearer until taking her behind the rock out of view of the audience. As  ENKIDU'S THEME plays, he whoops and hollers (like he does), and occasionally a leg or head peeps above the rock as they make wild love for six nights and seven days. The frantic lovemaking grinds to a halt as ENKIDU'S THEME slows down, the sun setting into night... 
As ON THIS NIGHT begins, they move back downstage of the rock. She sits, back against it, with Enkidu laid back, head in her lap. She strokes his forehead as she sings the opening verses. Only their area of the stage is lit. 
SHAMHAT:
"All alone on this evening quiet…
GILGAMESH appears on the opposite side of the stage with a city of Uruk backdrop, distinguishing it from the Wilderness back drop for Enkidu and Shamhat.
"On this night…
At the close of ON THIS NIGHT, ENKIDU'S THEME resumes, slowly, building up, as the stage turns black with  only Enkidu and Shamhat silhouetted to the audience as they resume their frantic lovemaking. When ENKIDU’s THEME ends, stage plunges into darkness with Enkidu’s last grunts.


Tablet I - Two parts god, one part man

Tablet VII – House of Dust

Enkidu awakens and tells Gilgamesh of a dream he’s just had, wherein a Council of Gods decided that one of them would have to die to atone for killing the Bull and Humbaba etc., and they had decided it would be Enkidu. Enkidu realises that, although it was only a dream, he’s genuinely feeling quite ill, and is certain he is not long for the world. He suggests they take a walk through Uruk, to revisit the places they’ve known before it's too late.

When he sees the door of the Temple of Enlil, he becomes bitter, and rages about his sad lot and how he has come to this end. He curses the Trapper who first told Gilgamesh of his presence, and curses Shamhat the harlot for bringing him to civilisation. 

Shamash is then heard as he upbraids Enkidu for cursing Shamhat, reminding him that without her he would have done none of the great things he has done, and would never have met his treasured friend Gilgamesh. Enkidu recants, and blesses Shamhat, wishing her all good things.

As he nears his end, Enkidu relates another dream he’s had, about being dragged into the underworld, which is a House of Dust, where people drink dirt, eat clay, and dress in the feathers of birds, and those who were kings in the mortal world now wait on the gods as servants.

As he’s about to die, Enkidu bemoans that during his final 11 days, Gilgamesh has left his side, making him feel abandoned and alone; however, Gilgamesh arrives to comfort him just as Enkidu passes away.

Tablet VII - House of Dust

Tablet XII – Can we have our ball back?

Although the story of the Epic concludes with Tablet XI, incredibly the Epic of Gilgamesh comes with a built-in encore / hidden track.

At the beginning, revealed through the only exchange of spoken dialogue in the entire show, Gilgamesh bemoans that his ball has fallen through a crack and down into the Underworld, and asks who will go get it back for him. Enkidu volunteers, and Gilgamesh expresses surprise at Enkidu not being dead. But with that taken care of, they agree that Enkidu will go retrieve the lost item. (Different translations call the lost object a ball, a drum, or a harp, so we have a bit of fun with that in the dialogue.)

Gilgamesh gives Enkidu a list of rules to follow to ensure that he will be able to leave the Underworld once he has entered – don’t take a weapon, don’t wear bright clothes, don’t act happy, don’t sing or dance, etc. Enkidu takes all this in, but then proceeds to the Underworld and does all the things he was told not to do. As a result, the Underworld keeps him.

Gilgamesh is bereft at losing his best friend a second time, and appeals to the gods in turn to help him. Most refuse, but Shamash, with encouragement from Ea, agrees to help. He blasts a crack into the ground, and Enkidu’s ghost leaps out, thanking them for getting him out of such a horrible place. 

Finally, Gilgamesh asks his friend what he has learned about the final fate of mortals.

Enkidu relates that those who have made the most of life find an easier death, and that the happiest in the afterlife were those who had forged strong friendships and family relations, and done fine deeds to be remembered by. 


Tablet XII - Can we have our ball back?

The stage darkens and the gauze descends. Projected onto it are the words: “Tablet II – Drink the beer, as is the custom of the land”. Chirping crickets can be heard as the sky turns slowly into a new day. SHAMHAT and ENKIDU stand and as she sings he stretches himself awake, his posture becoming much more upright and human than before. 

SHAMHAT: “Wake up, Enkidu…  

As SHAMHAT sings her song a group of cast members arrive on stage dressed as SHEPHERDS. Like all Shepherds at this time of the morning they are visibly quite drunk and swig heartily from skins of ale. ENKIDU approaches them and is offered bread and beer, which he takes enthusiastically. As he downs skin after skin of beer the rowdy Shepherds goad him on.

ENKIDU: (with SHEPHERDS backing)  “Well, I’ve had my first taste of bread today…
Now dressed in a borrowed Shepherd cloak and brandishing a Shepherd Knife, Enkidu’s attention is grabbed by a WEDDING GUEST who scurries on to the stage from the left. The guest is carrying a large platter of tasty looking Fancy Things…
ENKIDU : “Heyayayayay…
Enkidu strides off in earnest in the direction that everyone points too and the gauze projection shows the scrolling image of the mighty City Walls of URUK HAVEN.
PERSON OF URUK #1  “He's as mighty as they come…
 ENKIDU stands his ground, arms folded to block GILGAMESH’S way. A stand-off ensues and as they exchange words they move back and forth across the stage…  
Gilgamesh:   “Out of the way, stranger…
 The gauze descends and the bright back lights, flashing in time to the beat, shows the pair in silhouette.  They begin an elegant, slow-motion street fight.  Eventually as the last beats of the kick drum play out, the figures exchange their final blows. As the gauze retracts the fight ends in deadlock and they crumple exhausted to the floor. 
ENKIDU:  “Well you bested me this time…  
Instantly reconciled, they end their song dancing around arm in arm, embracing each other as equals and brothers. 
GILGAMESH:  “So, dude, you were out in the wilderness for lots of years…  



Tablet II - Drink the beer, as is the custom of the land

Tablet IV – 50 leagues a day…

Whilst traveling across land towards the Cedar Forest, a trip of several weeks, Gilgamesh regularly climbs to the mountaintop, makes an altar, and prays to Shamash to give them a sign that their mission will be successful. Then each night after doing so, Gilgamesh has ominous, disastrous-sounding dreams, but each time Enkidu interprets a positive spin on the meaning of those dreams.

As they approach the Cedar Forest, they start to become nervous. They can hear Humbaba bellowing and stamping around in the distance. They call out to Shamash for help and guidance. He communicates back to them that this is a good time to attack, as Humbaba does not have all of his armour on and is therefore more vulnerable. The pair resolve to enter the forest and make their attack.

However, at the last minute, Enkidu gets cold feet, and voices strong reservations about the mission, even stating he regrets leaving the wilderness in the first place. Gilgamesh gives him a rousing pep talk and they again agree to enter.


Tablet IV - 50 leagues a day...

The scene ends in darkness and, on the gauze the words “Tablet III – You gave my boy a restless heart” appear. 
The city’s Council of Elders, informed of Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s intention to go to the Cedar Forest and slay Humbaba, gives all kinds of advice, and places the burden of responsibility on Enkidu to ensure the king’s safe return.
With each hit of the Council of Elders’ booming gavel the spotlight intensifies until it splits in two, each beam encasing our heroes in a pyramid of light. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are now standing upright, facing the audience with legs apart and heads down, arms slightly out to the sides with their hands clenched into fists. They stand defiant as anonymous voices berate and harangue them from all around. 
Gilgamesh  “So, dude, you were out in the wilderness for lots of years…
 The instant the Elders’ nagging about the keeping safe and the wives etc. concludes Gilgamesh and Enkidu raise up their heads seemingly unconcerned about what has just been said..
Gilgamesh : “Dude, let's get ourselves to the Egalmah Temple…
The pair then go to the Egalmah Temple, where Gilgamesh’s mother, the goddess NINSUN, resides. She makes preparations and goes up to the roof of the temple to communicate with Shamash, the sun god, with whom she has a close bond. She asks Shamash for support in protecting the boys on their mission. He agrees, acknowledging that he never liked Humbaba anyway.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu exit the stage and are replaced by NINSUN (a Goddess and Gilgamesh’s mother) followed by busy ATTENDANTS (clutching various objects; robes, a crown, clippings etc.). As they sing they make their way up the stairs to the TEMPLE ROOF.
Ninsun : “It’s every mother’s deepest fear… 
Ninsun adopts Enkidu as her son, and Gilgamesh’s brother, and gives Enkidu the pendant she wore up to the roof. (Unbeknownst to Enkidu, this is a device allowing communication with Shamash.) 
As Ninsun takes Enkidu to one side and sings to him alone, Gilgamesh whistles and shuffles about from the lack of attention. She gives Enkidu her pendant and he examines it, looking at it with one eye and shaking it next to his head to see if it makes a noise, like he somehow senses it’s some kind of gadget rather than an ordinary object, but has no idea what. 

Ninsun:  “Come here, Enkidu, I want to speak before your journey…
 As the music swells Ninsun waves them goodbye. The whole stage becomes illuminated making it seem much more expansive than before and the backdrop now shows the gates of Uruk opening as the two head off on their journey. 




Tablet III - You gave my boy a restless heart

Tablet V – Nice place you’ve got here

The pair enter the Cedar Forest, and with false bravado begin to call out to Humbaba, taunting him.

Humbaba comes into view, a terrifying, semi-robotic creature.  He speaks to Gilgamesh, expressing surprise that a great king would listen to the advice of a wildman like Enkidu. He also speaks to Enkidu, reminding him that, during his time in the wilds, Humbaba easily could have come over and attacked him, but did not. He tries to dissuade them from their mission, reminding him that the god Enlil place him here for the purpose of protecting the Cedar Forest.

Gilgamesh becomes quite frightened at Humbaba’s appearance – his face keeps changing, which Gilgamesh finds unnerving, and he begins to express doubt about proceeding. Enkidu, frustrated with Gilgamesh’s sudden reluctance, instructs him to man up, and they launch into the attack.

A fierce battle ensues, with neither side gaining an advantage. Gilgamesh and Enkidu appeal to Shamash for his promised assistance, and he assures them he is there, unleashing the “13 winds,” a weapon which incapacitates Humbaba, allowing Enkidu to grab hold of him.

Whilst in Enkidu’s grasp, Humbaba begs Gilgamesh for mercy. Enkidu says to hurry up and do it, before Enlil arrives and becomes angry. Humbaba, seeing that Gilgamesh listens to Enkidu, then appeals to Enkidu, imploring that he convince Gilgamesh not to go through with it. Enkidu tells Gilgamesh to go for it, and Gilgamesh chops off Humbaba’s head.

Now that the battle is finished, the pair set about harvesting the trees of the Cedar Forest. Enkidu ironically intends to use the tallest tree to make a door for the Temple of Enlil. They chop down the trees, then use the huge door as a raft to ride down the River Euphrates, back to Uruk-Haven.


Tablet V - Nice place you've got here

Tablet XI – It’s about time!

Gilgamesh suddenly realises that the old man is none other than Utanapishtim himself! Seeing that Utanapishtim seems to be an ordinary man, he asks why the gods would have granted him immortality.

By way of an explanation, Utanapishtim proceeds to relate the Story of the Flood.

Utanapishtim concludes the story by asking Gilgamesh under what circumstances will someone convene the gods on his behalf to obtain eternal life.

Gilgamesh acknowledges the singular set of circumstances under which Utanapishtim became immortal, but at the same time believes he has earned something through all his trials to get here, and still enquires as to the odds of him getting what he’s after.

Utanapishtim sets Gilgamesh a challenge: stay awake for a whole week, just like they’d had to on the boat during the flood. If Gilgamesh can do this, Utanapishtim will deliver. (Clearly, though, Utanapishtim has no secret to share and no way to deliver on this promise, he just knows Gilgamesh will fail, and is in the mood to jerk him around.)

Gilgamesh says the challenge is an easy one, sits down to wait out the week, and immediately falls asleep.

Belitili says they should now just wake him up and send him home, but Utanapishtim insists they let him sleep, and instructs Belitili to bake a loaf of bread for each day Gilgamesh sleeps, as evidence, as he believes otherwise Gilgamesh will deny or disbelieve he has been asleep. 

Belitili complies, and at the end of a week, as the seventh loaf is baked, Utanapishtim reveals the earlier loaves in their various states of decay, and touches Gilgamesh to wake him up. Gilgamesh believes he has just nodded off, but Utanapishtim shows him the bread. Dejected, Gilgamesh realises he has failed, and makes to leave on the boat with Urshanabi. As they make to leave, Utanapishtim tells Urshanabi not to bother coming back (presumably as punishment for bringing Gilgamesh there).

Just as they’re going, though, Belitili feels sorry for Gilgamesh, and asks her husband if there’s nothing they can do to help him. Utanapishtim responds to her kindness, and tells Gilgamesh of a plant, the Boxthorn, that grows on the bottom of the sea, and while not granting immortality, it does restore a person’s youth.

Gilgamesh is elated at this news, and he and Urshanabi set off to find it. Gilgamesh straps heavy stones to his feet and descends to the bottom of the ocean, retrieving the Boxthorn. He tells Urshanabi his plan, that they will return to Uruk, first allow an old man there to test the plant and make sure it works, and then Gilgamesh himself will have some and become young again. 

On the way back to Uruk, they stop at a shady pool to rest and bathe, and while there, a snake swallows the Boxthorn, shedding its skin afterwards as its youth is restored.

Gilgamesh is crushed by the loss of the Boxthorn, wondering aloud to what end he has gone through all these trials. Urshanabi counsels him to get a grip on himself.

Suddenly, at his lowest ebb, Gilgamesh spies in the far-away distance the walls of Uruk-Haven, and has an epiphany that, although he cannot live forever, his walls and his city will live on long after he is gone, and he realises that what he has built with his people is his legacy.

Gilgamesh and Urshanabi return to Uruk-Haven, and Gilgamesh triumphantly exhorts Urshanabi to observe the finely built walls of the city, as the tale of the Epic comes to an end.

Tablet XI - It's about time!

Tablet VIII – Dam up the river

In this, the shortest piece in the show, Gilgamesh laments the loss of Enkidu, exhorting every place or person Enkidu has known to mourn his passing. He instructs his artisans to create a statue of Enkidu using the finest and rarest materials, and declares that he will now wander the wilderness wearing skins, unable to bear continuing with normal life without his friend by his side. 

Finally Enkidu is laid to rest, buried under the bed of the River Euphrates.


Tablet VIII - Dam up the river

Tablet IX – Along the Road of the Sun

As promised, Gilgamesh now wanders the wilderness, dishevelled, slightly mad, dressed in the skins of animals. He is no longer primarily upset by the loss of his friend, but is rather obsessed with fear of his own mortality, of which Enkidu’s death was a grim reminder.

He remembers hearing tell of a man who had been granted eternal life by the gods, a man called Utanapishtim, also known as “the Far Away.” He determines to find this man and obtain from him the secret of immortality. Utanapishtim is said to live at the Mouth of the Rivers, which lies beyond the Road of the Sun and the Waters of Death, and further, the Road of the Sun is meant to be guarded by terrifying creatures. But Gilgamesh is undeterred, and sets forth with determination.

At the mouth of the Road of the Sun (which is a long, dark tunnel) stand two guards, a male and female Scorpion Being. They see Gilgamesh approaching, and recognise that he is part god and part man. Gilgamesh advises that he must pass and travel along the Road of the Sun. They warn him that it is pitch black inside, but he insists, and they allow him to pass.

Gilgamesh travels through the stifling darkness, making it all the way through and emerging into a brilliant garden, where the sunlight shimmers off of trees that are adorned with all the most precious jewels of the world.

After a moment of elation at surviving this portion of the journey, he reminds himself that more lies ahead, and, spying a small building near the distant seashore, resolves to go there and seek advice on how to proceed.


Tablet IX - Along the Road of the Sun

The hirundu & Mysti Cinsect (collectively The Heavy Unknown) have got together and composed a contemporary retelling of the millennia-old Sumerian epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh.

The proposed stage show would take the form of a "live concept album" - with a live band telling the story in 12 sections, each one corresponding to the 12 stone tablets on which the Epic was originally discovered. 

In the likely event that the full-scale stage production is not do-able in the realistic future, the fallback (still ambitious) intent is a film/video, whether partially or entirely animated, or live action of some form.

If you like what you hear or want to know more then by all means get in touch!

The Heavy Unknown

Popular tracks