THE OFFERING (A PLASTIC OCEAN ORATORIO)

About the show

The Offering combines live cello performance with electronics and Bornean Forest soundscapes alongside spoken word and storytelling. The narrative follows a nameless water spirit drifting through a plastic-filled ocean, searching for lost memories and connection to humanity. The work weaves together themes of family relationships, ecological devastation, and the colonial legacies of Southeast Asia. Created by poet and author Omar Musa with cellist and composer Mariel Roberts Musa, the production premiered at the Heartland Festival in June 2025 at Riverside Theatres before touring to Oz Asia Festival in November 2025. The piece is structured as a seafaring epic that integrates music, voice, and imagery into a multi-sensory theatrical experience addressing environmental and historical concerns.