Bigger than Ben Hur
THE larger-than-life story of Judah Ben Hur, including his death-defying chariot race in ancient Rome, will be presented on a grand scale when Ben Hur: the Stadium Spectacular is staged at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium this month.
The $15 million production, created by French director Robert Hossein who staged a similar show in Paris in 2006, will feature a cast of 200 actors, a full-scale chariot race, a giant Roman galleon with 100 oarsmen, gladiator battles and a parade of Roman legionnaires.
The story of Ben Hur is well known, thanks to the enduring popularity of the 1959 Oscar-winning movie starring Charlton Heston. In the stage spectacular, Ben Hur is played by French actor Christophe Héraut.
The action starts in ancient Rome where Emperor Tiberius is celebrating another victory as his army marches into the amphitheatre.
Then the focus switches to Judea where Ben Hur is a wealthy merchant living in a palace with his mother Myriam and sister Tirzah.
His childhood friend Messala arrives as the new commanding officer of the Roman garrison. Ben Hur and Messala are happy to be reunited after many years apart, but when Messala reveals plans to further suppress the Jews, the friendship is over.
Soon afterwards, Ben Hur is arrested on the orders of Messala and is destined for life as a galley slave.
During this time, he is assigned to the ship of Roman commander Quintus Arrius and during one voyage the galleon is attacked by pirates. In the ensuing battle, Ben Hur saves the life of Arrius and helps the Roman fleet to victory.
Arrius rewards Ben Hur by securing his pardon and takes him under his wing. In Rome, Ben Hur enjoys a comfortable life and becomes a champion charioteer, but yearns for his family and homeland and decides to return to Judea to search for his missing mother and sister.
Ben Hur learns that Messala will compete in a chariot race. Before the start, Ben Hur offers to make a pact with Messala to renounce his vengeance if the Jews are liberated. Messala refuses and the stage is set for a climatic showdown in the amphitheatre.
Australian actor Russell Crowe, who won an Oscar in 2000 for Gladiator, is the narrator for Ben Hur — the Stadium Spectacular.
French company Stadefrance Live Events is staging the event on October 22-23. It has already sent out 400 Roman costumes and hundreds of spears, swords and shields, and will lay a huge clay track in the stadium.
Executive producer Andrew Guild explained: “Moving a theatre-based show across the world is a big enough challenge, but doing it with a stadium-scaled production is an enormous enterprise.”
Six large chariots were packed into containers and shipped to the Queensland equine training base of leading horse master Tony Jablonski, who worked on the Sydney Olympic Games opening ceremony that featured a dazzling display of horsemanship.
Jablonski has been training the 32 horses that will race in teams of four in the chariot race that is certain to be
a highlight of the show. In mid-October, a convoy of horse floats and semi-trailers will bring the show horses and chariots to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct for final rehearsals.
The Ben Hur spectacular was previously staged in Paris over five nights in 2006 when it was seen by 300,000 people.
Ben Hur: the Stadium Spectacular is being staged at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on October 22-23. Bookings: Ticketek 132 849.
DANNY GOCS