Dancing to Death

Dancing to Death: the Mata Hari story premieres at The Lind in October 2024. Authored by celebrated Sunshine Coast playwright, Jo Denver, the play charts the life of Margreet Zelle - the unconventional Dutchwoman who became the enigmatic icon, Mata Hari.

Dancing to Death is the epic tale of the making of Mata Hari - who was charged by the French with espionage and executed as a spy in 1917.
From the safety of the family farm in Holland, Margreet accompanies her military husband to Indonesia. Upon leaving the marriage, her ambition is spurred, and she remakes herself as Mata Hari.

Renowned in Paris, she tours Europe to rapturous acclaim. Making powerful friends on both sides of the conflict, Mata Hari becomes the subject of scandal, when questions are raised about the nature of her relationships with military men from opposition forces.

This luxe and sumptuous production, directed by Mathieu Cadart and Michelle Connelly, melds theatre, dance, puppetry and multi-media, with performances from some of Queensland’s best talent.

The cast of nine tells the tale of Mata Hari’s fascinating life from her teenage beginnings to her end in front of a firing squad at 41yo. The text asks questions about the veracity of allegations against her. It juxtaposes moralistic expectations of women and their ‘place’ in society with the spirited exuberance of a woman who created a life that she lived on her own terms.

A fictionalised historical account, the play takes cues from Jo’s detailed and expansive research.