NEEDLES AND OPIUM

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DATE AND VENUE

27.05.2016, 20.30
28.05.2016, 20.30
Uniq Hall, Uniq Istanbul

Lasts app. 95’; no intermission.
English and French with Turkish surtitles.
Age limit: +14

EX MACHINA | ROBERT LEPAGE

  • A co-production of Istanbul Theatre Festival.
  • Co-Produced by: Théâtre du Trident (Québec), Canadian Stage (Toronto), Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (Montréal), Adelaide Festival, New Zealand Festival, Le Grand T, théâtre de Loire-Atlantique, Les Quinconces-L’espal, scène conventionnée, théâtres du Mans, Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon, Le Volcan, Scène nationale du Havre, Festival de Otoño a Primavera (Madrid), ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage (Boston), NAC English Theatre with le Théâtre français du CNA and the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, Setagaya Public Theatre (Tokyo), LG Arts Center (Seoul), The Barbican (London), Istanbul Theatre Festival
  • Text: Robert Lepage
  • Directed by: Robert Lepage
  • English Translation: Jenny Montgomery
  • Assistant Director: Normand Bissonnette
  • Set Design: Carl Fillion
  • Props Design: Claudia Gendreau
  • Composer & Sound Design: Jean-Sébastien Côté
  • Light Design: Bruno Matte
  • Costume Design: François Saint-Aubin
  • Image Design: Lionel Arnould
  • Performers: Marc Labrèche, Wellesley Robertson III

Jazz legend Miles Davis is numb from applause in Paris... The prince of poets, Jean Cocteau is back from his disheartening trial with New York... One of today’s leading directors, Robert Lepageis on the director’s seat of Needles and Opium this time, 20 years after its first production in which he played the leading role. Lepage pays a theatrical tribute to Davis’ and Cocteau’s challenging existences in each other’s towns when they were young, through the eyes of 50-something Robert who tries in vain to find consolation in today’s Paris after a break-up. These three men’s lives intersect around their particular addictions in Lepage’s stage that is brimming with stark visuality reminiscent of an illusion show. One of Canada’s beloved actors, Marc Labrèche takes over the leading role with his brave performance within an extraordinary decor consisting of a white rotating cube. While the ground becomes the ceiling and hotel rooms fade into recording studios, a unique stage aesthetic emerges that is as mesmerising and surreal as Cocteau’s poems with the help of today’s technological advancements. Video, acrobatics, music and sound gets together in this hypnotic masterpiece on love, disappointment and addiction. Needles and Opium is among the must-sees of the festival.

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