Following the towering achievements of The Andersen Project (2006) and the far side of the moon (2001), Sydney Festival welcomes back theatre visionary Robert Lepage with his much anticipated new ensemble work, a Sydney Festival co-commission. Visually and aurally spectacular, and imbued with a rare emotional wisdom, Lipsynch is theatre for the 21st century and a chance to see a great artist of the stage in full flight.

Throughout the course of his career, Lepage has created epic works with an unlikely mix of dizzying ambition and understated modesty. Taking as his starting point individual and, at times, very personal stories, he creates a panorama of contemporary life that is poignant, gripping and often very funny.

Lipsynch is structured in nine units, each of which concentrates on a figure from the floating gallery of characters who populate a series of overlapping plots,building to an exquisitely moving and unexpected climax. As so often in Lepage’s work, the protagonists find themselves adrift in the world and, as we follow their journeys, we become deeply involved in their search for identity.

The production moves from war-torn Vienna to pre-revolutionary Nicaragua and contemporary London, encountering those who have lost the power of speech, are tangled in linguistic confusion or for whom reality and imagination have become indistinguishable. From the primal sounds of a baby’s cry to the sophistication of an operatic aria, their interwoven destinies create a startling and tender montage of humanity.

Robert Lepage is a director, artist, playwright, actor and film director. Known as the alchemist of modern imagistic drama, he is one of the most challenging and chimerical theatre makers of our time.

Performed in English, French, German and Spanish with English surtitles.

This production contains strobe lighting.

Written by: Frédérike Bédard, Carlos Belda, Rebecca Blankenship, Lise Castonguay, John Cobb, Nuria Garcia, Marie Gignac, Sarah Kemp, Robert Lepage, Rick Miller and Hans Piesbergen.

Produced by:
Ex Machina and Théâtre Sans Frontières
In association with Cultural Industry Ltd and Northern Stage

Coproduced by:
Arts 276/Automne en Normandie
barbicanbite08, London
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Cabildo Insular de Tenerife
Chekhov International Theatre Festival, Moscow
Festival de Otoño Madrid
Festival TransAmériques, Montréal
La Comète (scène nationale de Châlons-en-Champagne)
Le Volcan Scène nationale du Havre
Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity
Sydney Festival

SCHEDULE

Part / Duration / Time

1.  ADA / 0:55 / 13:00 - 13:55

Interval / 0:20 / 13:55 - 14:15

2.  THOMAS / 0:40 / 14:15 - 14:55

3.  MARIE / 0:45 / 14:55 - 15:40

Interval / 0:20 / 15:40 - 16:00 

4.  JEREMY / 0:55 / 16:00 - 16:55

Interval / 0:20 / 16:55 - 17:15

5.  SARAH / 0:45 / 17:15 - 18:00

6.  SEBASTIAN / 0:30 / 18:00 - 18:3

Interval / 0:45 / 18:30 - 19:15

7.  JACKSON / 0:35 / 19:15 - 19:50

8.  MICHELLE / 0:45 / 19:50 - 20:35

Interval / 0:20 / 20:35 - 20:55

9.  LUPE / 0:40 / 20:55 - 21:35


DINNER NOTE

Dinner will be available in the Theatre Royal foyer during the main dinner break at 6.30pm. The menu includes gourmet pies and pastries, fresh salads, homemade bagels, baguettes and Turkish sandwiches. Other gourmet food will also be available and all at reasonable prices. The Cafe Courtyard on Level 7 (one escalator up from the main lobby) will also be open and serving a special set menu.  Bookings are essential on (02) 9233 4937.


PHOTO: © ÉRICK LABBÉ

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“It was like a giant elastic ban being slowly tretched a little more as each act passed, and by the end of the ninth act, the and finally snapped back into place, the energy level in the room surged and the audience umped to their feet to cheer the heroic actors...more” – The Daily Telegraph – 19 January

“The 9 hours—which zoomed by—enabled the characters to grow gently and solidly, and become so grounded in truth that amidst the high theatrics of set, sound and lighting, they were compelling and believable.” – The Brag – 19 January

“Surreal, asorig, ambitious and epic: there is nothing small or quiet about Lipsynch, which tells a series of stories through sound, music and movement.” – The Daily Telegraph – 14 January

“This is a beautiful, moving and absorbing production…more.” – The Australian – 13 January

“I was desperate for more…more.” – ABC News Articulate – 13 January

“Lepage never once fails to live up to his reputation as one of the most innovative creators in theatre…more.” – Wentworth Courier – 12 January

"Often the journey is excruciatingly intense, exquisitely beautiful; it is as familiar as everyday routine, fantastical and unpredictable as dreams: once seen, and heard, never forgotten ... more" - The Times

"Mandatory viewing ... more" - The Independent

“Heart-breaking, hilarious and beautiful beyond words.” - The Independent

“Robert Lepage is known as one of the greatest theatre directors alive.” - The British Theatre Guide

“Lepage is interested not in literalness but in a painterly, cinematic approach, more impressionistic than naturalistic ...more” -The Hour

“Lepage takes the music and literally runs with it. He has movement all over the place. Rather than distracting, this actually helps the audience focus on the musical passages ...more“ - Edge New York

“The inventive Lepage has run with the possibilities open to him to turn the gorgeously subtle piece into a work of all-stops-out theatre ...more” - Theatermania

“Lepage and his team have given an exhilarating high-tech zing to a dramatic concert work. The music is excellently served visually and dramatically, and with no competition from previous images of past productions ...more” - Greenwich Time

“Robert Lepage’s new production of La Damnation de Faust is an inventive marriage of traditional stagecraft and visionary technology. The creative wizard behind visually stunning shows for artists and companies ranging from Peter Gabriel to Cirque du Soleil to Seiji Ozawa, Lepage is at heart a master storyteller with the gift of being able to develop and harness technology to serve his intimate, human stories ...more” - Playbill Arts

“Robert Lepage, one of theater's most imaginative directors, applies his artistry to Berlioz's contemplation of good and evil. Using projections, Lepage has created a vision for that seamlessly marries art and technology ...more” - NY Metro Parents

"Lipsynch has travelled the world, gathering rave reviews for its emotional force, supple wit and visual beauty...more" - The Telegraph (UK)

“It's through a lengthy process of exploration and discovery in the rehearsal studios where Lepage and his actors uncover the essence of the emerging piece of theatre...more” - BBC

“That is the essence of Robert Lepage's work - it keeps evolving long after it has reached the stage...more” - Sydney Morning Herald

"An ambicios theatre production that questions the role of language" - The Australian

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COMMENTS

Jen 10/12/08

Can't wait to see LePage's new work!

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Susie 13/01/09

In my top 20 of one of the 100 things you must do before you die.

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Allison 13/01/09

Don't be put off by the 8.5 hours. This is a great show. Clever script, fantastic set and brilliant performance.

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claire 13/01/09

wonderful.. if you can, go see it, you'll be completely immersed in a heartwarming story of folk doing what folk do.. getting on with life as best they can.

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claire 13/01/09

wonderful.. if you can, go see it, you'll be completely immersed in a heartwarming story of folk doing what folk do.. getting on with life as best they can.

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