LATEST NEWS
The Image Mill 2009 Calendar
A gift idea from Ex Machina
Available in book stores, many shops and at la Caserne for $14.95 plus tax
Ex Machina at the MET
Ex Machina’s version of La Damnation de Faust was presented in Japan in 1999 and in Paris in 2001, 2004 and 2006. For the 2008 revival at the MET, Robert Lepage and his team have taken this opportunity to revamp the projections by integrating interactive images generated by the artists’ movements and the signers’ voice.
Robert Lepage describes his use of innovative projections and other technology to tell the timeless Faust story in Berlioz’s magnificent operatic version.
At the New York Metropolitan Opera starting November 7 until December 4, 2008.
Ex Machina and Robert Lepage at the Opéra de Québec
In association with Ex Machina, the Opéra de Québec presents Robert Lepage’s celebrated double bill : Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Arnold Schönberg’s Erwartung.
Created at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto and presented on many stages around the world, this project will be presented in Quebec City at the Grand Théâtre from October 18 until October 25, 2008.
The two operas
Bluebeard’s Castle The scene reveals two singers, one narrator and three non-speaking parts. This tale is about the confrontation between Bluebeard and his fourth wife Judith, but the topic leads our imagination to various interpretations.
Erwartung 4 different scenes set in 4 different spaces that are link to the journey of one character. A woman who wonders in the forest at night in search of the man she loves. This 30- minute play has the power of the greatest operas.
The Damnation of Faust in cinemas across the province
For a few years now, the MET (New York Metropolitan Opera) has broadcasted in cinemas worldwide its productions live and in HD.
On November 22, 2008, opera lovers will have the chance to see and hear Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, directed by Robert Lepage, in selected cinemas across Québec.
Ex Machina’s version of La Damnation de Faust was presented in Japan in 1999 and in Paris in 2001, 2004 and 2006. For the 2008 revival at the MET, Robert Lepage and his team have taken this opportunity to revamp the projections by integrating interactive images generated by the artists’ movements and the signers’ voice.
There will be a second chance to see this presentation on Saturday, January 17, 2009.
Tickets are available on line at www.cineplex.com or directly at participating cinemas.
New book - The Image Mill
Robert Lepage inc. and Ex Machina are proud to offer a collection of magnificent photographs by Nicolas Ruel, which will bring you back to this one of a kind experience The Image Mill.
“We have invented a mill that transforms, brings to life, puts on stage, and pays tribute to the people who built Quebec City. The images used are almost entirely archival, transporting us in time as far back as 400 years ago to the days when Samuel de Champlain first began tracing the city’s history.” Robert Lepage
Preface by Robert Lepage.
Available in many bookstores, at la Caserne (109 Dalhousie Québec), gift shops in the Old Port of Quebec as well as at the 400th Anniversary Boutiques.
Published at Robert Lepage Inc. and Ex Machina. 90 pages, 75 photographs, 24,95$
For more info: 418-692-5323
The Image Mill
Every night until September 7. Please note that starting August 25, the show will start at 21h30 instead of 22h..
In the Old-Port of Quebec
The Busker's Opera returns to Le Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec
The Busker’s Opera had its debut in a preliminary version during Carrefour 2002.
The work is presented during Carrefour 2008 from May 22 until May 26, after touring
in major cities around the world since 2004.
World Theatre Day International Message, by Robert Lepage
WORLD THEATRE DAY was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion. One of the most important of these is the circulation of the World Theatre Day International Message through which at the invitation of ITI, a figure of world stature shares his or her reflections on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace. Robert Lepage is the author of this year’s International Message which will be read before the curtain at theatre productions around the globe. The first World Theatre Day International Message was written by Jean Cocteau in 1962.
International Message by Robert Lepage:
There are a number of hypotheses on the origins of theatre but the one I find the most thought-provoking takes the form of a fable:
One night, at the dawn of time, a group of men were gathered together in a quarry to warm themselves around a fire and tell stories. All of a sudden, one of them had the idea to stand up and use his shadow to illustrate his tale. Using the light from the flames he made characters appear, larger than life, on the walls of the quarry. Amazed, the others recognized in turn the strong and the weak, the oppressor and the oppressed, the god and the mortal.
Nowadays, the light of projectors has replaced the original bonfire, and stage machinery, the walls of the quarry. And with all due deference to certain purists, this fable reminds us that technology is at the very beginnings of theatre and that it should not be perceived as a threat but as a uniting element.
The survival of the art of theatre depends on its capacity to reinvent itself by embracing new tools and new languages. For how could the theatre continue to bear witness to the great issues of its epoch and promote understanding between peoples without having, itself, a spirit of openness? How could it pride itself on offering solutions to the problems of intolerance, exclusion and racism if, in its own practice, it resisted any fusion and integration?
In order to represent the world in all its complexity, the artist must bring forth new forms and ideas, and trust in the intelligence of the spectator, who is capable of distinguishing the silhouette of humanity within this perpetual play of light and shadow.
It is true that by playing too much with fire, we take a risk, but we also take a chance: we might get burned, but we might also amaze and enlighten.
Robert Lepage
Quebec, 17th February 2008
(Translated from the original French)
Spanish
Russian
Arabic
Chinese
German
Eonnagata: Robert Lepage and Sylvie Guillem in rehearsal
Witness the work in progress of Eonnagata by viewing the video clip which is made up of images of the filming of the documentary featuring Sylvie Guillem and Robert Lepage, directed by Françoise Ha Van and produced by À Droite de la Lune.
Robert Lepage and Sylvie Guillem in rehearsal.
Ex Machina at the FTA, a film by Pedro Pirès
You can now view Ex machina at the FTA, a beautiful film by Pedro Pirès. The work was produced for the special occasion of the 10th anniversary of Ex Machina’s creation center la Caserne to celebrate the 20 years of great collaboration between the company and the FTA.
The Rake’s Progress on DVD
The production of Igor Stavinski’s famous opera The Rake’s Progress, signed by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina and co-produced with Brussels, Lyon, San Francisco, Madrid and London operas, is now available on DVD (Opus Arte). The representations of this work started in 2007 in Brussels where the DVD was recorded.
DVD Opus Arte OA 0991D (distr. Naxos)
The Blue Dragon's Premiere
The Blue Dragon will premiere April 22 in Châlons-en-Champagne, France. Mulhouse and Grenoble are also booked in May. More Cities are still to be confirmed. For more details, click on « Tours » off the menu. Images of the show will soon be available on lacaserne.net.
The 9-hour long version of Lipsynch in progress at La Caserne
Lipsynch‘s creative team will return to La Caserne in March to continue the work on the 9-hour long version of the piece.
1984 in Milan
Ex Machina is getting ready for 1984‘s revival in Milan. Seven performances will be shown at the Teatro alla Scala beginning May 2. Ian Greenlaw, Nancy Gustafson and Iride Martinez will be sharing the stage as leads under the direction of famous conductor Maestro Lorin Maazel.
Yves Jacques is back on the road with The Andersen Project
Yves Jacques is back on the road with The Andersen Project visiting Le Havre and Caen (France) in April followed by Berkeley (USA) as on Mai 28.
New book: Ex Machina. Chantiers d'écriture scénique
This autumn, the book Ex Machina: Chantiers d’écriture scénique proposes an excursion into the theatre and opera worlds of Ex Machina. From the very beginnings to the final writing of the shows, one will discover from the inside, the company’s creative process.
“With the passing years, many things have been written on the company. The main goal of this book is to reappropriate the theory behind our work in order to make it available to the readers.” Robert Lepage
Publication at Septentrion and L’Instant même. To be published October 24, TNM, Montreal - October 26, la Caserne, Quebec. Only available in French for now.
The revival of 1984
The production team of 1984 is preparing in anticipation of the revival of the opera at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, November 10. This theatre, imagined by the architect Santiago Calatrava, is located in an old river bed where hundreds of million Euros are invested in the arts and science. According to Bernard Gilbert, production director of 1984: “This place is a architectural extravaganza”.
CANCELLED
The Andersen Project tour continues in Asia
The Andersen Project tour continues in Asia. Ex Machina presented the play in Seoul September 7-9 and moves towards Taipei from September 20-23. As of October 25, Yves Jacques will be performing in Montreal and in Paris from December 14-28.
Alexei Leonov attends the opening night of The Far Side of the Moon in Moscow
After the Muscovite opening night of The Far Side of the Moon, as he bowed to the audience, Robert Lepage was greatly surprised to see his childhood hero and inspiration of the play, the cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, sitting in one of the first rows of the historic Checkhov Moscow Art Theatre. That same theatre where Checkhov’s work was created.
Ex Machina in Moscow
The Chekhov International Theatre Festival presents 4 of Ex Machina’s productions from July 3 to 26.
The Far Side of the Moon with Robert Lepage, The Andersen Project with Yves Jacques, Busker’s Opera and The Dragon’s Trilogy.
More touring images will be on line when the company gets back from Moscow.
Two new books
Ex Machina and L’instant même recently published The Far Side of the Moon and The Andersen Project.
The Far Side of the Moon
Preface written by André Brassard
The Far Side of the Moon relates in parallel the tensed relationship between two brothers following their mother’s recent death and the Americans’ and Soviets’ intense race to conquer space.
This solo piece was created by Robert Lepage in March 2000 and was adapted for the big screen in 2003.
Images from the original version, the revival with Yves Jacques and from the movie punctuates the book.
Available in bookstores in Quebec and at La Librairie du Québec in Paris. Only available in French for now.
The Andersen Project
Preface written by Lars Seeberg, General Secretary of the H. C. Andersen Foundation. Comes with a DVD.
Inspired by two of Andersen’s tales as well as episodes of the famous author’s life, Lepage explores the turbid territories of sexual identity, of unfulfilled fantasies and of the author’s thirst for recognition that runs through his life and works.
The book comes with a wonderful DVD which reveals parts of the creation process of the play, extracts and scenes that were not used in the final version. Robert Lepage, among other things, elaborates on how the piece needs to adapt to foreign languages.
Available in bookstores in Quebec and in Europe, Novembre 2007. Only available in French for now.
La Caserne Celebrates Tenth Anniversary
On June 2, 1997, La Caserne first opened its doors and welcomed in artists and craftspeople of every nationality and discipline.
We will celebrate this anniversary over 10 days and in 10 locations, in places that have played a part in the past, are part of the present, and will play a role in the future influence of La Caserne and Ex Machina.
This is a chance for Ex Machina to give the outside world a glimpse into the inner workings of La Caserne, a living and dynamic laboratory where creation takes place in many disciplines at once.
Many people who have worked with Ex Machina will join us in celebrating this anniversary.
Prix Europe 2007
Robert Lepage has won the distinguished Prix Europe 2007 award for theatre. He received the award last April in Thessalonika, Greece, at the Festival de l’Union des théâtres de l’Europe.
Lepage is the second youngest winner after Ariane Mnouchkine, the second non-European after Bob Wilson, and the first winner whose headquarters are outside Europe.
