Currently appearing at Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, Montreal, Canada until 14 March 2010
Artistic Directors John Cobb and Sarah Kemp are currently performing in Lipsynch, directed by Robert Lepage. TSF is a co-producer of this nine-hour epic theatrical piece which is the culmination of a long-term collaboration with Lepage.
After an initial meeting in 2001, a process evolved from which ideas about the human voice were developed into the full-length Lipsynch performance. The process involved extensive research of materials and resources that in turn were subjected to thorough improvisation and then developed into text by the nine strong cast. The piece was then further developed in Quebec at La Caserne, an extraordinary theatrical research centre for developing and producing Lepage's many international shows. As well as co-producing the show, TSF partially financed the company's UK development work that took place at Northern Stage in Newcastle, where the company took up a residency in February 2007 and performed the first public version of the show, a mere five hours. The production was further expanded and the finished version (almost nine hours long) premiered at the Barbican in London (September 2008) to critical acclaim and has been touring worldwide since.
"The voice is internal machinery that finds its ultimate expression outside the body but to examine it and try to understand it properly, one needs to pull away from the visual stimuli for a while and go where the voice is 'seated'. As in our other shows, the form and structure of Lipsynch is baroque and unconstrained but this time the characters seem to have emerged from a place that is more profound."
Robert Lepage
"Sarah Kemp is magnificent as an incest-wrecked northern prostitute, and John Cobb is side-splitting as an ancient speech therapist with Alzheimer's. Mandatory viewing."
The Independent
Lipsynch is currently touring worldwide. For more information please visit www.lacaserne.net