MMIME FESTIVAL MIME CLOWN VISUAL THEATRE MAKING THEATRE MAGICAL BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY WHAT’S ON LONDON 10-26 JANUARY 2003 www. mimefest.co.uk CONTENTS Many Happy Returns... BOOKING INFORMATION Welcome to the 25th London International Mime Festival. Since its PAGES 26 & 27 first edition at London's Cockpit Theatre in 1977, the Festival has been a catalyst, a unique international showcase promoting innovative visual theatre. We have been 13 A2 fortunate to work with so many enormously 19 Andrew Dawson FOR DETAILS OF talented artists over the years, and in this 26-27 Booking Information DISABLED ACCESS special season, alongside a host of new Back cover Calendar PLEASE CONTACT THE VENUES names, we are delighted to bring back some 11 Chipolatas LIMF favourites including Circus Ronaldo 14-15 Circus Ronaldo 9 Compagnie 111 A LARGE TEXT VERSION OF and Compagnie Mossoux Bonté from 12 Compagnie Jérôme Thomas THIS BROCHURE IS AVAILABLE Belgium, Compagnie 111 and Fiat Lux from 22 Company Collisions ON OUR WEBSITE AT France, and from Britain, Theatre de l'Ange 8 Company F/Z Fou, John Paul Zaccarini and Told By An Idiot. 18 33 Fainting Spells WWW.MIMEFEST.CO.UK We are especially grateful to The Arts Council 7 Fiat Lux of England and to London Arts for their long 21 Jade term support, to our colleagues at festival 5 MZDP venues in London and beyond for their enthusiasm and care. 17 Mossoux Bonté The London International Mime 11 Moving People Festival gratefully acknowledges This year we are delighted to be at The Barbican for the first 6 Okidok financial support from: time, as part of BITE:03 with Compagnie Jérôme Thomas, and 20 Ralf Ralf to return to The Place, where the 2003 Festival opens with 10 Spymonkey Association Française d'Action the UK debut of dazzling Swiss trio, Metzger/Zimmermann/ 16 Teatro Corsario Artistique/Ministère des Affaires dePerrot. In a typically Etrangères; Commissariat General 25 Theatre de l’Ange Fou eclectic LIMF season there 24 Told by an Idiot aux Relations Internationale de la are shows for every taste, 4 Total Theatre Talks Communauté Française de including yours. 23 Wishbone Belgique; French Embassy, 4 Workshops Institut français du Royaume Uni; It all starts here! London Arts; Pro Helvetia; SBC FOR THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL (registered charity); Swiss “The performers at Embassy; SWX Swiss Exchange; MIME FESTIVAL LIMF are dedicated not The Fund for U.S. Artists at Directors: just to the silent arts International Festivals and Helen Lannaghan & Joseph Seelig but to making theatre Press Representative: Peter Leone at Anna Arthur PR Exhibitions, a public-private (020 7637 2994) partnership of the National magical by any means Festival Assistant: Silvia Maroino Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. necessary”. Brochure/Website Design: Department of State, The Pew WHAT'S ON Iain Lanyon, Kean Lanyon (020 7354 3362) Charitable Trusts, and The Printed by: Fulcrum Colour Printers Rockefeller Foundation, with LIMF: additional support from the Doris 35 Little Russell Street, Duke Charitable Foundation, and administered by Arts London WC1A 2HH “Three cheers for the London International Mime Tel: 44 (0) 20 7637 5661 International. The Barbican is Fax: 44 (0) 20 7323 1151 owned, funded and managed by Festival. I had almost forgotten what strange e-mail: [email protected] the Corporation of London. tricks the human body can play, and the laughter web-site: www.mimefest.co.uk With special thanks to the and wonder its transformations can generate.” cover photo: Compagnie Jérôme Thomas Citadines Hotel group SUNDAY TIMES 2 SWITZERLAND WORKSHOPS In collaboration with The London International Mime Festival, Total Theatre Network presents: Metzger/Zimmermann/dePerrot Gopf Total Theatre Talks: The Role of Design in Physical and Visual Performance The Place: Robin Howard Dance Theatre Fri 10-Sun 12 Jan Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall Sat 18 Jan 2.30-4.30pm £5 Apex/£7 Concs/£10 Advance/£12 Standard/£15 Super £5 (£3 concs). Free for Total Theatre Network members. Tickets: 020 7387 0031 This discussion will focus on the role of design in creating a performance, the designer's Opening the 2003 Festival, three dynamic Swiss performers catch the spirit of the function in the creation process, how design influences the finished product, and moment with this unique and stylish mix of circus, dance and club music. In a whether a designer and scenographer are one and the same? stunning decor of Bauhaus simplicity, a series of hinged doors transform into a labyrinth of different rooms and spaces, conjuring a sliding jigsaw show of surreal, These and many more questions will be discussed by an international panel which will segmented images. Inhabiting this Kafkaesque, architectural fantasy, two engaging include Danny Ronaldo (Circus Ronaldo), Steve Wasson (Theatre de L’Ange Fou and Ecole characters try to co-exist. Perched high above them, a deejay with six turntables de Mime Corporel Dramatique), Professor Anthony Dean (King Alfred’s College, spins and mixes, controlling events like a puppet master. Winchester) and Olivia Jacobs (Tall Stories). Chair: Dick McCaw. The performers are Martin Zimmermann from the French National Circus School and Josef Nadj's Cri du Cameleon company, former Bejart Ballet principal, Gregor Limited capacity. Early booking recommended. Metzger, and club deejay/composer, Dimitri de Perrot. Witty, sharp and entertaining, To reserve a place and for further details call: 020 7729 7944, Gopf integrates diverse techniques and aesthetics from the performers three or email: [email protected]. different worlds, to create an imaginative, new performance language. Presented in association with SBC FESTIVAL WORKSHOP Ron East: PASSION PLAY The School of Physical Theatre, Waterhouse Studio, Three Mills Film Studios Sat 11 Jan and Sun 12 January, 11am-4pm Go wild with your imagination!! In a world dominated by passion and accident, physical and visual theatre artists have a unique opportunity to be poets of play. Explore emotional imagery in both dramatic and commedic performance. These two one-day workshops will provoke your passion to create, and provide practical skills to develop your own work. 'An absolute must see!' Ron East is Director of the School of Physical Theatre. He has been involved in theatre, Liberation film and television for more than thirty years, as an actor, director and playwright. Runs approx 60 mins without interval Location: Three Mills Film Studios, Three Mill Lane, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3 3DU. 5 minutes from Bromley-by-Bow tube station on the District Line. Performances sponsored by Parking available on site. SWX Swiss Exchange and supported by Pro-Helvetia and the Swiss Embassy, London Cost: £80 for the two-day workshop or £50 for one day only. For more information and bookings call 020 8215 3350 or email: [email protected] photo: del Curto www.mzdp.ch 4 5 FRANCE BELGIUM Purcell Room Okidok Sat 11-Tue 14 Jan Fiat Lux Ha Ha Ha Sat/Mon/Tue 8pm, Sun 4pm Nouvelles Folies £12 (£9 concs) Tickets: 020 7960 4242 First London appearance by Xavier Bouvier and Benoit Devos, aka Okidok, one of today's outstanding theatre- clown duos. Trained in Brussels and at the Montreal Circus School, their extravagant make-up and costume evokes the great tradition of Russian clowning, but these accomplished young Belgians have developed their own distinctive universe and style. Purcell Room Thur 16-Sun 19 Jan Thur-Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm £12 (£9 concs) Tickets: 020 7960 4242 Ha Ha Ha is their first show, a series of original, wordless On holiday in a remote fishing village, a smart young city couple falls foul of sketches and the fun-loving local trawlermen, with hilarious and surprising consequences. impressive physical A Total Theatre award winner at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, top routines developed French ensemble, Fiat Lux, was first seen at the 2001 Mime Festival and and perfected in the now makes a welcome return to the South Bank with this brilliantly course of touring observed, wordless comedy of frisky manners down amongst the lobster with different pots. circus troupes in Europe, America 'This gorgeous one-hour physical theatre piece lifts the heart; the seven- and Canada. strong performing company never put a foot wrong; and the strength of the theme gives the show a terrific discipline and energy, as well as a 'Brilliant. They have that magic tremendous source of comedy.' The Scotsman formula which appeals to all ages'. Le Soir OKIDOK ON TOUR www.ciefiatlux.asso.fr www.okidok2.com Leicester, Phoenix Arts: Runs approx 60 mins without interval. Thur 16 Jan, 8pm. Tickets: 0116 255 4854 Presented in association with SBC Runs approx 75 mins without interval Supported by the French Embassy, Institut français du Royaume-Uni Croydon Clocktower: Presented in association with SBC Fri 17 Jan, 8pm. Tickets: 020 8253 1030 photo: JC Dherville photo: Jean Henry 6 7 UK FRANCE photo: Eric Richmond Company F/Z Compagnie 111 Throat I.J.K. Purcell Room Purcell Room Mon 20-Wed 22 Jan, 8pm Thu 23-Sun 26 Jan £12 (£9 concs) Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 4pm Tickets: 020 7960 4242 £12 (£9 concs) Tickets: 020 7960 4242 John Paul Zaccarini's teasing, erotic hybrid of circus, cabaret and performance art deals with sex, male identity and the yearning to be loved. Directed A hit from last year's Festival, Compagnie by Flick Ferdinando, it won a Total Theatre award at the recent Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 111 returns with its sensational, sonic Choreographer, dancer and consummate aerialist, John Paul Zaccarini has worked with juggling show. On a cunningly amplified DV8 Physical Theatre (Enter Achilles), appeared in pop videos with Jamiroquai, The Rolling set created from a series of variously Stones and The Spice Girls, and starred as SkyBoy in the Millennium Dome Show.