Robert Lepage / Ex Machina: Revolutions in Theatrical Space (Methuen Drama Engage)

Robert Lepage/Ex Machina: Revolutions in Theatrical Space provides an ideal introduction to one of our most innovative companies – and a much-needed and timely reappraisal of Lepage’s oeuvre. International, interdisciplinary and intercultural to the core, Ex Machina have negotiated some of the most complex creative and cultural challenges of our time. This book maps the story of that journey by analysing the full spectrum of their richly varied work. Through a comprehensive historiography of productions since 1994, Robert Lepage/Ex Machina offers a detailed picture of the relationship between director and company, while connecting Ex Machina to culturally specific features of Québec, and its theatre. This book reveals for the first time how overlooked aspects of creativity and culture shaped the company’s early work, while installing a dynamic interplay between director and company that would spark a unique and ongoing evolution of praxis. Central to this re-evaluation of practice is the book’s identification of an architectural aesthetic at the heart of Ex Machina’s work, an aesthetic which provides its artistic and political centres of gravity. Moreover, this architectural aesthetic powers the emergence of concrete narrative as a new and distinctive mode of theatrical storytelling – uniting story and space, body and technology, content and form – and demanding that we discover the politics of these performances in the energetic gestures of theatre design, and space itself. Drawing on extensive interviews with Lepage, Ex Machina personnel and collaborative partners, Robert Lepage/Ex Machina calls upon us to revise both our creative and critical perceptions of this vital and distinctive practice. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Introduction: Genesis Ex Machina in brief Revolutions in theatrical space Architectural aesthetics The road to Ex Machina Learning curves Foundations: La Caserne and the patenteux Part One Foundations and stepping stones (1994–9) 1 Lepagean aesthetics Discovering Japan’s geo-poetry: Seven Streams of the River Ota Turning the power of space into theatre Contradiction as aesthetic key Flagships Counterpoint: A Dream Play 2 Making concrete narratives Ground work: The Geometry of Miracles Concrete.poetry Making narrative concrete: Elsinore Scenographic acting and the body politic Concrete narratives: Sublime effects Critical condition Form as cultural expression 3 Critical themes Evolution Turning point: The importance of Celestine Class, contradiction and the anti-hero The Damnation of Faust in.Japan Process, collaboration, authorship and directing Cultural difference, cultural specificity Part Two Choosing all directions (2000–8) 4 Upgrades Zulu Time: Q for Québec Upgrading the Trilogy The importance of Métissages Making The Far Side of the Moon Dramatic devices and the architecture of convergence 5 Québec stories Art and politics: La Casa Azul and The Busker’s Opera Dance with three hands: Eonnagata Narrative terms: The story of the story of the storyteller KÀ: Entertainment architecture Writing the myth Reading the circus 6 New ways The Image Mill: All roads lead to home Opera on tour: 1984 and The Rake’s Progress Ex Machina at the Metropolitan Opera The Blue Dragon: Character, culture and concrete narrative Lipsynch: Staging the scream Process in process Part Three Starting points (2008–18) 7 Critical relationships The Nightingale and Other Short Fables Totem: Evolving through the gift shop Collaboration: Ex Machina and the Metropolitan Opera Wagner, architectural aesthetics and Der Ring des Nibelungen Reviewing the Ring The Tempest and L’Amour de Loin Paying for art 8 Brave new.worlds Virtual reality: The Library at Night The Tempest: Collaborating the nation Hearts design Writing Hearts Concrete Hearts Writing Bet on red 9 Beginning Frame by Frame Upgrades Making 887 Taking the narrative turn Le Diamant Coda Notes Bibliography Index Robert Lepage/ex Machina: Revolutions In Theatrical Space Provides An Ideal Introduction To One Of Our Most Innovative Companies - And A Much-needed And Timely Reappraisal Of Lepage's Oeuvre. International, Interdisciplinary And Intercultural To The Core, Ex Machina Have Negotiated Some Of The Most Complex Creative And Cultural Challenges Of Our Time. This Book Maps The Story Of That Journey By Analysing The Full Spectrum Of Their Richly Varied Work. Through A Comprehensive Historiography Of Productions Since 1994, Robert Lepage/ex Machina Offers A Detailed Picture Of The Relationship Between Director And Company, While Connecting Ex Machina To Culturally Specific Features Of Québec, And Its Theatre. This Book Reveals For The First Time How Overlooked Aspects Of Creativity And Culture Shaped The Company's Early Work, While Installing A Dynamic Interplay Between Director And Company That Would Spark A Unique And Ongoing Evolution Of Praxis. Central To This Re-evaluation Of Practice Is The Book's Identification Of An Architectural Aesthetic At The Heart Of Ex Machina's Work, An Aesthetic Which Provides Its Artistic And Political Centres Of Gravity. Moreover, This Architectural Aesthetic Powers The Emergence Of Concrete Narrative As A New And Distinctive Mode Of Theatrical Storytelling - Uniting Story And Space, Body And Technology, Content And Form - And Demanding That We Discover The Politics Of These Performances In The Energetic Gestures Of Theatre Design, And Space Itself. Drawing On Extensive Interviews With Lepage, Ex Machina Personnel And Collaborative Partners, Robert Lepage/ex Machina Calls Upon Us To Revise Both Our Creative And Critical Perceptions Of This Vital And Distinctive Practice-- Part One: Foundations And Stepping Stones (1994-9). Lepagean Aesthetics -- Making Concrete Narratives -- Critical Themes -- Part Two: Choosing All Directions (2000-8). Upgrades -- Québec Stories -- New Ways -- Part Three: Starting Points (2008-18) -- Brave New Worlds -- Beginning. James Reynolds. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Robert Lepage/Ex Machina: Revolutions in Theatrical Space provides an ideal introduction to one of our most innovative companies - and a much-needed and timely reappraisal of Lepage's oeuvre. International, interdisciplinary and intercultural to the core, Ex Machina have negotiated some of the most complex creative and cultural challenges of our time. This book maps the story of that journey by analysing the full spectrum of their richly varied work. Through a comprehensive historiography of productions since 1994, Robert Lepage/Ex Machina offers a detailed picture of the relationship between director and company, while connecting Ex Machina to culturally specific features of Québec, and its theatre. This book reveals for the first time how overlooked aspects of creativity and culture shaped the company's early work, while installing a dynamic interplay between director and company that would spark a unique and ongoing evolution of praxis. Central to this re-evaluation of practice is the book's identification of an architectural aesthetic at the heart of Ex Machina's work, an aesthetic which provides its artistic and political centres of gravity. Moreover, this architectural aesthetic powers the emergence of concrete narrative as a new and distinctive mode of theatrical storytelling - uniting story and space, body and technology, content and form - and demanding that we discover the politics of these performances in the energetic gestures of theatre design, and space itself. Drawing on extensive interviews with Lepage, Ex Machina personnel and collaborative partners, Robert Lepage/Ex Machina calls upon us to revise both our creative and critical perceptions of this vital and distinctive practice"-- Provided by publisher This book provides an ideal introduction to one of our most innovative companies - and a much-needed and timely reappraisal of Lepage's oeuvre. International, interdisciplinary and intercultural to the core, Ex Machina have negotiated some of the most complex creative and cultural challenges of our time. This book maps the story of that journey by analysing the full spectrum of their richly varied work. Through a comprehensive historiography of productions since 1994, Robert Lepage/Ex Machina offers a detailed picture of the relationship between director and company, while connecting Ex Machina to culturally specific features of Quebec, and its theatre. This book reveals for the first time how overlooked aspects of creativity and culture shaped the company's early work, while installing a dynamic interplay between director and company that would spark a unique and ongoing evolution of praxis. Central to this re-evaluation of practice is the book's identification of an architectural aesthetic at the heart of Ex Machina's work, an aesthetic which provides its artistic and political centres of gravity. Moreover, this architectural aesthetic powers the emergence of concrete narrative as a new and distinctive mode of theatrical storytelling - uniting story and space, body and technology, content and form - and demanding that we discover the politics of these performances in the energetic gestures of theatre design, and space itself. Drawing on extensive interviews with Lepage, this book calls upon us to revise both our creative and critical perceptions of this vital and distinctive practice