TRIPLE BILL

LA VOIX HUMAINE

Composer Francis Poulenc

Librettist Jean Cocteau
Director Ilan Reichel
Scenic Elements Miguel Guzman
Soprano Katerina Mina
Pianist Jean-Yves Cornet
Actors Men in Blue, James Ricetto, Alex Lehman

A one-act telephonic opera for one woman, with music by Francis Poulenc to a libretto by Jean Cocteau, based on his 1930 play. A woman speaks on the telephone with her (invisible and inaudible) departing lover, who is leaving her to marry someone else the following day. This is their last telephone call. During the conversation, we learn that the woman has tried to kill herself. Poulenc’s music takes us into ‘cellars, tunnels’… dark and luminous musicscapes of the woman’s inner world of haunting memories and dreams…

La Voix Humaine copyright Ed. Ricordi S.A.

Presented by Inmotion Theatre Co.

and

An excerpt from TONSEISHA: THE MAN WHO ABANDONED THE WORLD

Librettist Erik Patterson
Composer Kim B. Ashton
Director Gary Merry

Performers:
Kim B Ashton, Philippa Boyle, Vera Chok, Ilze Ikse, Sean Patterson, Jamie Wood

A young Japanese woman is haunted by the loss of two men: her father, whom she barely knew, and cult novelist Richard Brautigan, whom she’s never met.

She’s so lost…can she ever be found?

A new opera based on Erik Patterson’s play, Tonseisha. This international collaboration takes us on a dreamlike journey through Tokyo.

“startling…soaring…volcanic”
Bachtrack on Kim B. Ashton’s Sumwhyle, performed by Opera North

“[saltpeter] have done theatre a service”
Times Literay Supplement, on Tintagel

“a bold and inspired production of an astonishing play.”
5 stars, Outstanding Production – Fringe Review on Wallace Shawn’s The Fever

Presented by saltpeter

Special permission granted by the Brautigan estate for performance at Grimeborn

and

UNLEASHED: an anti-opera about maleness.

“The acts consisted in the main of maltreatment of the genitalia (with, for example, hot wax, sandpaper, fish hooks and needles) and ritualistic beatings either with the assailant’s bare hands or a variety of implements, including stinging nettles, spiked belts and a cat-o’-nine tails” (Laskey, Jaggard Brown vs United Kingdom, 1990)

UNLEASHED is about what men want, told from the perspective of men who want to have really hard sex with each other.

What were they proud of?
What did they regret?
Most of all: how far would they go?

WARNING: Contains strong adult themes and images and graphic descriptions of sexual acts some audience members may find offensive.

UNLEASHED is an opera about coping with a violent world, exploring sex at the limits and why we find ourselves there. It offers a powerful perspective on sexuality, violence and masculinity in our modern world. UNLEASHED uses real text from interview transcripts with men about their sex lives – none of it is fiction or fantasy.

Philip’s music: “brutally effective” (The Times); “brutally exhilarating” (Seen & Heard); “a dark and violent portrait of sexual desire” by SoSoGay.com
Nick’s direction: “hugely imaginative” (Londonist)

Words & Direction Nick Blackburn
Music Philip Venables
Company Kris Belligh, Simon Prag, Ken Christiansen, Stephen Upshaw, Martin Lissola

Presented by Fourfortytwo and the Blackburn Company

Generously supported by The Fidelio Charitable Trust