Download *****"The most intriguing Shakespeare adaptation this year" ( The

Ludens Ensemble CIC
Edinburgh
www.ludensensemble.co.uk
[email protected]
Macbeth: without words
By Ludens Ensemble
***** "The most intriguing Shakespeare adaptation this year"
( The Scots Reviewer)
****
“A very enterprising stab at a complex scenario .... Ludens are ones to watch
out for.” Mary Brennan, Herald Scotland.
**** “A compelling, highly intelligent and creative retelling of the famous story” Steve
Griffin, Edinburgh49.org.
“Remarkable… essential viewing when it returns for a Fringe Festival run”
Neil Cooper, Herald Scotland.
Macbeth: without words is a new production by Ludens Ensemble that premiered at the
Hidden Door Festival 2015 in Edinburgh as a work in progress to eminent reviews (Herald
Scotland). Macbeth traveled to Pafos and Limassol, Cyprus in November 2015 as part of the
events organised by Pafos, European Capital of Culture 2017. Our performance was then
staged in Edinburgh at the ‘manipulate Visual Theatre Festival 2016’ and received two four
star reviews (Herald Scotland, Edinburgh49). We are performing at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival 2016 at the ZOO (Venue 124). ‘Macbeth’ is co funded by Pafos, European Capital of
Culture 2017. The Fringe run is organized by the Cyprus High Commission in London and
will be under the auspices of the Cyprus High Commissioner.
We are touring as well in China at the 9th Shanghai International Experimental Theatre
Festival-2016 Shakespeare Festival on the 16th and 17th of September. The China tour is
funded by Creative Scotland.
Ludens Ensemble is an Edinburgh based theatre group run by local and international artists
that create original performances with the aid of video art, animation, masks, puppets and
music.
Macbeth: without words is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play into a stylised
performance that draws from physical theatre, German Expressionism and the Brechtian Epic
Theatre as well as silent cinema. Through a combination of projections, a live DJ set, and the
use of surtitles, Shakespeare’s words become somatic and address the audience viscerally.
Spoken word turns into movement, sound, colour and projected text on stage.
In the absence of language the body becomes expressive, an autonomous carrier of meaning.
This is an ensemble where gestures are in constant dialogue with the technologies on stage.
Our focus on the form and the human body aims at underlining the essence of the
Shakespearean play as a theatrical performance but also, on a parallel level, allows us to
highlight and provide different commentary on particular themes.
Our performance features three actors who impersonate all characters in the play. Dressed in
modern costume and in Pierrot-like make-up the actors constantly switch characters.
Minimalist and cellophane covered sets together with the aid of projections and the use of a
smoke machine evoke the sensation of a dream on stage. The transparent grey of cellophane
with its morgue- like quality is contrasted with the vivid colours of abstract wall projections that
centre mainly round the colour red.
The music is abstract, electronic and imposing, with the DJ performing live on stage. Together
with the use of surtitles projected on a white sheet they enrich our performance with the
aesthetics of silent cinema.
The projections transcend the requirement of real sets. The actors carry flashlights and
microphones attached to pedals creating loops of abstract sounds that come to complement
the soundtrack provided by the DJ. The human voice thus becomes more performative and
expressive. The use of makeup is employed in order to make visual the internal conflicts of
characters.
Our target is an audience from various social backgrounds, ages and ethnic groups along with
theater goers that are living here in Scotland. As Shakespeare’s works are very popular and
have been the object of various interpretations our aim is to provide a modern twist through
the incorporation of multimedia that will attract new and younger audiences including high
school and university students.
Trailer
https://youtu.be/HHlCbM5mB2s
Website:
www.ludensensemble.co.uk/
Social Media:
www.twitter.com/LudensEnsemble,
www.facebook.com/ludensensemble
Edinburgh
Dates: August 14th-August 29th
Time: 16:00
Place: ZOO, Venue 124, 140 Pleasance, EH8 9RR (THE SANCTUARY)
Tickets: £12 (£10) (£8) http://zoofestival.co.uk/whats-on/theatre?zid=495
China:
The 9th Shanghai International Experimental Theatre Festival-2016 Shakespeare Festival
Dates: September 16th at 19.15
September 17th at 14.00
Place: Shanghai Theatre Academy
Tickets: http://en.sta.edu.cn/
For further information please contact:
Philippos Philippou – Artistic Director
tel: +44 744 983 8021, [email protected]
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016:
Funded by
Organized by
VENUE 124
China
The 9th Shanghai International Experimental Theatre Festival
2016 Shakespeare Festival
Funded by